The Paralympic Experience program introduces individuals with physical and visual disabilities to Paralympic sport on the local and international levels. The goal of the program is show individuals with physical and visual disabilities how participation in sport and living a healthy, active lifestyle can have a profoundly positive impact on their lives.
Paralympic Sport Clubs, located in more than 150 communities across the U.S., annually host a one-day Paralympic Experience event that exposes local participants to a variety of Paralympic sport opportunities available in the community.
Thank you to the 71 organizations who hosted Paralympic Experience events in their communities in 2011. Dates for 2012 will be posted as they are scheduled.
2012 Paralympic Experience events
Mesa, Ariz. - January 14
Archery, Track & Field
Contact: lane@arizonadisablesports.com
Burlington, Vt. - January 21-22
Alpine Skiing
Contact: north@vermontadaptive.org
Austin, Texas - January 21
Sled Hockey
Contact: lturner19@austin.rr.com
Tampa, Fla. - February 11
Soccer, Field, Handcycling, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis
Contact: dsportshcprd@aol.com
Boulder, Colo. - February 11
Wheelchair Basketball, Handcycling, Judo, Wheelchair Rugby, Alpine Skiing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Track
Contact: heilveilj@bouldercolorado.gov
Burlington, Vt. - February 19
Sled Hockey
Contact: patrick.standen@myfairpoint.net
Houston, Texas - March 3
Basketball, Quad Rugby, Tennis, Volleyball
Contact: charles.french@houstontx.gov
Miami, Fla. - March 10
Basketball, Boccia, Canoe/Kayak, Goalball, Handcycling, Tandem Cycling and Tennis
Contact: jsantia@miamidade.gov
Anchorage, Alaska - March 10-11
Alpine Skiing
Contact: jeff@challengealaska.org
Birmingham, Ala. - March 17
Biathlon, Sled Hockey
Contact: maryallisonm@lakeshore.org
Richmond, VA. - March 22
Basketball, Boccia, Rowing, Sitting Volleyball and Table Tennis
Contact: becky@sportable.org
Iowa City - March 31
Archery and Sitting Volleyball
Contact: sherri@sportabilityofiowa.org
N. Myrtle Beach, S.C. - April 13
Basketball, Field and Tennis
Contact: mechappell@nmb.us
Irving, Texas - April 14
Handcycling, Canoe/Kayak
Contact: pgray@riseadventures.org
Mammoth Lakes, Calif. - April 14
Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing and Biathlon
Contact: mpalchak@disabledsportseasternsierra.org
Denver, Colo. - April 14
Soccer
Contact: KDomi9nguez@nscd.org
Wilmette Ill. - April 19
Cycling, Kayaking, Running, Skiing, Swimming, Traithlon
Contact: elizabeth@adaptiveadventures.org
Mammoth Lakes, Calif. - April 21
Alpine and nordic skiing, biathlon
Contact: mpalchak@disabledsportseasternsierra.org
Sacramento Calif. - May 5
Goalball, handcycling, quad rugby, sled hockey, track and field and wheelchair basketball
Contact: jyarrow@cityofsacramento.org
Sugar Land, Texas - May 12
Sled Hockey
Contact: jim@starskaters.org
Durham, N.C. - May 12
Basketball, Tennis, Fencing, Handcycling, Volleyball, Yoga
Contact: fiona@bridge2sports.org
Tinley Park, Ill. - May 12
Handcycling
Contact: tammy@sssra.org
Alsip, Ill. - May 12
Handcycling
Contact: wjhelling@swsra.com
Oak Lawn, Ill. - May 12
Handcycling
Contact: jcanty@olparks.com
Saginaw, Mich. - May 31
Archery, Handcycling, Shooting, Swimming, Track & Field
