OAS becomes U.S. paralympic sport club
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and Oregon Adaptive Sports have partnered to create Paralympic Sport Central Oregon.
Paralympic Sport Central Oregon is a community-based sports club developed to involve youth and adults, including active duty service members and veterans, with physical and visual disabilities in ongoing sports and physical activity, regardless of skill level. All programs and activities will be based around Bend and run by Oregon Adaptive Sports.
“U.S. Paralympics is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with physical and visual disabilities to be physically active in their own communities. Participation in physical activity enhances not only self-esteem and peer relationships, but also results in greater achievement, better overall health and higher quality of life,” said Mike Mushett, U.S. Paralympics Director of Community Programs.
With 21 million Americans living with a physical or visual disability, including thousands of military personnel who’ve been severely injured while on active duty, this is an important community need.
For 16 years, Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS) has been providing safe and affordable outdoor winter recreation opportunities to people with disabilities. Through participation in OAS programs, participants, athletes and families gain confidence and independence, build self-esteem, meet positive role models and enjoy an enhanced quality of life.
OAS Executive Director Christine Brousseau said, “We are excited for OAS to become an official partner of the U.S. Paralympics and to have a Paralympic Sport Club here in Central Oregon for athletes and participants to be a part of. OAS is committed to bringing the opportunities that our programs provide to individuals with disabilities and this partnership helps to strengthen that commitment.”
Paralympic Sport Clubs will soon be located in all 50 states in the U.S. and the network continues to grow.
For more information about U.S. Paralympics, please contact Beth Bourgeois at (719) 866-2039 or beth.bourgeois@usoc.org.
About U.S. Paralympics:
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Paralympic sports movement and to promoting excellence in the lives of persons with physical disabilities. Visit the U.S. Paralympics website at www.usparalympics.org.
About Oregon Adaptive Sports:
Oregon Adaptive Sports has been breaking barriers in Central Oregon since 1996, providing people with disabilities ,and their families, opportunities for outdoor recreation. Our goal is to nurture the human spirit and foster self-confidence and independence. We currently offer instructional programs in alpine and Nordic skiing and snowboarding, at both Hoodoo and Mt. Bachelor ski resorts. To prevent cost from being a barrier to participation, we rely on the support of hundreds of volunteers, businesses, donors and sponsors.
