Sports & Recreation

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America's Great Outdoors Initiative

Launched by President Obama in April 2010, this initiative from the U.S. Department of the Interior supports innovative community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces and to reconnect Americans to the outdoors. Learn more about the work of the National Park Service in making the "great outdoors" accessible to all.

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Veterans with Disabilities to Learn Life-Changing Skills at Summer Sports Clinic in San Diego

The third National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), will be held September 19 - 25, 2010 in San Diego, CA.  The event will teach recently-injured Veterans adaptive kayaking, sailing, track and field, cycling and surfing. Participation is open to Veterans who are eligible for VA medical care and have orthopedic amputations, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries, psychological trauma, certain neurological conditions, visual impairment, spinal cord injuries or other injuries.  A fact sheet about this sports clinic can be downloaded in PDF format.

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Accessibility Guidebook for Outfitters & Guides Operating on Public Lands

Provides guidance and suggestions for outfitters and guides regarding how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This guide is also available in PDF format.

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Accessibility Guidebook on Outdoor Recreation & Trails

Guidebook helps integrate accessibility into planning, design, construction and maintenance of outdoor recreation facilities and trails while maintaining the natural setting. It provides detailed information about accessibility requirements in an easy-to-use format with photos, illustrations and design tips.
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Accessibility at Federal Recreation Sites

Information and links regarding the accessibility of federal recreation sites for people with disabilities. For information on accessibility at specific National Parks or other federal lands, visit the Community Life section of Disability.gov and select a state from the drop down menu on the left-hand side of the page that says "Information by State".

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Accessible Playgrounds

Article on making playgrounds accessible and other resources for additional outdoor recreational activities.
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Adaptive Sports Equipment

Browse through Disabled Sports USA's listing of adaptive equipment that includes the "Renegade Wheelchair", a shooting rest for hunters and many devices and equipment that enable individuals with a range of disabilities to participate in sports such as fishing, cycling and golf.
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Adaptive Tools for Gardening

Provides information on adaptive tools for gardening and many other activities.
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Adaptive-Sailing Rehabilitation Program for Kids & Adults

Challenged America is an adaptive-sailing rehabilitation program for kids and adults with disabilities. The program has a fleet of seven Martin 16 sailboats adaptable to many disabilities. Its facilities are accessible and are equipped with lifts for sailors transferring from wheelchairs.

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American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP)

AAASP envisions a society where sports for youth with physical disabilities or visual impairments are a common and vital part of America's education system. Its work is based on the principles of the adaptedSPORTS' model, which includes standardization in the principles and practices of coaching youth in varied physical disability groups; training and certification of coaches and other sport and education professionals; and widespread availability of adapted sports equipment.
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American Special Hockey Association (ASHA)

ASHA offers people with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to play the sport of ice hockey in an environment that is adapted to their level of participation. Find a program near you.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Recreation Facilities

Information from the Access Board about accessibility guidelines that serve as the basis for standards to be adopted by the Department of Justice for new construction and alterations of recreation facilities covered by the ADA. The guidelines include scoping and technical provisions for amusement rides, boating facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses, miniature golf, sports facilities and swimming pools and spas.

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Boundless Playgrounds

Non-profit organization partners with local communities to build inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities can learn and play together. Find a boundless playground in your community.

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Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

A national leader in experiential education serving all people, while ensuring that the outdoors is accessible to those with special needs.

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Bureau of Land Management (DOI) Accessibility Program

Overview of the Bureau of Land Management's Accessibiity Program.
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Camp & Recreation without Barriers for Children & Adults with Disabilities

Information from the Easter Seals Web site regarding camps for children and adults with disabilities.
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Department of the Interior Disability Rights Coordinators

Contact information for Disability Rights Coordinators for the National Park Service, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and the Bureau of Reclamation.

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Disabled Sports USA

Offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent physical disability. Activities include winter skiing, summer and winter competitions, fitness and special sports events.
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Environmental Traveling Companions

Information on national organizations dedicated to making the outdoors accessible.
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Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from The National Institute on Aging

Information about the benefits of exercise for older people and the things that motivate people to become more active. The guide describes many types of exercise and physical activity. Includes tips to help you be active in ways that suit your lifestyle, interests, health and budget. This link opens a PDF document.
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Extreme Recess

An adaptive sports program offering children with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to participate in adventure.
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Family Support Center on Disabilities - Knowledge & Involvement Network

Offers information on such topics as early intervention and education, employment, legislation and policy, different disabilities, quality family supports and programs, health and mental health, housing, transportation and recreation. The Center also has personal stories from parents of children with disabilities.

