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Adapted Sports Clinic Returns to Kirkwood

By April 12, 2013January 9th, 2019No Comments

2012 Adapted Sports Clinic Participants

Athletes from around Iowa will come to Kirkwood Community College this weekend to participate in events many Iowans may take for granted. Saturday is the sixth-annual Eastern Iowa Adapted Sports Clinic at the Michael J Gould Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dozens of athletes with physical disabilities will pair up with Kirkwood Physical Therapist Assistant students during the event. The students will take the resting vital signs of the participants, and if needed, take vital signs later in the day to make sure the athletes are tolerating the activities.

The Kirkwood students assist the participants as they rotate around through the different exercise stations, and in the process are able to work on communication skills with the participant and any family members that also attend. Past students have been very appreciative of the opportunity.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to get hands-on learning with the population of people many of them will work with after graduation,” said Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coordinator Maggie Thomas. “The athletes that come have a great time every year, and it’s just a good reminder that although they may have a disability, they are very able in many ways.”

Participants will have the opportunity to try out wheelchair basketball, archery, adapted cycling, bowling, golf and tennis. They’ll get feedback from therapists, and have a chance to connect with others who are living with a disability. Similarly, family members are able to network with other families.

The event is a cooperative of Kirkwood Community College, St. Luke’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Iowa and Sportability, Inc. The event also provides vendors with displays about equipment or services that students and participants are able to learn more about.