#1 and #2 have both become quite good XC skiers. It took some ingenuity to get there [1]. Now there's a new option to make winter more fun... (emphases mine):
Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - Cross-Country Skiing:
... Adaptive Cross-Country Ski Program
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is teaming up with the Loppet Foundation and Courage Center to offer an Adaptive Cross Country Ski Program for individuals with visual impairments, physical and/or developmental disabilities.
Athletes will be paired one-on-one with instructors trained by Courage Center, with sessions culminating with the Luminary Loppet candlelit ski, part of the City of Lakes Loppet Cross-Country Ski Festival.... Five Thursday Sessions: Jan. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 6:30-8 p.m. (meet at the Wirth Par 3 building) Cost: $95, includes equipment, trail passes, coaching, and registration fee for the Luminary Loppet (with transportation to and from the event).
The authors omitted directions on how to sign up for this (oops), but see the update below..
See also:
- Minnesota Special Hockey: Minnesota has the world's largest special hockey program [2] for persons with cognitive disabilities -- including people who play on a sliding seat. #1 and #2 have played for about six years, we just started another season (Facebook: Eagles). Our latest challenge: players who, over the course of years, have developed to a rec league skill level.
- Sports and athletic participation for special needs students -- and all non-elite students: American school sport programs resemble American medicine -- great for the elite, otherwise not so hot.
- Adventures in special needs – A Nordic ski resort. This was ambitious.
- National Sports Center for the Disabled - summer and winter recreation in Winter Park, Colorado: Amazing program.
- Pushing the envelope does not always go well There are always risks.
- MSP Trails - Twin Cities Bike, Ski and Skate: Cross-country skiing and skijoring: Minnesota DNR excels
- Gordon's Notes: Nordic skiing: how to tow a kid (when you're starting out. I called this Skidadding. I wonder though about skijoring for special needs ski training ...)
[1] I've never fully documented the Machiavellian program I followed. #3 is neurotypical, and loves to do special things with her mother. So they did an intro class together. #2 (Asperger's) is not a natural skier, but he is fiercely competitive with #2. So we played on that to get him to outrace her. That left #1, who is a natural athlete -- once we have Mom, #2 and #3 and skijoring dog on board he will naturally go along. It unfolded as planned.
[2] Largest in North America, and we don't think any other country has a larger program.
Update 12/28/2012
Some more information on how to register: contact "Nels Dyste; nels.dyste@CourageCenter.org".
No comments:
Post a Comment