Blog — adaptive athlete

  Move your body, change your mind." What does that mean? Studies show that when you physically move your body, your mindset, emotions, and mind change and move with it. Daily Habits that maintain or improve your physical health, do the same for your mental health.   Physical activity has been proven to be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, and other psychological mental health disabilities, which we know are more common and likely to coexist with people who have another disability already.   Exercise is medicine. In many cases, aerobic activities, strength training, yoga, hiking, and biking...

Meet Patrick DeLapp, a coach and board member for the Special Olympics. Patrick is extremely involved in the supporting and advocating for the disabled community.He not only walks the walk, but he also talks the talk. When asked why Patrick has such a heart for the community, he shared that he has an older brother who has intellectual disabilities.Patrick shared that he grew up first hand seeing how athletics gave his brother a community of friends and people he could connect with since most other aspects of life for him were very difficult and often lacked confidence.Patrick was always an...

Meet Oksana Masters, a 5x Paralympic athlete. Oksana was born in Ukraine in 1989 with both of her legs damaged by in-utero radiation poisoning from Chernobyl, a nuclear reactor incident 3 years prior. She was born with six toes on each foot, five webbed fingers on each hand, and no thumbs. Her left leg was six inches shorter than her right and both were missing weight-bearing bones. Oksana was given up for adoption from birth because her birth "defects" were going to require lots of medical help. After living in 3 different orphanages, she was adopted by an American woman...

When children are young it's natural for a child to have an ego centric mindset. They don't realize the diversity and differences there are in the world. Children are to busy learning about their relationships and environment to notice that every person is unique and different in their own way.  As children get older, they start to notice and become observant of the differences and start comparing things and people. For a child with a disability, this can the age that they first realize "hey something is different about me" and begin comparing themselves to their peers and adults around...

                     Meet Xabier Osa. Xabi was born without part of his left arm. In addition he was also born without some fingers on his right hand and his legs were arched.       Xabi shared that he struggled to find something he was good at his whole life. From a young age he was constantly looking for something or somewhere that made him feel like he had a purpose.     As he got older he started working out to have a fit body and felt that this would be a...