As the weather gets colder outside, more people are turning to indoor activities for exercise and recreation. That’s not limited to just able-bodied athletes, though. Move Along is hosting wheelchair basketball clinics throughout the fall in Syracuse’s McChesney Park, and the clinics are welcome to athletes of all ages and abilities.
The group, which is a chapter of Disabled Sports USA, one of the nation’s largest disabled athletics groups, currently offers five handicapped-accessible sports, including water sports and basketball, with plans to add more as resources become available.
Jeff Wright has been involved with Move Along since 2010 and now serves as the organization’s executive director. After he was sidelined by a bad fall in 2010, he had an itch to get back into playing sports despite his injury. While his physical woes may have healed, the able-bodied Wright has dedicated nearly the last decade to helping those with different abilities thrive on the court.
Move Along’s Wheelchair Basketball program runs on Tuesday nights at McChesney Park’s Magnarelli Community Center. The full session runs from 6:30-8:00 PM, with the first half hour dedicated to children and the last hour for adults.
Jeff Wright speaking
“You know, it can happen in the blink of an eye, and we want to make people aware that we exist and we give you a chance to explore adaptive sports.”
Luc Sigaud speaking
Jeff Wright is the executive director of Move Along Incorporated, a chapter of Disabled Sports USA in the 5 county area. He’s been with the organization for nearly a decade and joined once he saw other groups with a similar goal.
Jeff Wright speaking
(“In 2010 I took a bad fall, cracked l4, herniated 2 through 5 on my lower back. And I knew about an organization called Northeast Passage over in Durham, New Hampshire. They had 50-some athletes in the previous Winter Olympics that they trained. I said why can’t we have that in Central New York?”)
Luc Sigaud speaking
There are over 50 adaptive sports being played throughout the United States. As of now Move Along offers five with a sixth in adaptive tennis on the way. While Move Along prides itself on including people of all abilities in its sports there’re two main target groups in mind. One is disabled veterans and the other is children who might feel out of place.
Jeff Wright speaking
(“It’s when that fifth grader realizes, Damn, I can still play basketball. I just play it in a sports chair. “)
Luc Sigaud speaking
I joined the adults game after the kids took the court first. Players of all different mobilities took part, and though it definitely took some getting used to I’d like to think I held my own by the end.
