Monika Johnson
At the RCPD Awards andAppreciation Reception in April, five MSU students will receive recognitionfrom the Athletes with Disabilities Network for their admirable accomplishmentsand activities. Each student has excelled in their athletic field and beenexemplary of the ability to succeed despite obstacles, displaying enthusiasmand perseverance.
Having honored nearly 100 athletes since its establishment in 1999, the Athletes with DisabilitiesNetwork is composed of individuals who share a passion for life and adedication to inspire others through their words, actions, and giving back tothe greater community. All recognized men and women have overcome physicalchallenges to become both elite athletes and superior role models. In 2009, theAthletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame was formally established as asubsidiary of the education, outreach, and advocacy organization Easter Sealsin Michigan, and renamed as the Athletes with Disabilities Network. Theorganization, which seeks to promote a better quality of life for athletes withphysical disabilities, coordinates the international Extremity Games. In thesummer of 2008, an ADN scholarship was established to support athletes withdisabilities at Michigan State University. The 2011 recipients participate in arange of activities and will be recognized at the Awards Reception on April 15th.
Beau Matthew LaFave will enter his Freshman year at Michigan StateUniversity in the fall of 2011. Born with congenital defects to his left hand,arm, and leg, he uses prosthetic devices to maintain mobility. Despite thisobstacle, he competed on the Kingsford High Schoool Bowling Team for fouryears, competing to the caliber of his fellow high schoolers. "After a fewweeks of practices, I became aware of an increase in muscle mass on both sidesof my body. I also realized how the countless hours of practice positivelyimpacted both my physical endurance and my ability to concentrate duringclass," LaFave said. He will major in Political Science.
An alumnus of MSU's James Madison College and current graduate student inthe MSU Rehabilitation Counseling program, Piotr Pasik was diagnosed withCerebral Palsy at age two in Poland. In order to have access to greater medicalresources, his family moved to the United States in 1994. "I come from acountry where soccer is second to none. Thus naturally I chose to play soccerdespite my disability," he said. Competing in intramural soccer at MSU for thepast seven years, he turned his passion into a way to spread awareness aboutthe ability of individuals with disabilities. In his future a career as arehabilitation counselor, he hopes to emphasize the importance of athletics inall aspects of life.
Adam Tibble, a rising Senior at MSU studying Human Biology, has integratedathletics into his life from a young age. Throughout his life, he hasparticipated in hockey, baseball, football, basketball, cross country, trackand field, skiing, bowling, swimming, and volleyball. Although his parentsperceived his visual disability to inhibit his ability to play visually demandingsports, they were supportive of his pursuits. "baseball was my toughest sport.Iwas able to pick up the path of the baseball late in the pitch so as a lefthanded hitter I almost always hit the ball down the third baseline, which wasat times frustrating. Hockey was easier for me since I could see the contrastof the black puck on the white ice," he said. Despite these obstacles, he wasable to achieve his goals athletically and hopes to enter the MSU College ofOsteopathic Medicine in June 2012. Tibble also served as the Treasurer for theMSU Adaptive Sports club.
Stephanie Forton, a sophomore studying Athletic Training, says she has had astrong passion for sports since she was five years old. Her visual impairmentwas no match for her desire to participate in athletics such as basketball andsoccer. "I tended to notice the visual impairment a little bit more in soccerthan I did in basketball because the size of the playing field in soccer was somuch bigger. I simply came up with different tricks that would help mecompensate," she said. Forton stated her thankfulness to her team members, friends,and most of all her parents and family, who were supportive of the opportunityto play sports despite obstacles. In the future, she hopes to impact accessibilityof athletics for people with disabilities.
McKayla Hanson is a junior studying Kinesiology. After losing her right legat the age of seven, she became an avid rock climber in high school. She hascompeted in the Extremity Games, a competition held annually for people withdisabilities who live by the motto, "There's No Replacement for theCompetitive Spirit." In addition to rock climbing, she will participate inher first full half ironman competition this year. By using a hand cycle toreplace the running portion, she will complete the race in California. Herfuture career goal is to become a physical therapist and assist other people intheir development and recovery from injuries. "I remember after losing my legmy mother gave me two options for the direction of my life, a.) Give up andfeel sorry for yourself or b.) Get up and make a difference. I chose option b becauseI only have one life to live on Earth and I better get the most out of it!" shesaid.
Each student, though overcoming challenges, has no limit in their drive tosucceed. Their participation in sports displays their courage, confidence, andpassion, and has positively shaped the way they and others see themselves.While recognition from the Athletes with Disabilities Network is financiallybeneficial, it also serves the purpose of advertising to others that they havebroken stereotypes to participate in activities that many may considerunfathomable.