BlazeDay at Mabry Middle School, Feb 10th 2012
On Friday February 10th the BlazeSports staff was welcomed by staff and pupils from Mabry Middle School as part of their Disability Awareness Program.
The BlazeSports staff worked with PE teacher Ms McCall to organize a day of activities which allowed the students to experience a variety of disability sports. These sports included wheelchair racing, wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and goal ball. Read more…
Franklin Roosevelt in a wheelchair. Pic courtesy of the World War II Diaries.
Happy Presidents Day, all! While we reflect on the accomplishments (and foibles) of the 43 men who have held the Office of the President of the United States, it’s important to remember that not all of them would meet the definition of “able-bodied.” However, their disabilities did not prevent them from serving their country at the highest level possible. The Ability Center of Greater Toledo has posted a list of presidents who had disabilities during their tenure in the Oval Office. Though the list is heavy on learning disabilities (who knew Woodrow Wilson was dyslexic?), individuals with physical disabilities are also more numerous than I expected.
Some we all know about today, like Franklin Roosevelt’s polio and chair-use (see the picture above). BlazeSports honors President Roosevelt’s memory with our Roosevelt Games for servicemen and women held in Warm Springs, Georgia. However, a few presidential disabilities are less well-known. It might be news to you, for example, that both Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan had hearing impairments, or that JFK faced chronic pain. The whole list is worth a look. While most presidents with disabilities went to great lengths to hide them (the stories of FDR enduring excruciating pain to walk in leg braces are particularly wrenching), but I am looking forward to a day when we have our first openly disabled president. Being in a chair didn’t stop Roosevelt from winning World War II, so why shouldn’t kids with disabilities aspire to big dreams?
Pic courtesy of Rehab Management.
We are proud and pleased to learn that Randy Snow, a cherished member of the BlazeSports family, will be amongst the Class of 2012 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Randy served as a Board Member for BlazeSports America until his untimely passing in 2009 at the age of 50. He was also an icon in the world of wheelchair tennis. This honor will make him only the second wheelchair tennis player to join the Hall of Fame. The first–sport pioneer Brad Parks–spoke to The Sports Campus about Randy:
“Randy Snow was simply the best wheelchair player to have ever played the sport. Beyond his athletic success though, he played a major role in building the sport and he inspired so many others to play wheelchair tennis and other sports. [...] It was a privilege for me to play alongside Randy and to call him a friend, and I am thrilled to see him receive the honor of Hall of Fame induction, which is very well deserved.”
All of us at BlazeSports miss Randy dearly. He was a leader, a trailblazer, and a profoundly decent human being. It was his grace and goodness that inspired us to create the S-Now Curriculum for our Leadership Academy shortly after he passed away in order to ensure that another generation of youth with disabilities could be inspired by the message of empowerment that Randy embodied. Ricky Played, the first volume in the BlazeSports Children’s Book Series from TorchRunner Press, was also dedicated to the memory of Randy Snow.
Though our hearts overflowing with pride, we can’t say that we’re terribly surprised. A person as wonderful as Randy is difficult to ignore for too long.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 15, 2012
BlazeSports America Presents Adaptive Sports Demonstrations at Abilities Expo
February 17-19, 2012 Atlanta, GA
Contact: Jeff Jones at jjones@blazesports.org ; 404-270-2036
BlazeSports America invites you to participate in series of disability sports demonstrations at the Abilities Expo, the nation’s largest event for individuals with disabilities and caregivers. Between Friday, February 17 and Sunday, February 19, 2012, an estimated three thousand visitors—people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, wounded veterans, and healthcare professionals—will arrive at the Georgia World Congress Center to take part in the Abilities Expo. Admission is free and show hours are Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday 11 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) indicates that more than 54 million Americans (one in five) have a disability and, of those, 35 million reported their disability as severe. Physical activity has numerous benefits for—and may be enjoyed by—all individuals, including and especially individuals with disabilities. In addition to keeping fit, active children with and without disabilities are more likely to thrive academically, socially, and psychologically. Active adults have lower rates of obesity, secondary health risks, and depression than their less active counterparts.
