The sports and recreation facilities at FGCU were busy last month, with the Adaptive Sports program helping people with disabilities try various sports, some for the first time.
Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU
Ellen Donald, an assistant professor in physical therapy at FGCU, helped organize the event.
“We have wheelchair tennis, we have wheelchair basketball, we have field games. We have adaptive waterskiing, with a group that's a professional group that really knows what they're doing -- they're out on the big lake. We have adaptive kayaking. We have blind yoga, we have some kids’ games, and that's a lot of what we've got today,” said Donald.
Sports were modified to be more inclusive. For example, a volunteer tapped the backboard so a woman with a visual impairment knew where to shoot the basketball.
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Niki Dondero takes a shot while playing basketball with the help of students volunteers during Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Caleb Ziegelbauer, 15, kayaks with Holland Methe, an occupational therapy student at FGCU, during Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU was a chance for people to try out different sports and games, including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, blind yoga, adaptive waterskiing and kayaking. The event was held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU was a chance for people to try out different sports and games, including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, blind yoga, adaptive waterskiing and kayaking. The event was held on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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FGCU occupational therapy students Kylee Meehan, right, hits a shot while trying out wheelchair tennis during the Adaptive Sports Day event at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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FGCU occupational therapy students Kylee Meehan, right, Lauren Nichols, left, laugh after Meehan missed a shot during the Adaptive Sports Day event at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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FGCU occupational therapy students Kylee Meehan, right, hits a shot while trying out wheelchair tennis during the Adaptive Sports Day event at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Jonah Raffii, 10 hits a shot while learning how to operate a wheelchair during Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Tennis coach Marc McLean works with students trying out wheelchair tennis during Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Rylee Cappuccilli, 12, gets instruction from tennis coach Marc McLean during Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
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Kevin James hits some pitches at Adaptive Sports Day at FGCU on Saturday, October 5, 2024. The event was a chance for people to try out different sports and games, including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, blind yoga, adaptive waterskiing and kayaking.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
The day was also an opportunity for people who don’t normally use wheelchairs to try navigating one. Ed Myers, an associate professor of occupational therapy at FGCU, was one of those people. He recommends it.
“It can be eye-opening for anybody. Honestly, you might see somebody out and getting around very well with a wheelchair, but until you get to experience it a little bit, you get to realize what somebody has to go through in order to do what they want to do in life,” Myers said.
He tried his hand at wheelchair tennis along with some of his students.
“I kind of know how to control a wheelchair, so that part wasn't difficult, but I will say, coordinating it with tennis, because I'm used to stand-up tennis, I probably could use a few more lessons,” said Myers.
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