Accessible Sports and Recreation FAQ
- What types of sports/recreation/exercise activities are out there in which disabled athletes can compete and play or otherwise get some exercise?
- I have a lot of physical limitations; is there really something I can try?
- Why should I be worried about exercise, I can’t even stand up?
- I am a person who has problems with my mobility, can I still exercise?
- If I start exercising, would I need to exercise everyday?
- I’m not really athletic but I like to be active and doing things. What types of recreational opportunities are available for people with disabilities?
- I don’t want to just exercise. I want to compete (against myself or others) in sports. Where can I get information about various sports?
Updated April 2011
Q. What types of sports/recreation/exercise activities are out there in which disabled athletes can compete and play or otherwise get some exercise?
A. There are many kinds of sports/recreation/exercise programs that are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
They may be in the form of something that may be done as part of a team or individually. Some sports are limited to only those with disabilities, such as Quad Rugby, and others are mixed, consisting of persons with and without disabilities.
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Q. I have a lot of physical limitations; is there really something I can try?
A. In most, if not all, cases yes, there is. It may not be exactly what you always dreamed of doing but it will be good to get some physical exercise. Your city or county probably has a therapeutic recreation office and ECNV encourages you to check them out.
City of Alexandria
Therapeutic Recreation Programs and Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities
alexandriava.gov/recreation/info/default.aspx?id=45758
Lee Center,
1108 Jefferson St.
703-746-5422 (V/Relay)
Arlington County
Therapeutic Recreation Services
www.arlingtonva.us/departments/parksrecreation/
scripts/assistance/page79701.aspx
2121 N. Culpeper Street
Arlington VA 22207
703-228-4740 (V)
703-228-4743 (TTY)
703-228-4757 (Fax)
Fairfax County, City of Fairfax, and City of Falls Church
Therapeutic Recreation Services
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/rec/trs
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 1050
Fairfax, VA 22035-1115
703-324-5532 (V/Relay)
703-222-9788 (Fax)
Loudoun County
Adaptive Recreation Office
www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=804
215 Depot Court, S.E.
Leesburg, VA
703-777-0343
703-737-8042
703-771-5383 (Fax)
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Q. Why should I be worried about exercise, I can’t even stand up?
A. Exercise is beneficial to your body in many ways that you can’t physically see. For instance, your cardiovascular system will definitely benefit from exercise even though you may not be able to see the results.
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Q. I am a person who has problems with my mobility, can I still exercise?
A. Yes. There are all kinds of exercise that can be done from a seated position. Check with the office in charge of therapeutic recreation for your county or city or your local Center for Independent Living (CIL, find yours at www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html) for some resources for that.
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Q. If I start exercising, would I need to exercise everyday?
A. Probably not. More is not necessarily better. You should check with your doctor and/or a Certified Recreation Therapy Specialist (CRTS) at the office in charge of therapeutic recreation for your county or city about developing an exercise plan that works for you.
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Q. I’m not really athletic but I like to be active and doing things. What types of recreational opportunities are available for people with disabilities?
A. There are a number of recreational activities for all disability levels. With adaptive equipment, there are few things that a person with a disability can’t pursue within the recreational setting. Or example, there are accessible trails and campsites, accessible airplanes, accessible gardening tools, et al. For more specific information about accessible recreational activities, be sure to contact your local Parks and Recreational facilities.
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Q. I don’t want to just exercise. I want to compete (against myself or others) in sports. Where can I get information about various sports?
A. There are definitely a lot of options for people with disabilities as far as sports go. Listed below is contact information for various groups in the Washington, DC Metro Area arranged by type of sport. ECNV plans to provide a listing of such organizations, but that list was not completed at this time and it will be added soon.
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