Phoenix, Arizona, outdoor recreational activities are accessible—and exciting—for people with disabilities.
Since 1973, the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department’s Adaptive Recreation Services section has provided year-round, inclusive recreational programs for children, teenagers, and adults with disabilities.229 For example, River Rampage230 is a whitewater rafting trip for eight teenagers with disabilities and eight at-risk teenagers. River Rampage receives additional support from River of Dreams, a nonprofit organization, and recently completed its eleventh year of operating three trips per summer.231, 232
The Department’s newest program is Daring Adventures, an outdoor recreation program for teenagers and adults with and without disabilities.233,234 Although some activities require enrollment fees, participants have the option of providing volunteer service hours in lieu of fees. Daring Adventures adaptive programs include the following:
Adaptive cycling consists of handcycles for people with mobility impairments and tandem bicycles for people with visual impairments. Participants meet for 1.5 hours every week for six weeks to get accustomed to the handcycle or tandem bicycle, and are then eligible to rent them on their own.
Adaptive kayaking consists of one- and two-person “sit-on-top” kayaks for people with visual or mobility impairments. After completing a six- to eight-week instructional program consisting of four hours per week, participants can rent kayaks on their own.
Sled ice hockey involves adjustable adaptive ice sleds that can be used by all people with disabilities. Three 8- to 10-week sessions with one hour of ice time per week are offered. Two different ice rinks are used, one in Peoria and one in Scottsdale. Tthe City of Peoria contributes ice time for one of the sessions, while the City of Scottsdale provides support for some of the staff.
For cross-country skiing, skis with Velcro straps for the waist, ankles, and knees and shortened ski pulls are available for people with mobility impairments. A six-week program of conditioning exercises followed by a weekend stay in Flagstaff is offered twice a year. Cross-country skis are available for people with other types of disabilities. The slopes have two sets of parallel tracks, enabling a sighted person to ski alongside a visually impaired skier.
Hiking and backpacking is a new offering. The program, which is in its beginning stages, will start with recreational hikes along routes with little change in the terrain. Eventually, guided hikes of various lengths and difficulties will be offered for all people with disabilities. Hiking wheelchairs and assisted hiking chairs are available to program participants.
Wilderness camping trips take place at Camp Colley, a three-hour drive northeast of Phoenix. The program uses a camp area that has three platform tents with ramps that are wheelchair accessible and two accessible portable toilets. Two camping trips were completed in 2004.
Researchers at Arizona State University are compiling information about program participants and estimate that close to 400 people have participated in Daring Adventures programs, 80 percent of whom were people with disabilities.
Daring Adventures was funded by a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, beginning in October 2001 and slated to end September 2004. The grant supported a full-time coordinator and equipment, with the City’s Adaptive Recreation Services supporting the remaining staff. The program will continue through June 2005 because of the availability of funds resulting from a vacated position. Plans are under way to seek additional funds to extend the life of the program. Feedback from participants has been very positive.
For more information, see the City of Phoenix, Arizona, Web site at http://www.phoenix.gov/PRL/dadv.html.
For more information, contact
Linda Tuck
Phone: (602) 534-5683
i4CQuest-Focus: Outdoor "Adaptive Recreation" VA.gov Wilderness Adventure
LA booklet COMPLETE 2005 (PDF)
(310) 268-4350 www.gla.med.va.gov EIN#74-1612229 - F Donations enable ... wilderness and forest visitors. Also, protecting and maintaining trails and ...
www.lacfc.org/pages/pdf/2005_cfc_brochure.pdf
Livable Communities for Adults with Disabilities (PDF)
and outdoor adventures. Mr. Smith feels very fortunate to live in Model City,
... Veterans Healthcare Network, http://www1.va.gov/visns/visn03/nyinfo.asp ...
www.adagreatlakes.org/Publications/Newsletter/Miscellaneous/livablecommunities.pdf
Meet Mr (DOC)
The Department’s newest program is Daring Adventures, an outdoor
... of the VA NY/NJ Veterans Healthcare Network, http://www1.va.gov/visns/visn03/nyinfo.asp ...
www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/livablecommunities.doc
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, NW, Suite 850
Washington, D.C. 20004
Livable Communities for Adults with Disabilities
This report is also available in alternative formats and on the award-winning National Council on Disability (NCD) Web site (www.ncd.gov).
Publication date: December 2, 2004
Google Directory - Sports > Winter Sports > Skiing > Disabled_Skiing, biking and other outdoor sports for most disabilities.
... Veterans Winter Sports Clinic: Adaptive Skiing - http://www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2001/ ...
www.google.com/Top/Sports/Winter_Sports/Skiing/Disabled/
WELCOME TO THE COLORADO COMMUNITY RESOURCE GUIDE! (PDF)
Call (303)399-8020 x4557; www.va.gov or connie.holmes@med.va.gov.
... Wilderness Inquiry:. A year-round adaptive outdoor adventure program which ...
www.nationalmssociety.org/COC/more_content/client_programs/ColoradoCommunityResourceDirectory_2006.pdf
Excite España - Sports - Winter Sports - Skiing - Disabled
Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center ... Skiing, biking and other outdoor sports for most disabilities. ... http://www.va.gov/vetevent/wsc/2001/ ...
www.excite.es/directory/Sports/Winter_Sports/Skiing/Disabled
Livable Communities for Adults with Disabilities
The Department's newest program is Daring Adventures, an outdoor recreation program ... see the VA Web site at http://www1.va.gov/visns/visn03/nyinfo.asp.
www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/LivableCommunities.htm
MetroWest CIL Information and Referral Search Results
OUTDOOR Organization: WILDERNESS INQUIRY
Address: 808 14TH AVE. SE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55414-1516 ...
Web: http://www.visn1.med.va.gov/bedford/bedopc_fitch.htm ...
www.mwcil.org/cgi-bin/info/extractrecs.pl?in
Agency Directory (DOC)
Web Address: www.va.gov.
Contact Person: Mr. Jerry Yocom
... Provides recreation programs, traditional as well as outdoor adventure, to people of all ...
https://uwayreno.communityos.org/local/os010/posting_area/NV%20211%20Agency%20Dir%208-8-06.doc
Santa Clarita Valley General Plan (PDF)
http://www.va.gov/sta/guide/facility.asp?id=121. 1. August.
... Department also provides “adaptive recreation” programs ...
www.santa-clarita.com/vgp/tbr/SCV%20TBR%20(2004-02-27)%20-%20Web.pdf
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