News Article: "The disabled find new ways to enjoy the outdoors"

A disability does not necessarily prevent you from participating in a physical sport or activity. 20-year-old Brianne Jones was always fond of skiing. Jones learned to ski during an Adaptive Ski Program at Waterville Valley ski resort in New Hampshire. Jones was a resident and a sophomore at Fitchburg State University. She was  born with cerebral palsy, an abnormal brain development that can affect body movement and muscle coordination. However, this did not stop Jones from doing what she loved. Jones learned how to ski at the age of twelve, due to the recent development of skis for people in wheelchairs.  

Brianne Jones knew that with her disability it would be more difficult for her to learn such a sport. However the difficulty in learning how to ski is not necessarily due to Jone’s physical limitations, but rather the access to the right programs and equipment. Equipment costs a lot of money, and oftentimes it is not even covered by health insurance. Jones' wheelchair alone costs $30,000. Luckily, Adaptive Ski Programs are increasing in numbers and budget. Craig Kennedy, president of Access Anything says, “You would be har pressed to find any sport out there these days that is not adapted to people with mobility impairments” (Rouba 106). The Adaptive Ski Program at the Waterville Valley ski resort was created to teach kids who are mentally and physically challenged how to ski, or in their own words “fly.” The students get to experience a new sense of freedom as they slide down the slope unencumbered by a wheelchair or brace. The program was founded in 1992 by Kathy Chandler and is still up and running to this day. The program is guided by over eighty instructors and trained volunteers to assist seven days a week.With increased accessibility and advancements in technology, many people with disabilities are finding more ways to be active with sports such as hunting, skiing, mountain climbing, and many others. 

The first adaptive ski programs were created for veterans after World War One. It enabled veterans and others with disabilities to participate in high mountain range skiing by using special equipment. Now it isn’t just skiing, they also have a wide range of other adaptive sports like snowboarding and sit skiing. Skiing is a therapeutic experience forindividuals who seek adventure and love the outdoors and with the increase of ski adaptive programs across the country, it’s accessible to everyone. If you set your mind to it you can accomplish your greatest goals, no matter the circumstance. Erik Weihenmayer is an American athlete, adventurer, author, activist and motivational speaker. He was the first blind person in recorded history to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This all took place on May 25th, 2001. Weihenmayer is living proof of how anyone’s goals are attainable if you put the time and effort it takes to achieve exactly what you want.

Paul Edwards of Winchendon participated in the Paralympic Games, the U.S team for disabled skiers. However, due to a skiing accident he was forced to quit to prevent further injury. Edwards often says he looks back on his time in the Paralympics and wishes he could turn back the clock to participate again.

Everyone should be able to experience outdoor activities and this includes people with disabilities. Just being outdoors and active has many health benefits: “A lower level of anxiety can be produced to those participating in sports or physical activity” (Shakespeare). Sports are not just limited to the physically abled, but can be adapted to include those with any disabilities.

Lawton, Emma, et al. “The Relationship between the Physical Activity Environment, Nature Relatedness, Anxiety, and the Psychological Well-Being Benefits of Regular Exercisers.”​ FrontiersinPsychology,​ 26 June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5483473/.

Rouba, Kelly. Juvenile Arthritis: The Ultimate Teen Guide. Scarecrow, 2009.

Shakespeare, Tom. ​Disability: the Basics​. Routledge, 2018.