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News from the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame
By Maria Vitto
Summer is here and the Hall of Fame is swinging into full gear by supporting members of the Adaptive Sports Coalition and their upcoming events this summer. In addition, the 2nd Annual No Limits Golf Outing at Dearborn Hills Golf Course will be held on Friday, August 19, 2005. The Hall of Fame is also proud to be a part of the following events:
If you would like more information, including volunteer opportunities on any of these events, please visit our website at www.adhof.org.
Program Update
On Thursday, May 5, 2005, the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame sponsored the Ability Awareness Expo in Dearborn. Invitations were delivered to an entire school system and classrooms were welcomed to the event to learn more about sports programs and equipment for people with disabilities. Each individual class was welcomed with a brief 10-minute orientation by the ADHOF alumni explaining more about the organization. Alumni athletes were assigned to each group and were given the opportunity to share their personal story with the class, which was followed by a brief question-and-answer session.
The students were then allowed to visit with the various sports programs and adaptive sports stations. The students were encouraged to use the equipment and experience such sports as wheelchair basketball, hand cycles, wheelchair tennis, sled hockey, adaptive bowling, and a wheelchair obstacle course. Throughout the day, ADHOF alumni were available to answer any questions about the sports and the recreation opportunities that exist for people with disabilities. Corey Schlesinger from the Detroit Lions made a surprise visit to offer his support of Tony Filippis, Sr. and the Hall of Fame.
Over 150 students, ranging from 8-18 years old, both able-bodied and disabled, visited the Expo and the event was an overwhelming success for everyone involved. Most events or expos that exist for people with disabilities are geared toward selling equipment, programs, and materials. This special event was developed to create an educational awareness opportunity for school children to learn more about adaptive sports and, more importantly, how people with disabilities are able to conduct productive and activity-filled lives through sports and recreation. This program format is being adapted to become part of the Hall of Fame Mentoring program and will be implemented more frequently beginning in 2006.
By Maria Vitto
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| 7/10-16 | National Therapeutic Recreation Week Oakland County Parks – City of Southfield |
| 7/16 | Summer Sports Day – Northern Michigan Adaptive Sports |
| 7/29 | Premiere: "Murderball" the movie – Ann Arbor CIL |
| 8/12 | Marlette Golf Outing |
| 9/9-11 | Sports-Tacular V – Michigan Adaptive Sports |
| 9/17 | Spirit Challenge – Michigan Sports Unlimited |
| 9/24 | Mardi Gras Party – Cross Trainers Fitness |
If you would like more information, including volunteer opportunities on any of these events, please visit our website at www.adhof.org.
Program Update
On Thursday, May 5, 2005, the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame sponsored the Ability Awareness Expo in Dearborn. Invitations were delivered to an entire school system and classrooms were welcomed to the event to learn more about sports programs and equipment for people with disabilities. Each individual class was welcomed with a brief 10-minute orientation by the ADHOF alumni explaining more about the organization. Alumni athletes were assigned to each group and were given the opportunity to share their personal story with the class, which was followed by a brief question-and-answer session.
The students were then allowed to visit with the various sports programs and adaptive sports stations. The students were encouraged to use the equipment and experience such sports as wheelchair basketball, hand cycles, wheelchair tennis, sled hockey, adaptive bowling, and a wheelchair obstacle course. Throughout the day, ADHOF alumni were available to answer any questions about the sports and the recreation opportunities that exist for people with disabilities. Corey Schlesinger from the Detroit Lions made a surprise visit to offer his support of Tony Filippis, Sr. and the Hall of Fame.
Over 150 students, ranging from 8-18 years old, both able-bodied and disabled, visited the Expo and the event was an overwhelming success for everyone involved. Most events or expos that exist for people with disabilities are geared toward selling equipment, programs, and materials. This special event was developed to create an educational awareness opportunity for school children to learn more about adaptive sports and, more importantly, how people with disabilities are able to conduct productive and activity-filled lives through sports and recreation. This program format is being adapted to become part of the Hall of Fame Mentoring program and will be implemented more frequently beginning in 2006.