Being elected to attend the first National Paralympic Academy was an experience I hope to pass on to future Alaskan athletes. It was inspiring and I believe there is no reason why a physically disabled Alaskan athlete can't set their goal on bringing home a gold medal for the United States.
In Alaska we have some great opportunities for kids with special needs, however a kid with a physical disability does not have a lot of opportunity to compete with like peers. During our last night at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs we had an awards banquet in which I was sitting at a table with five wheelchair athletes from the east coast. It was a privilege to hear the conversations about their wheelchair basketball team and the impact it has on their lives both physically and socially. I too have been competitive in sports and believe there is a place for competition for kids who receive adapted physical education services and want to excel. These kids deserve opportunities to compete and be the best they can be physically.
Presently there are 11 universities that offer adaptive athletics to the physically disabled athlete. Many of them also provide financial assistance and scholarships. We in Alaska need to make it possible for our students to be candidates for these opportunities and if our athletes are good enough, to represent our country by making the US Paralympic team in a number of events. Please take a moment to browse their Web site and find out what you can do to inspire others around you!
Teachers in the APE department are excited to volunteer with Challenge Alaska to offer the Blaze Sports Program which addresses this void in Alaska athletics. Consider volunteering today!
