The Adaptive Sport of Hunting

What is it?
All forms of hunting.

Who can play?
Participants include individuals ages 8 to 80, with a variety of permanent physical disability impairments including: Spinal Cord Injury, Amputation, Complications from Cancer, Neuromuscular Diseases, Blindness, Stroke and other Disabling Diseases

History
Buckmasters American Deer Foundation (BADF) Disabled Services was established in 1993 after realizing the need for hunting opportunities among people with disabilities. An estimated 1.7 million people with severe physical handicaps enjoy hunting and shooting sports in the U.S. Some of the things that can be taken for granted by the able bodied sportsman are life-changing events for this segment of the population: learning to shoot again, being deep in the wilderness, or just witnessing animals in the wild. BADF Disabled Services knows the importance of outdoor recreation and how it can have a tremendous impact on the quality of life for people with disabilities. We have developed a wide range of programs and resources for helping challenged citizens in the U.S. and Canada with their outdoor adventures

Classification:
BADF Disabled Services' interest in activities extends beyond the hunting sports into; skeet shooting, sporting clay shoots, and competitive archery tournaments. Some of these activities can be inclusive, giving the disabled and able bodied a chance to participate equally in a competitive environment. When these events are established, we let our followers know through our email network.

Rules: State Regulations

Websites:
http://www.badf.org/DisabledHunters/tabid/128/Default.aspx
http://pva.org/

The Adaptive Sport of Powerlifting

What is it?
Powerlifting is the ultimate test of upper body strength. Competitors must lower the bar to the chest, hold it motionless on the chest and then press it upwards to arms length with locked elbows. The bench press is the only discipline with 10 different categories based on body weight. The athletes are given three attempts and the winner is the athlete who lifts the highest number of kilograms.

Who can play?
Paralympic powerlifting competition is open to male and female athletes in the categories for dwarfs, amputees, spinal cord injured/wheelchair and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.

History
Powerlifting for athletes with a disability made its first appearance in 1964 at the second Paralympic Games in Tokyo as ‘Weightlifting’. Only men with spinal injuries participated with slightly different rules than are used today. Later it changed from ‘Weightlifting’ to ‘Powerlifting’ and now the competition is open to all athletes with cerebral palsy, spinal injuries, amputees (lower limb amputees only) and les autres who meet minimal disability criteria. Women competed in this sport for the first time in Sydney in 2000.

Classification:
CLASS 1
A Class 1 athlete has severe quadriplegia (tetraplegia). Spasticity Grade 4 to 3+, with or without athetosis, or with poor functional range of movement and poor functional strength in all extremities and trunk OR the with severe athetoid with or without spasticity with poor functional strength and control. Dependent on electric wheelchair or assistance for mobility. Unable to functionally propel a wheelchair.

CLASS 2
A Class 2 athlete has severe to moderate quadripleia (tetraplegia). Spasticity Grade 3+ to 3, with or without athetosis. Severe athetoid or tetraplegic with fair function in less affected side. Poor functional strength in all extremities and trunk but able to propel a wheelchair.

CLASS 3
A Class 3 athlete has moderate (asymmetric or symmetric) quadriplegia or severe hemiplegia. Use of wheelchair with almost full functional strength in dominant upper extremity. Can propel a wheelchair independently.

CLASS 4
A Class 4 athlete has moderate to severe Diplegia. Good functional strength, with minimal limitation or control problems in upper limbs and trunk.

CLASS 5
A Class 5 athlete has symmetric or asymmetric moderate diplegia. The individual may require the use of assistive devices in walking but not necessarily when standing or throwing. A slight shift of centre of gravity leads to loss of balance.

CLASS 6
Not available at the moment.

CLASS 7
The Class 7 athlete is ambulatory with hemiplegia. The individual has Spasticity Grade 2 to 3 in one half of the body. They walk without assistive devices but often with a limp due to spasticity in the lower limb. Good functional ability in dominant side of the body.

