For anyone who’s ready to push, sweat, laugh, compete, and remember what they’re made of.

A lot of people assume sports are only for “athletes.”
People who look a certain way… move a certain way… live a certain kind of life.

Let’s clear this up right now:

Adaptive sports are for anybody with a heartbeat and a little grit.
Wheelchair users, amputees, spinal cord injury survivors, veterans, beginners, lifelong athletes, people rebuilding their bodies — there is space for every ability level.

And once you get out there?
You start realizing quickly that competition isn’t about beating other people.
It’s about waking up the strongest parts of yourself.

What Adaptive Sports Really Do for You

1. They Build Real Strength and Real Capability

Adaptive sports are not “gentle alternatives.”
They’re real sports — built and modified so every athlete can train, compete, and go all-in.

Whether you’re:

• pushing on the basketball court

• tearing up a handcycle trail

• racing down a ski hill

• paddling in open water

• swinging in adaptive golf

• ripping through a sled hockey drill

…you’re building:

• strength

• endurance

• balance

• coordination

• stability

• cardiovascular power

And just like strength training and adaptive CrossFit, adaptive sports help prevent issues like pressure sores, muscle atrophy, and loss of mobility.

You’re not just playing a sport.
You’re rebuilding your body from the inside out.

2. They Light Up Your Mind and Restore Your Confidence

Something happens when you compete — even in a small, simple way.
You come alive.

Adaptive sports help with:

• self-confidence

• mental clarity

• resilience

• reduced anxiety

• lower depression symptoms

• better overall mood

• that “I can do hard things” energy

You start pushing your limits… and surprising yourself.
And that changes how you show up everywhere else in your life.

3. They Give You Community — Real Community

This is the part almost everyone underestimates.

When you get into adaptive sports, you suddenly meet people who:

• understand your challenges

• laugh with you

• push you

• want to see you win

• share the same grit and fire

It’s not just about the activity — it’s about belonging.

Adaptive sports connect you to a world where nobody looks at you sideways… because everyone is in the arena together.

And that kind of connection heals in ways nothing else can.

4. You Become Part of the Change

Your presence on the field, the court, the hill, the water — it matters.

Every time a person with a disability shows up and participates in everyday sports, it reshapes how the world sees disability.
Not as something fragile.
Not as something “less than.”
But as part of the human story — strong, capable, competitive, and present.

You’re not just playing a sport.
You're helping push inclusion forward.

What Adaptive Sports Can Look Like

There are endless ways to get involved:

• wheelchair basketball

• sled hockey

• adaptive skiing or snowboarding

• wheelchair tennis

• adaptive CrossFit

• handcycling

• adaptive rowing

• power soccer

• adaptive yoga

• off-road wheelchair riding

• hiking in all-terrain chairs

• adaptive track & field

• adaptive climbing

• para-swimming

• Para-Dance

If it gets you moving, challenging yourself, and connecting with others — it counts.

If You’re New, Start Here

You don’t need to come in strong.
You just need to come in.

• Start with one sport or event

• Show up once — then show up again

• Bring curiosity, not pressure

• Let people help you get started

• Don’t compare yourself to anyone

• Focus on fun, connection, and movement

Adaptive sports don’t require perfection — just participation.

The Bottom Line

Adaptive sports help you rebuild:

• strength

• confidence

• mental clarity

• community

• independence

• purpose

• joy

You don’t need to “feel like an athlete” to belong.
Adaptive sports make you one.

Get out there.
Jump in.
There is room for you — and the world is better when you’re in the game.

Helpful Resources

Move United

National leader in adaptive sports programs and competitions.
https://moveunitedsport.org/

Reimagine Life Foundation

Incredible adaptive recreation, support, and life-enriching experiences.
https://www.reimagine-life.org/

UMAISE (U-M Adaptive & Inclusive Sports Experience)

A powerhouse for adaptive athletics, training, and recreation.
https://www.instagram.com/umaising/

WheelsinMotion.org

Adaptive recreation adventure & events across Michigan for people with disabilities and Veterans.

WheelchairsInMotion.com

Equipment that supports adaptive sports and outdoor life:

• off-road wheelchairs

• handcycles

• ramps

• power-assist devices

• adaptive mobility solutions