Allison Bertram
On a cold Saturday afternoon, the Council of Students with Disabilities brought a different meaning to sports through their 2nd Annual Adaptive Sports Day event. Community members and MSU students came together at IM Sports Circle to learn new ways to play sports, relieve stress, and interact with Spartans of all physical abilities, while all playing on one platform.
At the first annual Adaptive Sports Day in 2015, all of the sports were hosted at the first floor gym. This year, the event expanded to the second floor, offering a larger opportunity for participants to try out more sports. The first floor gym offered wheelchair versions of tennis, basketball, and hockey, as well as adaptive cycling. The second floor gym hosted bocce ball, goal ball, and adaptive volleyball. In just one year, the recreational space offered to participants doubled, lending a bigger opportunity to learn about different ways we can all be active.
Katie Feirer, president of the Council of Students with Disabilities, felt the success of this year’s event: “This year we had two new sports, adaptive volleyball and hockey. They were our biggest hits this year. Having never seen adaptive volleyball played before, it was awesome to see how the sport can become adaptive,” she stated.
Per4Max Medical provided the sport wheelchairs for this year’s event. They are a Texas and Michigan-based company that hand-builds both everyday and sport wheelchairs. Per4Max takes pride in the fact that these wheelchairs are built “for active and disabled individuals, by active and disabled individuals.”
Bryan Wilkinson, a long-time wheelchair tennis athlete and member of MSU Wheelchair Tennis, gave pointers to people that were new to the sport. He said, “Adaptive Sports Day is a great opportunity for people to get connected with a sport that they think they would enjoy. Wheelchair tennis is a life sport and can be done at any age level and any level of play.”
PEAC (Programs to Educate All Cyclists) generously supplied all of the different kinds of cycles at the event, and had representatives there to help anyone of any ability to have a smooth ride around the gym. Their generosity has proved to be a big hit at both the 2015 and 2016 Adaptive Sports Days, and they have continually proven that in one way or another, “Everyone can ride”.
Michigan State offers a variety of adaptive sports. For more information on how to get involved, visit the MSU Adaptive Recreation page.
At the end of the day, various prizes were presented to participants from the MSU Union Spirit Shop, RCPD, and Coral Gables Restaurant. The inclusive event was another way to celebrate ability and it was enjoyed by all.