RIC Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program for People with Disabilities
This project's parent organization is Rehab-ilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)
It operates in United States
It uses Adapted sports
More about RIC Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program for People with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that less than 10 percent of disabled people participate in regular physical activities. Even more alarming is that only 1 in 20 children with disabilities participate in such healthy pursuits.
This serious health dilemma for disabled people is primarily caused by the lack of accessible facilities, adaptive programming, and community support and education. Additionally public school systems, especially in cities like Chicago, continue to cut back on physical education and sports programs for both able and disabled children. Approximately 15,000 children with disabilities are in the Chicago Public Schools, and far too many local children do not engage in sports activities that bring many benefits. RIC’s Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Sports Program breaks down these barriers to physical activity and makes sports and recreation accessible for people with disabilities.
The Program offers a full range of sports activities at all ability levels, from fitness/recreational opportunities to nationally touring competitive teams. All access to the sports and recreation programs offered by RIC is free of charge. Free door-to-door accessible transit is also offered for all children in the Program’s Caring for Kids initiative and Competitive Youth Sports (a partnership with Chicago Public Schools).