During the Expo, BlazeSports America’s experts and athletes with disabilities will be offering the following four adaptive sports demonstrations:
Friday, February 17, 2012:
12:00pm – 12:30pm Wheelchair Basketball
2:45pm – 3:15pm Boccia
Saturday, February 18, 2012:
12:30pm – 1:00pm Track and Road Racing
1:15pm – 1:45pm Goal Ball and Beep Baseball
BlazeSports invites all individuals interested in learning more about adaptive sports to join us for the demonstrations. Athletes and staff will be on hand to demonstrate techniques, skills, and equipment for each sport. For the full schedule of adaptive sports demonstrations, please visit: http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/atlanta/pavilions_adaptive.html
About BlazeSports America
BlazeSports America, a national non-profit organization, is the direct legacy organization of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games. Driven by a desire to provide all children and adults with physical disabilities the chance to play sports and live healthy, active lives, BlazeSports is dedicated to offering programs, education and tools worldwide. BlazeSports provides athletes with training, support and the opportunity to increase independence and improve health. Whether you’re a competitive athlete or just want to learn a new sport, see what BlazeSports has to offer. BlazeSports is also honored to be one of ten national organizations funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) initiative. Through this project, BlazeSports helps communities implement solid prevention policies that will help residents live longer, healthier lives.
About the Abilities Expo
For more than three decades, Abilities Expo has succeeded in improving the lives of Americans with disabilities, their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. This unique forum features three days of cutting-edge products and services, compelling workshops, fun-for-the-whole-family activities and has become the leading event for the community of people with disabilities (PWDs). More information on the Expo is available online at: http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/atlanta/v.html
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Pic courtesy of How to Draw.
It’s Valentine’s Day, folks, so I’m sure your mind is turning to romance, flowers, candy, and, of course, hearts. So in honor the most cardiac-centric of holidays, we’d like to take this opportunity to offer up some facts on heart health and disability.
So enjoy your Valentine’s Day, but remember, the better you take care of your heart, the more time you’ll have to spend with the person who makes it beat faster!
This could be you! Pic courtesy of the IPC.
The 2012 Paralympic Games in London are getting ever closer (I think we’re under 200 days now). However, it’s not too late to participate in the Paralympic Torch Relay that will culminate with the lighting of the cauldron at Olympic Stadium and the dawn of the 14th Paralympiad. Fifteen spots are still up for grabs, with five going to the “most deserving members of the public” and ten to past Paralympians.
Members of the public must fit into at least one of these (pretty vague) categories:
-Inspiring grassroots coach
-Inspiring family member
-Biggest inspiration
-Loyal supporter
-Future Paralympian
If you want to nominate someone, you’ll need to compose a 300-word statement of support (requirements for submission are here).
As for former Paralympians, all you need to do is join this Facebook group. All members will be entered into a draw for one of the ten reserved slots. (Don’t bother trying, non-Paralympians. You have to request to join the group and the IPC checks its records.)
Pic courtesy of White Gadget.
I’m an American. Hence, I know practically nothing about the fine and storied sport of cricket. (Joseph O’Neill’s wonderful, cricket-centric novel Netherland gave me an appreciation for the game’s aesthetics, but no understanding of its rules.) However, this ignorance does nothing to dampen my enthusiasm for the breakthrough series happening this weekend in Dubai.
The Times of India reports that Pakistani and English squads of cricketers with disabilities will be throwing down tomorrow as part of a series in the UAE. As with all kinds of sport, cricket is changing the lives of people with disabilities. “I lost my left hand in an accident,” said Matloob Qureshi of Pakistan’s Punjab Province. “Cricket has changed my life and now I am gearing up to hit big sixes against England.” I don’t know what “big sixes” are, but I’m psyched for Qureshi!
The hope is that this series will set the stage for something larger. Salim Karim, the founder of Pakistan’s team, sees it as the start of a worldwide cricket revolution, saying:
I hope other countries like India, Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa get inspiration from this series and in the next few years we manage to hold a World Cup for physically challenged teams.
We hope so, too!
BlazeSports America - 535 N. McDonough Street – Decatur, GA 30030
Phone: 404-270-2000 – Fax: 404-270-2039