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Forest Service Accessibility Guidelines on Outdoor Recreation

Information from the U.S. Forest Service on guidelines related to outdoor recreation facilities. These are the only final accessibility guidelines addressing these types of facilities that are key to accessible outdoor recreation. This link opens a Word document.
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Forest Service Accessibility Page

Provides links to information on accessible sites in National Forests and Grasslands and the Forest Service's accessibility guidelines.
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Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines

Information from the U.S. Forest Service on guidelines related to hiking trails. These are the only final accessibility guidelines addressing these types of facilities that are key to accessible hiking trails. Document is in Word format.
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Grand Canyon Accessibility Information

Information from the National Park Service regarding accessibility at the Grand Canyon.
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Improving Access to Outdoor Recreational Activities on Federal Lands

A study regarding ways to improve access for persons with disabilities to outdoor recreational opportunities. Document opens a PDF document.
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Just for Kicks, Inc.

Provides developmental soccer programs for children with disabilities ages 3-15. Non-profit corporation works with local, state, regional and national organizations to train staff or set up or provide programming for people with disabilities.
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Lakeshore Foundation

Non-profit organization provides opportunities for people with disabilities to pursue healthy, active lifestyles through physical activity in fitness, aquatic, recreation and sports programs. Includes special programs for youth and severely injured military personnel.

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Life Rolls On Foundation

Nonprofit foundation dedicated to increasing awareness of spinal cord injuries (SCI) among youth through recreational, educational and developmental programs and raising money for research for the treatment and cure of paralysis caused by SCI. Activities include the They Will Surf Again events that take place every summer.

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National Center on Accessibility (NCA)

Promotes access and inclusion for people with disabilities in parks, recreation and tourism. Read more about NCA's training programs on accessible parks and recreation.

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National Center on Accessibility to the Park & Recreation Environment

Technical assistance and research on access to parks, recreation and tourism for people with disabilities.

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National Center on Physical Activity & Disability

Offers a variety of resources for person with disabilities, fitness and exercise professionals, health professionals and researchers interested in disability and physical activity; includes links to numerous national and state sports organizations.

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National Park Service Accessibility Page

Provides information on the accessibility policies and programs and services provided throughout the U.S. National Park system.

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National Park Service America the Beautiful Access Pass

Formerly called the "Golden Access Passport," the Access Pass is a free, lifetime admission pass issued to U.S. citizens or persons who permanently reside in the U.S., regardless of age, and who have a medical determination and documentation of blindness or permanent disability. The pass is valid at National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service and Tennessee Valley Authority sites with admission fees.
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National Sports Center for the Disabled (NCSD)

NSCD is one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies in the world. Each year, thousands of children and adults with disabilities take to the ski slopes, mountain trails and golf courses to learn more about sports - and themselves. With specially trained staff and its own adaptive equipment lab, the NSCD teaches a variety of winter and summer sports and activities to individuals with almost any physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral diagnosis.
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National Wheelchair Basketball Association

Provides qualified individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to play, learn and compete in the sport of wheelchair basketball.
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Rectech

A National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center dedicated to using technology to promote more healthy, active lifestyles for people with disabilities.

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Summer Camps & Children with Learning Disabilities

Article regarding questions to consider when choosing summer camps for children with learning disabilities.
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Sun Valley Adaptive Sports

Offers a broad range of recreational and sports programs for children, teens, adults, as well as Service Members and Veterans. Programs are available to people with physical and cognitive disabilities including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), visual impairments and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Federally Assisted Program (FAP) - Accommodations for Persons with Disabilities

Policy ensuring that all programs, activities and facilities open to the general public and receiving Federal financial assistance from the Service are operated in a nondiscriminatory manner and are accessible to all persons with disabilities.
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Using a Fitness Center Does Not Have to Be An Exercise in Frustration

Tips for people with mobility and visual disabilities in using fitness centers, including information about some of the barriers experienced by people with disabilities when they use fitness facilities and ways to remove or reduce these barriers. This link opens a PDF document.
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Wilderness Inquiry

Wilderness Inquiry is a non-profit organization that focuses on getting people from all walks of life, including people with disabilities, to experience the natural world. The organizations offers a wide variety of canoe, sea kayak, dogsled, raft, horse pack and hiking trips throughout North America and the World.
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Yellowstone National Park Information for Visitors with Disabilities

Many park facilities and major areas of interest, such as Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, Canyon, Grant Village, Madison and Norris have been judged to be negotiable by wheelchair users without assistance. More information about accessibility at Yellowstone National Park can be found in the brochure Visitors Guide to Accessible Features in Yellowstone National Park.

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Yosemite National Park Accessibility Guide

Information from the National Park Service regarding accessibility at Yosemite National Park. This link opens a PDF document.
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