BlazeSports America: Getting Special Kids Moving
July 9, 2010 in Featured Organization, Resources by Admin Dawn
Julia and I keep an ongoing document of organizations we want to feature. We try to highlight groups that our community may not know about and who offer something unique and exciting. About two weeks ago I put a new one at the top of our list in all caps: BLAZESPORTS AMERICA
Their mission? Simple. “BlazeSports mission is to advance the lives of children and adults with physical disabilities through sport, healthy lifestyles, and the prevention of chronic health conditions.” BlazeSports has existed since 1996, inspired by that year’s Summer Paralympic Games, which took place in Atlanta. The organization has sport teams, afterschool programs, camps, leadership/pre-vocational training, competitions, and sporting events and also provides distance learning and educational programs for officials, coaches, educators and volunteers.
Their BlazeDays use Paralympic sports to raise disability awareness in schools and workplaces through workshops, sports activities and speakers. Tailored to each audience, BlazeDays are planned closely with the site hosts to create a program that meets their particular needs.
While their homebase is Georgia, there are BlazeSports programs around the country (check the dropdown menu in the right corner of this page). These satellite programs might include camps, after school programs, sports teams or leadership training. They publish two books including Sports for Athletes with Physical Disabilities: Injuries and Medical Issue, a useful manual for parents wondering how to protect their growing athlete. Parents just getting started can check out their Active for Life tookit, which includes activity cards with fitness drills for kids in wheelchairs interested in tennis or basketball.
BlazeSports is also an advocacy organization, giving parents, caregivers and teachers information about the rights of kids with disabilities around school sports and gym classes.
Members receive discounts on their programs and costs just $25 a year.
Check out their video to see what their Blaze Camp (for kids with mobility and vision challenges) has to offer. I guarantee the scenes from their camp dance will have you grinning!!
[...] BlazeSports America: Getting Special Kids Moving http://supportforspecialneeds.com/?p=1039 [...]
[...] you’re finding trouble getting your child involved in PE, check out our write-up on BlazeSports America to find out what they have to [...]