CLASS 8
The Class 8 athlete has minimally affected diplegia/hemiplegia and/or minimally affected athetosis. Spasticity Grade is 1 to 2. They are able to run and jump freely without a limp, without modifications of footwear or orthoses. They may have minimal loss of function caused by in coordination, usually seen in the hands, perhaps a slight loss of coordination in one leg or minimal shortening of the Achilles tendon.

Rules:

Amputee:

Double or single above knee amputations.

Double or single below knee amputations.

Minimum disability is noted to included only those amputations which are through or above the ankle joint, not through the foot or toes.

________________________________________

Les Autres:

A motor paresis of the lower extremity.

At least a decrease in muscle strength of 20 points to include both lower limbs extremities when testing on the 0-5 scale grade system (not counting grade 1 and 2). A normal person obstains 50 points in each lower limb (total 100 points for both lower limbs). The following muscle functions shall be tested in the lower limb:

HIP FLEXION 5 MAXIMUM
HIP EXTENSION 5 MAXIMUM
HIP ABDUCTION 5 MAXIMUM
HIP ADDUCTION 5 MAXIMUM
KNEE FLEXION 5 MAXIMUM
KNEE EXTENSION 5 MAXIMUM
ANKLE DORSI FLEXION 5 MAXIMUM
ANKLE PLANTAR FLEXION 5 MAXIMUM
FOOT INVERSION 5 MAXIMUM
FOOT EVERSION 5 MAXIMUM
Total sum each lower limb = 50
Total sum both lower limbs = 100

Exception:
Athletes who have arthrodesis of the foot in which there is either/or no inversion or eversion possible will be measured as grade 5 in muscle testing under the appropriate category of either/or inversion or eversion.

Joint mobility:
The testing to be performed with the help of goniometer (passive movements).
HIP Decrease in flexion-extension of 60 degrees or ankylosis.
KNEE Extension defect or 30 degrees or ankylosis in any position.
ANKLE Ankylosis.

Shortening of one lower limb:
At least 7 cm difference.
(Measurements to be taken from anterior superior iliac spine to medial malleolus on same side).

Back and Torso:
Severely reduced mobility of a permanent nature and/or as in scoliosis measuring over 60 degrees curve as measured by the Cobb method. X-ray proof is necessary.

Dwarfs:
The maximum height for a dwarf to meet minimum disability is 4 feet 9 inches or 145 cms. The athlete must exhibit other disabilities besides being of small stature therefore excluding a pituitary dwarf.

Note: Example of conditions not eligible for Les Autres:
Down syndrome or mongolism or persons with severely reduced mental capacity. Further persons with heart, chest, abdominal, skin, ear and eye diseases without locomotor disability.

Les Autres athletes, who despite their permanent disability, have the potential to change the degree of disability, e.g.,, MS, will be reclassified prior each competition.

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Cerebral Palsy:
Cerebral Palsy is a brain lesion which is non-progressive and causes variable impairment of the co-ordination, tone and strength of muscle action with resulting inability of the person to maintain normal postures and perform normal movements.

This central motor disturbance may be associated with:
Perceptual deficits.
Visual and hearing problem.
Speech difficulties.

Eligible participants must have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy or other non-progressive brain damage with locomotor dysfunction either congenital or acquired.

If an abnormality can only be detected by a detailed neurological examination of the athlete and there is no obvious impairment of function the person is not eligible.

National Governing Body: US Paralympics

International Governing Body: - Powerlifting is governed by the IPC and co-ordinated by the IPC Powerlifting Technical Committee, founded in 1989, and in 2006, is practiced in 115 countries.

Websites:
http://www.usparalympics.org/
http://disabledpowerlifting.org/

The Adaptive Sport of Fishing

What is it?
One source estimates that there are fifty-six million people with disabilities across the country and common sense tells us the many of those disabled people probably gave up one of their favorite hobbies when they acquired a wheelchair, thinking their fishing days were over. But it doesn't have to be that way. Two great non-profit organizations are working hard to re-introduce fishing back into the lives of disabled people and to teach fishing to physically challenged individuals who never tried the sport before. The Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Wheelin Sportsman NWTF.

