Sports Programs for Disabled Children

Organizations nationwide offer sports programs for disabled children. Under such programs, children with disabilities are shown that they can participate in a variety of sports and that their disability doesn't have to limit their physical activity. Sports programs can build a disabled child's confidence, independence and self-esteem, as well as provide social interaction and physical fitness.

  1. Disabled Sports USA

    • Originally started in 1967 by Vietnam War veterans for those injured in the war, Disabled Sports USA now serves anyone with a permanent disability, including children. The organization has chapters in all but 10 of the 50 states. The USA SummerFest Tour offers a series of programs across the United States where professional instructors work with youth on adaptive equipment and in a variety of athletic events. The tour includes a wide range of summer sports, such as kayaking, water skiing, sailing, canoeing, bicycling, golfing, horseback riding, rock climbing, SCUBA diving and fishing. At the winter Hartford Ski Spectacular at Beaver Run Resort in Colorado, kids can enjoy multi-level skiing, snowboarding and racing. The event also offers a Youth Sports Mentoring Program.

      Disabled Sports USA
      National Headquarters
      451 Hungerford Drive, Suite 100
      Rockville, MD 20850
      301-217-0960
      dsusa.org/

    National Sports Center for the Disabled

    • National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD), founded in 1970, offers recreational programs in more than 20 sports for physically or mentally challenged people of all ages. The winter program includes downhill skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and showshoeing. They also offer Nordic hut ski trips. For the summer, you can enjoy rafting, kayaking, canoeing, mountain biking and fishing. The center arranges a variety of adventures including, camping, overnight river trips and horse pack trips. Children of all skill levels are invited to participate, and the NSCD encourages families and groups to join in the activities. The NSCD sponsors programs throughout the United States.

      National Sports Center for the Disabled
      1801 Bryant St, Ste 1500
      Denver, CO 80204
      303-293-5711
      nscd.org/index.htm

    American Association of Adapted Sports Programs

    • The American Association of Adapted Sports Programs has a goal to make sports for children with disabilities an integrated part of the United States education system. The association develops programs that work in parallel with the established interscholastic athletic system, including standardized rules, training and certification for coaches and a list of approved equipment. They have sanctioned specific sports played in certain seasons. These include wheelchair handball in the fall, wheelchair basketball and power soccer in the winter and wheelchair football, track and field and beep baseball in the spring. Event venues are located in various cities in Texas and Georgia.

      American Association of Adapted Sports Programs
      P.O. Box 451047
      Atlanta, GA 31145
      adaptedsports.org