Nike Rolls Out Backpack Prioritizing Accessibility

 Nearly a decade after reimagining the way shoes are designed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, Nike is doing the same thing for backpacks. Read More >

Teen With Cerebral Palsy Wins $1 Million 'Ninja Warrior' Prize

 As a kid with cerebral palsy, Vance Walker was told that he might not ever walk without some form of assistance. Now, the 18-year-old is the best ninja warrior in the nation. Read More >

Ironman With Down Syndrome Lobbies For Neurodivergent Athlete Category

 The first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman is challenging race directors to create a special competitive category for neurodivergent athletes at every running event in the world. Read More >

ESPN To Honor Athlete With Down Syndrome

 

A triathlete who became the first Ironman with Down syndrome will receive a prestigious award from ESPN on national television. Read More >

Autism Symptoms Wash Away at Surf Camps

Surf camps held at more than a dozen spots around the globe have become a destination for those with autism and their families. Read More >

Athlete With Cerebral Palsy Signs College Wrestling Scholarship

Though cerebral palsy forces him to use a walker, Devon Berry's upper body strength more than compensates and he's just accepted a college wrestling scholarship. 
http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/11/13/athlete-cp-scholarship/20957/

Special Olympics Underway In Los Angeles

For the first time in six years, the Special Olympics World Games are underway in the United States, bringing together thousands of athletes with disabilities for a week of competition.  There is coverage of this on ESPN, and FB.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/07/27/special-olympics-underway/20501/

Special Olympian Leaves Mark After Decades Of Competition

One of the most prominent Special Olympics athletes in the world -- who won some 250 medals and hobnobbed with everyone from the Clintons to Muhammad Ali -- has died.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/05/29/special-olympian-leaves-mark/20342/

Sports Illustrated Honors Teen On The Spectrum

A runner with autism is Sports Illustrated's High School Athlete of the Month.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/02/19/sports-illustrated-spectrum/20075/

Athletes With Special Needs To Get All-Star Treatment

Athletes with disabilities will share in the spotlight as the NBA's All-Stars converge at Madison Square Garden this weekend.  Athletes With Special Needs To Get All-Star Treatment

Athletes With Disabilities Eye College Competition

For the first time, a sport designed specifically to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities is being played competitively at the collegiate level.    http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/01/09/athletes-college-competition/19953/

Sports for All: Working to Get Children with Physical Disabilities “Off the Sidelines and into the Game”

By Blogger Terri Hickman Grunduski, Co-Founder, Grunduski Group  
http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2013/08/28/sports-for-all-working-to-get-children-with-physical-disabilities-off-the-sidelines-and-into-the-game/

12 Important Things to Remember About Adaptive Sports for Children with Disabilities

By Blogger Dr. Darla Clayton, Founder, Strong as Steel Adaptive Sports Finding sports opportunities for kids with disabilities is not always as simple as going down to the local soccer club for sign-ups.  Many families are not located near an existing adaptive sports team. However, this certainly doesn’t make our kids less interested in sports – or less in need of physical fitness opportunities! Hopefully including children w/ disabilities in sports will soon get even easier, thanks to new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education that clarifies that school districts are legally obligated to provide equal access to extracurricular athletic activities to students with disabilities.  http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2013/04/03/12-important-things-to-remember-about-adaptive-sports-for-children-with-disabilities/

Extracurricular Athletics for Students with Disabilities

The ADA National Network will be hosting an audio conference on April 16 from 2-3:30 EDT titled “Extracurricular Athletic Opportunities for Students with Disabilities: Understanding the Issues.” Presented in collaboration with the Inclusive Fitness Coalition, the presentation will address main points from the recent guidance on this subject from the Office for Civil Rights. There is no charge to participants who listen through web-based audio.  http://www.ada-audio.org/Schedule/#fy2013session7

Athlete with Down Syndrome Wins Sports Illustrated Award

A teen with Down syndrome whose quest to compete on his high school football team made national news will be honored by Sports Illustrated after securing support from fans across the country.

Under Michigan rules, Eric Dompierre was ineligible to play high school sports during his senior year because at age 19 he had aged out. But instead of giving up, Dompierre convinced the Michigan High School Athletic Association to change its rules and grant him a waiver so that he could play with his teammates for one more year.

Dompierre’s team went on to capture the state title and now they will have at least one more journey together. A Sports Illustrated video about Dompierre’s quest came out on top in the magazine’s annual “Underdogs” contest after securing the most online votes from readers over nine other finalists.  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2012/11/30/athlete-wins-sports-illustrated/16867/