Who are WE?
The City of Reno’s Adaptive Recreation Program
More than 23 per cent of the citizens of Nevada are living with disabilities, more than a full per cent greater than the average rate in the United States. One in five adults—more than 53 million people—in the country has a disability of one form or another, with state-level estimates ranging from 1 in 6 in Minnesota to nearly 1 in 3 in Alabama.
The impact of disability can be divided into five different areas: mobility, cognition, independent living, vision, and self-care. Mobility is in regard to a serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Cognition issues may be linked to concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Independent living is an issue when such tasks as visiting a doctor’s office or even shopping become difficult. Vision disabilities may be either blindness or experiencing a serious difficulty in seeing, even when wearing glasses. Self-care disabilities are often expressed in a difficulty in dressing or bathing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common functional disability type is disability of mobility, reported in about 1 in 8 adults. Over a third of adults 65 years or older reported some disability. In addition, adults from 45-64 were more likely than other age groups to report a cognitive disability. Women were more likely to report a disability when compared with men (24.4% versus 19.8%).
The mission of the City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department is to provide excellent parks, recreation and cultural opportunities which enhance the quality of life within the Reno community.
The “Inclusion/Adaptive Recreation Program” has the following 5-year goals:
They have established three strategies as the main purposes of this program.
Strategy A: Establish and coordinate community partnerships and collaboration with area agencies and organizations to ensure a continuum of services for persons with disabilities.
Strategy B: Broaden the scope of adaptive recreation programs available to persons with disabilities.
Strategy C: Secure increasing levels of grant and donor funding for inclusion and adaptive support and services.
In order to achieve these goals/strategies, in October 2008, City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department became a Paralympic Sport Club. Prior to this National affiliation, the city of Reno only offered adaptive recreation clinics and workshops on a limited basis. It has been with the support of US Paralympics that they have been able to expand to year-round adaptive recreation programming including but not limited to: wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, bocce, golf, adaptive whitewater rafting, and our adaptive equipment rental program. All current adaptive/therapeutic programs are available to all individuals regardless of ability and/or military status.
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.
Wheelchair Sports – Two adult programs are offered by the Sierra Challenge Athletic Association and Living Life on Wheels in cooperation with Paralympic Sport Reno: The wheelchair basketball team is named the “Silver State Highrollers”. The team offers a competitive experience with weekly practices and both in town and out of town league play from August to April.
Scott Youngs, the captain of the Silver State Highrollers, and also the secretary and treasurer of the Sierra Challenge Athletic Association said, “Each year Reno hosts the tournament. There are six different teams are coming, mostly from California.
All members of the wheelchair basketball team have some type of disability. Some are amputees or returning war veterans and others are people who have spinal cord injuries or spina bifida. They all jump in and enjoying the competition.
Wheelchair Rugby is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports, it is fast paced and competitive.
Gary Mokuau, the captain in the wheelchair rugby team, said “I cannot walk because of my injury from serving in the Army, but playing wheelchair rugby helps me to have good circulation.”
The equipment needs depend on each person and also the person who is paying for the equipment. A veteran can get the VA to pay for it, although it needs to be suggested by their occupational therapist. Mostly everyone else will be paying on their own equipment, or using various grants. One rugby wheelchair can cost about $7,000.
They are hoping to get more younger players, children and youth with disabilities, and bring them into the program and teach them how to play these very specialized sporting contests.
More than 23 per cent of the citizens of Nevada are living with disabilities, more than a full per cent greater than the average rate in the United States. One in five adults—more than 53 million people—in the country has a disability of one form or another, with state-level estimates ranging from 1 in 6 in Minnesota to nearly 1 in 3 in Alabama.
The impact of disability can be divided into five different areas: mobility, cognition, independent living, vision, and self-care. Mobility is in regard to a serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs. Cognition issues may be linked to concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Independent living is an issue when such tasks as visiting a doctor’s office or even shopping become difficult. Vision disabilities may be either blindness or experiencing a serious difficulty in seeing, even when wearing glasses. Self-care disabilities are often expressed in a difficulty in dressing or bathing.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common functional disability type is disability of mobility, reported in about 1 in 8 adults. Over a third of adults 65 years or older reported some disability. In addition, adults from 45-64 were more likely than other age groups to report a cognitive disability. Women were more likely to report a disability when compared with men (24.4% versus 19.8%).
The mission of the City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department is to provide excellent parks, recreation and cultural opportunities which enhance the quality of life within the Reno community.
The “Inclusion/Adaptive Recreation Program” has the following 5-year goals:
- Ensure adaptive recreation and inclusion services.
- achieve high levels of community visibility and participation.
They have established three strategies as the main purposes of this program.
Strategy A: Establish and coordinate community partnerships and collaboration with area agencies and organizations to ensure a continuum of services for persons with disabilities.
Strategy B: Broaden the scope of adaptive recreation programs available to persons with disabilities.
Strategy C: Secure increasing levels of grant and donor funding for inclusion and adaptive support and services.
In order to achieve these goals/strategies, in October 2008, City of Reno Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department became a Paralympic Sport Club. Prior to this National affiliation, the city of Reno only offered adaptive recreation clinics and workshops on a limited basis. It has been with the support of US Paralympics that they have been able to expand to year-round adaptive recreation programming including but not limited to: wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, bocce, golf, adaptive whitewater rafting, and our adaptive equipment rental program. All current adaptive/therapeutic programs are available to all individuals regardless of ability and/or military status.
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.
Wheelchair Sports – Two adult programs are offered by the Sierra Challenge Athletic Association and Living Life on Wheels in cooperation with Paralympic Sport Reno: The wheelchair basketball team is named the “Silver State Highrollers”. The team offers a competitive experience with weekly practices and both in town and out of town league play from August to April.
Scott Youngs, the captain of the Silver State Highrollers, and also the secretary and treasurer of the Sierra Challenge Athletic Association said, “Each year Reno hosts the tournament. There are six different teams are coming, mostly from California.
All members of the wheelchair basketball team have some type of disability. Some are amputees or returning war veterans and others are people who have spinal cord injuries or spina bifida. They all jump in and enjoying the competition.
Wheelchair Rugby is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports, it is fast paced and competitive.
Gary Mokuau, the captain in the wheelchair rugby team, said “I cannot walk because of my injury from serving in the Army, but playing wheelchair rugby helps me to have good circulation.”
The equipment needs depend on each person and also the person who is paying for the equipment. A veteran can get the VA to pay for it, although it needs to be suggested by their occupational therapist. Mostly everyone else will be paying on their own equipment, or using various grants. One rugby wheelchair can cost about $7,000.
They are hoping to get more younger players, children and youth with disabilities, and bring them into the program and teach them how to play these very specialized sporting contests.