UNM Newsroom: Inaugural Adaptive Sports Day Promises Equality on the Field

The UNM College of Education & Human Sciences (COEHS) recently made history by hosting the first-ever Adaptive Sports Day in collaboration with Sandia Prep. This groundbreaking event aimed to showcase the world of adaptive sports and the incredible athletes with disabilities who participate in them.

The event brought together energetic middle schoolers, community members, and UNM undergraduate and graduate students for a day dedicated to understanding and embracing adaptive sports. According to PETE Assistant Professor Victoria Shiver, the goal was to promote inclusivity and provide a positive experience for everyone involved.

The idea for Adaptive Sports Day came about thanks to the advocacy efforts of motivational speaker Travis Davis, who has cerebral palsy. Davis’s passion for inclusion inspired the event, which featured activities such as wheelchair basketball, sitting down volleyball, boccia ball, a guided run, and goalball.

Despite the absence of beep baseball, a unique sport for the blind or visually impaired, the event was a huge success. Shiver emphasized the importance of raising awareness about adaptive sports and ensuring that they are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their abilities.

The event received support from the Jennifer Riordan Foundation and the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, who donated wheelchairs and helped educate participants on the importance of inclusion. Shiver hopes that events like Adaptive Sports Day will inspire the next generation of physical educators to incorporate adaptive sports into their teaching practices and promote inclusivity in sports and physical education.