Wide World of Adaptive Sports

On Sunday June 14th, 2009 Kulanu, together with the Five Towns JCC, CAHAL, and TOVA, held its first Wide World of Adaptive Sports symposium for parents and their children with special needs at HAFTR Elementary school. Coaching parents in the techniques of breaking down sports to adaptive skills for their children, parents and children spent the morning at karate, yoga, basketball, soccer and aerobics workshops run by Kulanu specialists and visiting professionals. Information tables for other adaptive sporting events such as golf, baseball, horseback riding, Special Olympics, and track and field events were on hand. As an added perk, the first fifty participants were given free bike helmets.
The highlight of the day featured an inclusion baseball game played by Kulanu members and special guests from the Young Israel of Woodmere’s little league team. Parents burst with pride as their children hit, ran and fielded during the game. One parent commented that she’d like to someday see “kids with special needs integrated into community little league teams.”
Steven Cuomo, founder of Rolling Thunder, a Track and Field team that includes individuals with disabilities running side-by-side with “typical” runners, enthused about the importance of getting all kids involved in sports.
“In the classroom you can tell the difference between a child with autism and the others. Put the same group of teens on a track field and they all are same. It’s time we stated focusing on peoples abilities and help them build on their strengths instead of looking at what they can’t do.”
All participants were given a take-home guide to special needs sports that Kulanu compiled. If you would like a copy of the guide and further information about the many programs available to families with children with disabilities, please contact Leiby Brill at 516-569-6664 or e-mail to leiby@kulanukids.org.