Contact: coup@misportsunlimited.com
Crystal Lake, Ill. – June 6
Northern Illinois Special Recreation
Handcycling, track and field
Contact: ddauphin@nisra.com
Vancouver, Wash. – June 9
Northwest Association of Blind Athletes
Cycling, goalball, judo
Contact: billy@nwaba.org
Lincoln, N.H. – June 10
New England Disabled Sports
Cycling and sailing
Contact: amberb@nedisabledsports.org
Salt Lake City, Utah – June 12
University of UT Health Care - TRAILS
Alpine and nordic skiing, handcycling, kayaking, power socer, quad rugby, softball, tennis and wheelchair basketball
Contact: tanja.kari@hsc.utah.edu
Newport, R.I. - June 16
Sail to Prevail
Sailing
Contact: alex@sailtoprevail.org
Austin, Texas - June 16
Rowing
Contact: dianem@ku.edu
St. Peters, Mo. – June 20
Disabled Athlete Sports Association
Archery, fencing, tennis, track & field
Contact: joshp@dasasports.org
Menlo Park, Calif. – June 23
Riekes Center
Archery, fencing, goalball, sit volleyball, table tennis, wheelchair rugby
Contact: skelleher@riekes.org
Eugene Ore. - June 30
Fencing, goalball, tennis and wheelchair basketball
Contact: patty.1.prather@ci.eugene.or.us
Midvale, Utah – June 30
Salt Lake County
Basketball, curling, cycling, hockey, rugby
Contact: jburley@slco.org
Wayne, Ind. - June 30
Curling, Goalball, Power Soccer, Sled Hockey
Contact: tina@turnstone.org
W. Henrietta, N.Y. – June 30
CapeAbility Outrigger Ohana, Inc.
Paracanoe
Contact: janwhitaker@frontier.net
Houston, Texas - July 8
TIRR Memorial Hermann
Basketball, handcycling, kayaking, sled hockey
Contact: genny.gomez@memorialhermann.org
San Jose, Calif. – July 9-14
City of San Jose
Archery, boccia, sled hockey, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair lacrosse
Contact: dominique.pacolba@sanjoseca.gov
Milwaukee, Wis. – July 17
Milwaukee Recreation
Goalball, handcycling, track and field, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair softball
Contact: art@milwuakeerecreation.net
Falmouth, Mass. - July 19
Cape Cod Curling Club
Curling
Contact: colacchio@verizon.net
Santa Cruz, Calif. – July 21
Shared Adventures
Kayaking, outrigger canoe and scuba
Contact: foster@sharedadventures.org
Seattle, Wash. - Aug. 5
Seattle Adaptive Sports
Sled hockey
Contact: tami@seattleadaptivesports.org
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Aug. 11
Cycling, Track & Field, Wheelchair Basketball
HOPE Network
Contact: sikora@zoominternet.com
Guthrie, Okla. - Aug. 18
Canoe, Kayak, Sailing, Waterski Greater
Oklahoma Disabled Sports Association
Contact: greg.horneber@integris-health.com
Verona, Wis. - Aug. 19
Biathlon and Nordic Skiing (dryland)
Central Cross Country Ski Association
Contact: john.brown@cxcskiing.org
Southfield, Mich. - Aug. 22
Handcycling, Sitting Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball
Oakland County Parks
Contact: doreys@oakgov.com
Addison, Ill. - Aug. 25
Basketball, Boccia, Soccer
Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association
Contact: akramer@nedsra.org
San Marcos, Texas – Sept. 8
Team River Runner Texas
Kayaking
Contact: ben.kvanli@olympian.org
Parkton, Md. – Sept. 8
Cycling, Rowing, Skiing, Waterskiing
Baltimore Adapted Sports and Recreation
Contact: pam4bars@aol.com
New Orleans, La. - Sept. 15
Boccia, Field, Power Lifting, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Softball
