Will and Peter keep busy by participating in many different activities! A few years ago, they found out about the Adaptive Sports Connection in Powell, OH which provides adaptive technology to help empower anyone with physical and cognitive challenges through sports and therapeutic outdoor recreation! The mission of the Adaptive Sports Connection is to help people with challenges stay healthy and happy by focusing on their ABILITIES.
While at Children’s Hospital for one of Will’s appointments, they have met many other families who help encourage and provide resources to each other. One of the resources that Will and Peter learned about was the Adaptive Sports Connection program. Will and Peter try to regularly go to the kayaking, water skiing and downhill skiing programs. Will’s favorite is the skiing--- he loves speed! Each time Will goes, the instructors and volunteers try new ways of adapting the equipment to make Will’s experience as enjoyable as possible.
Once the custom pieces of adaptive equipment are added to the kayak, Peter and the instructors load Will into his tailored kayak, get different pieces of foam to strategically add around his body to ensure he is able to sit upright and get his paddles ready! Once it’s his turn to load into the water, a float with wheels is loaded under his kayak and he is wheeled down to the water’s edge. His kayak has a set of outrigger floats on the back to help prevent him from tipping it over.
Each time Will goes out kayaking, he has his father Peter, as well as a volunteer (Christina) and the instructor (David). As a group they work diligently to learn how Will kayaks and what can help him have a better experience. Each time he goes out, he builds his stamina and is able to kayak longer than the last time! Once he gets tired, he can either paddle himself back in or his volunteer can tether their kayak to his and paddle him back in.
If you are interested in participating in one of the great programs offered by the Adaptive Sports Connection, please go onto their website to learn how to get involved! https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/
