|
More than a dozen nations are expected to
send teams to compete in the sixth world championship for
blind sailors when it comes to the U.S.A. later this year.
The 2006 IFDS (International Foundation of Disabled Sailors)
Blind Sailing World Championship will be held from Sept. 20-27
in Newport, R.I., hosted by the New York Yacht Club with the
assistance of Sail Newport.
Under the vision classification system established
by the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) to provide
fair competition for blind athletes, each nation can enter
one team in each of the three vision categories: B1, B2, and
B3. A registered ophthalmologist must complete the classification
forms, which are required of all regatta entrants and are
subject to verification by an IBSA certified physician. The
vision classification of the
skipper determines in which division each four-person team
will compete. The totally blind B1s and the vision-impaired
B2s will race in the New York Yacht Club’s fleet of
Sonars, and the least vision-impaired B3s will race in Sail
Newport’s J/22s.
Each team will include two vision-impaired
sailors, skipper, and one crew accompanied by two sighted
guides who |
|
The United Spinal
Liberty Women’s
Wheelchair Basketball
Team finished in the Top 10 in the National Wheelchair
Basketball Association Women’s Division National
Championships March 2-4, in Birmingham, Ala., at the
Lakeshore Foundation.
Team members are from left to right:
Caitlin Chasar, Emily Seelenfreund, Kelly Loth, Mariya
Redden, Jillian Marks, Sarah Poisez, and Kelly Hutchings.
Not pictured: Bethany Devault and coaches.
|
provide verbal information
to tactically position the boat as it navigates the racecourse.
The rules mandate that only a blind sailor can steer, while
the blind crew trims the sails.
For more information, contact
Lyn Comfort at lyncomfort@hotmail.com,
or visit www.nyyc.org. |
|
|
The United States Canoe Association, after
offering exhibition outrigger canoe sprint races at USCA National
Championships for the past four years, elevated the status
of the 2005 races to full medal events. Cape Ability Outrigger
Ohana, a chapter of DS/USA, organized three mixed teams that
participated in the inaugural championship class and is proud
of its newly crowned champions. CAOO encourages paddlers with
disabilities to take advantage of this new opportunity by
participating in the 2006 USCA National Championship in Wisconsin
on August 10. Outrigger canoes are provided; participants
must pre-register with a team. Information about the event
will be available on USCA’s website at www.uscanoe.com.
More detailed information may be obtained by contacting USCA’s
Adaptive Paddling Chairman, Jan Whitaker, at (585) 292-6107,
or janwhitaker@hotmail.com. |
More than 350 disabled veterans from across
the country, including 50 veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom, skied the Rocky Mountains
at the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic
in Snowmass Village, Colo., April 2-7.
The clinic is an annual rehabilitation program
open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal cord injuries
or disease, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions,
orthopedic amputations or other disabilities, who receive
care at any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care
facility.
“For 20 years, the Winter Sports Clinic
example of VA’s commitment to help disabled veterans
recover from their serious injuries and illnesses,”
said the Honorable R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans
Affairs. “The determination, courage, and grace displayed
by hundreds of veterans who participate in this exciting event
are a true testament to their character and the resolve of
the human spirit.”
During the six-day program, the veterans
learned adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing and were introduced
to a variety of other adaptive activities and sports, such
as rock climbing, scuba diving, trap-shooting, and sled hockey.
The U.S. Secret Service also taught a course on self-defense
for people with disabilities. “There is a true
sense of community and a deep bond among veterans,”
said DAV National Commander Paul W. Jackson. “You feel
it very strongly at the clinic. During this week, those brave
men and women who have shared sacrifices in battle, forge
an even stronger bond through teamwork and competition. The
DAV is proud to join VA in staging this 20th Winter Sports
Clinic. Having participated in the clinic myself, it’s
an honor to return as DAV’s National Commander to support
such an incredible event.” |
|
|
|
If you’re at least eight years
old and have a physical or neurological disability, you’re
invited to join the excitement, the sun, and the fun at the
10th annual Day on the Lake event June 2 and June 3. Held
at the fully accessible Bartlett Lake Marina, near Carefree,
Ariz., the two-day event offers instruction in integrated
water skiing, jet skiing, kayaking, fishing, and boating.
Some who have learned to ski at the Day on the Lake have begun
skiing competitively, according to Jo Lemons-Crawford, Pediatric
Program Coordinator at Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix,
co-sponsor of the event.
Bartlett Lake is located in the northeast
valley only 48 miles from downtown Phoenix and 17 miles northeast
of Carefree and is within one hour from most valley locations.
|
 In
addition to about 80 volunteers, more than 80 people participate
per day, coming from all over Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico,
and parts of California. It’s the only event of its caliber
in the Southwest.
Advance registration
is required. The cost is $20 per day; scholarships are available.
To register, or for more information, call the Barrow Neurological
Institute’s Recreation Therapy Department at
(602) 406-3606, or visit www.thebarrow.com. |
|