SMCL Foundation & Associates
Contact: jleepva@cox.net
Tulsa, Okla. - Sept. 15
Boccia, Sitting Volleybal, Wheelchair Basketball
Contact: mcrossno@tulsacenter.org
Mountainside, N.J. - Sept. 15
Tennis
Children's Lightning Wheels
Contact: tyurochko@childrens-specialized.org
Brighton, Mass. - Sept. 15
Rowing
Community Rowing
Contact: chris@communityrowing.org
New Orleans, La. – Sept. 15
Basketball, Boccia, Field, Powerlifting, Softball
Louisiana GUMBO
Contact: carey33452@aol.com
Berkeley, Calif. – Sept. 15
Cycling, goalball, power soccer, sled hockey, wheelchair basketball
Bay Area Outreach Recreation Program
Contact: trooper@borp.org
Louisville, Ky. - Sept. 22
Archery, Basketball, Field, Fencing, Handcycling, Rugby, Rowing and Sled Hockey
Frazier Rehab Institute
Louisville Parks and Recreation
Contact: jill.farmer@jhsmh.org and bj.levis@louisvilleky.gov
Harker Heights, Texas - Sept. 22
Archery, Basketball, Sitting Volleyball
City of Harker Heights
Contact: jbrown@ci.harker-heights.tx.us
Rolling Meadows, Ill. - Sept. 23
Boccia, Softball, Tennis
NWSRA
Contact: ebontly@nwsra.org
Oklahoma City, Okla. - Sept. 29
Canoe, Kayak, Rowing
Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation
Contact: sandrusiak@okcbf.org
Augusta, Ga. – Sept. 29
Cycling, Track & Field, Swimming
Champions Made From Adversity
Contact: kgeden@cmfa.us
Leonardtown, Md. – Oct. 6
Archery, Cycling, Shooting and Swimming
St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks
Contact: christina.bishop@stmarysmd.com
Nashville, Tenn. – Oct. 6
Archery, Cycling, Goalball, Golf and Soccer
Tennessee Association of Blind Athletes
Contact: tnaba@bellsouth.net
Vancouver, Wash. – Oct. 6
Goalball, judo, tandem cycling
Northwest Association of Blind Athletes
Contact: billy@nwaba.org
Kyle, Texas – Oct. 6
Fencing
San Antonio Fencing Center
Contact: wedge@austin.rr.com
Boise, Idaho - Oct. 6-7
Paratriathlon, Running, Swimming, Cycling, Tennis, Rugby, and possibly Goalball
Treasure Valley YMCA
Contact: mike.kapuscinski@ymcatvidaho.org
Vancouver, Wash. - Oct. 9-10
Goalball, judo, showdown, tandem cycling
Northwest Association of Blind Athletes
Contact: billy@nwaba.org
Reno, Nev. - Oct. 12-13
Basketball, Cycling, Sitting Volleyball
Contact: wolfea@reno.gov
Centerville, Ohio – Oct. 27
Sled Hockey
Miami Valley Association of Disabled Athletes
Contact: mvada@ymail.com
University Park, Pa. – Oct. 28
Basketball, Cycling, Powerlifting, Sled Hockey and Track and Field
Penn State Ability Athletics
Contact: txj3@psu.edu
Centerville, Ohio – Nov. 4
Wheelchair Basketball
Miami Valley Association of Disabled Athletes
Contact: mvada@ymail.com
Centerville, Ohio – Nov. 10
Wheelchair Basketball
Miami Valley Association of Disabled Athletes
Contact: mvada@ymail.com
Lake Forest, Ill. - Nov. 11
Boccia, Field, Goalball, Handcycling, Power Soccer, Sled Hockey, Weightlifting,Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Track
Great Lake Adaptive Sports Association
Contact: chousner@glasa.org
Casper, Wy. - Nov. 17
Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross Country Skiing
Casper Mountain Biathlon Club
Contact: cnyrkkanen@caspermountainbiathlonclub.org
San Diego, Calif. - Dec. 2
Wheelchair basketball
San Diego Adaptive Sports Foundation
Contact: jon@sdasf.org