Who can play?
Anyone

Rules:
Open/Team Competition, each disabled fisherman is paired up with an able-bodied boating partner who acts as a coach, helps to find fishing locations and with selecting the baits to use. Disabled anglers taking part in the Bank Competitions are also paired up with volunteers who assist but who cannot fish themselves.

National Governing Body:
The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society

Websites:
www.pva.org/site/PageServer
www.wheelinsportsmen.org/wheelin/?SUBSITE=whe

The Adaptive Sport of Team Handball

What is it?
Team Handball is played on a regulation size high school or college basketball court with a goal of 5' 6” wide and 5' high at either end. The game is a combination of basketball and soccer, whereas most athletes throw the volleyball-sized ball at the goal, rather than kick it.

Who can play?
For persons with disabilities who require the use of adaptive devices (walkers, crutches, wheelchairs), being in good physical condition enables them to use their modified extensive devices more effectively, with less fatigue after engaging in longer activity. It is a team sport that includes highly skilled amputees and paraplegics, many of whom play wheelchair basketball or quad rugby, along with severely disabled athletes in power wheelchairs.

Rules:
http://www.ny-chariots.org/

National Governing Body:
National Disability Sports Alliance (NDSA)
Indoor Wheelchair Soccer Management Committee (IWSMT).

Websites:
http://www.ny-chariots.org/

The Adaptive Sport of Bowling

What is it?
Bowling with adaptive equipment that fits an individual’s needs.

Who can play?
Anyone with a disability.

History
Wheelchair athletics has its roots in World War II. Before then, rehabilitation for any type of spinal cord injury was rare with fewer than one person in five surviving more than three years.

World War II, responsible for sending many thousands to veteran's hospitals as paraplegics, quadriplegics, or amputees produced an awareness that more than medicine was needed to return some semblance of normalcy to, and extend the lives of, these men.

A form of rehabilitative therapy was required that was more than just developing muscle tone from the exercise apparatus positioned above their bed. People whose body image and self-worth were devastated by their condition needed mental and physical therapy to restore a positive quality of life attitude. A difficult challenge, especially when it is realized there is no known cure for paralysis.

In this chasm, athletics for wheelchair users was born. Wheelchair racing and wheelchair basketball preceded wheelchair bowling as a form of rehabilitative therapy. All succeeded in providing physical and emotional exercise. Social contact was stimulated.

Physically, muscle tone was built, cardiovascular circulation improved, hand-eye coordination maintained, hypertension relieved and bladder and bowel functions improved. It was much more than therapy - it was competition - and it was fun!

Classification:
Some wheelchair bowlers employ special equipment approved by the USBC.

• Snap handle ball - For those who have difficulty gripping a ball, a spring-loaded, valise-like handle is installed into the ball. The handle retracts into the ball when the bowler releases his hand.
• Bowling stick - Similar to a shuffleboard stick, it requires a volunteer to place the ball on the floor near the foul-line. The bowler then uses the stick to propel the ball down the lane.

For those severely disabled bowlers who are not able to hold a ball and propel it with their hands, a ramp like device can be used to propel the ball. After positioning the ramp, the bowler or their assistant places a ball at the top and the bowler pushes it. A very efficient device, it enables people to bowl games of 200 or better. The device was previously prohibited in AWBA tournament competition because of a rule requiring the bowler to use his/her own force or impetus for delivery of the ball. With the advent of the new Chute/Ramp Division, such bowlers are now able to compete against other Chute/Ramp bowlers on a national level.

National Governing Body:
America Wheelchair Bowling Association

Websites:
http://www.awba.org/

Adaptive Flying

Motor Sports

National:
www.nascar.com/drivers/list/cup/dps
www.nhra.com/index.asp

Winter Skiing

National:
http://usskiteam.com/public/special.php?dId=5

International:
http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/index.html

Water Skiing

National:
http://www.usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/WSDA/main.htm

International:
http://www.iwsf.com/disabled/report1.htm

Mountain Biking

National:
http://www.ushf.org/2008/component/option,com_tag/Itemid,114/

Table Tennis

National:
http://www.midy.com/~usatt/parapong/

International:
http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/Sports/