VA Grants Boost Adaptive Sports

An estimated 10,000 disabled veterans are expected to benefit from the $8 million in grants that the Department of Veterans Affairs will award to sports programs for 2018. Groups in all 50 states will get a cut of the money to use in planning, managing and implementing their programs.

These programs range from city and regional sports, community groups, and parks and rec to sports clinics, wheelchair games and golf tournaments

… even to preparation for Paralympic competition.

Here are just a few of the sports the grants have covered: triathlon, table tennis, basketball, rowing, martial arts, swimming, rafting, wheelchair rugby, archery, judo, climbing, fishing, soccer, powerlifting and slalom. This year the grants covered events in both summer (kayaking, surfing, sailing) and winter (skiing, curling, hockey), sports clinics, Golden Age games (seniors over age 55), bowling, shooting and cycling, a creative arts festival and wheelchair games. The programs offered get bigger every year.

Interested in participating? For one thing, it’s a lot of fun, and you’ll meet others with the same challenges, goals and determination. If you think you’re not quite up to it yet, talk to your clinical team about what you can do to get ready to participate in adaptive programs.

And just so you know … a new study of adaptive sports found that benefits included increased employment, self-confidence and a peer-education system. Add in independence, reduced need for pain and depression medication and fewer secondary medical conditions, and it’s worth checking out.

To learn more, go online to www.va.gov/adaptivesports. If you’ll be training at the Paralympic level, there is a monthly stipend to help with expenses, if you qualify. Check the website for details.