Welcome Session
11:00am – 11:30am
Join us for the kick-off of this year’s Move United Education Conference! You will have a chance to hear from various Move United representatives on both the engaging week ahead and exciting organizational updates.
Speakers:
Glenn Merry – Move United, Executive Director
Krista Rappoccio – Move United, Senior Education Manager

Coaching the Adaptive Athlete
12:00pm – 1:15pm 
This session will introduce coaches and practitioners to the intricacies of adapting programming for athletes with a variety of physical impairments. By the end of the session, participants will be familiar with meeting, assessing, and working with adaptive athletes. Many participants may not know where to begin with an adaptive athlete. This session will introduce positive, respectful vocabulary and communication principles to put both coach and athlete at ease. Participants will have the opportunity to overcome their shyness about asking questions, and learn what information is appropriate and necessary to maintain a safe and respectful training environment. Determining an athlete’s starting point is critical to planning an effective program. Participants will learn techniques, considerations, and specific questions to use while assessing an adaptive athlete. We will also explore the importance of ongoing assessment and documenting results, both to ensure that the athlete is progressing safely toward his or her goals, and that any coach or practitioner will be prepared to work with the athlete. By working through several case studies, participants will quickly learn which techniques and considerations are most applicable for specific disabilities. By the end of this session, participants will be comfortable welcoming adaptive athletes into their fitness environment, and will be familiar with how to adapt exercises and movement patterns to the athlete’s needs, abilities, and goals. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives
1. Increase familiarity with adaptive community at large and specific conditions coaches will encounter
2. Understand and practice assessing an adaptive athlete
3. Understand the process of training adaptive athletes.
Speakers:
Terri Neipert – Crossroads Adaptive Athletic Alliance, Executive Director
Amanda Kloo

Apps, Technology, and More: A program that Incorporates Wearable Technology while Addressing the Needs of People with Disability During and After a Pandemic
12:00pm – 1:00pm
The current pandemic has exacerbated the known barriers to physical activity and mental health options for people with a disability. With support from a Neilsen Foundation grant Lakeshore Foundation, NCHPAD and the UAB Research Collaborative have joined forces to help combat those barriers at the local level. The benefits of physical activity for people with disability are well documented as is the success of programs that include community support. Lakeshore will be combining those efforts using activity trackers to monitor exertion and the STRAVA app to boost community engagement. This course will include programing for athletes as well as community members comprised of 3 workout sessions a week that will encourage participants to meet the physical activity guidelines. Program activities will be inclusive and appropriate for all participants. After piloting this 8- week program it will be packaged for easy uptake by other user groups. This presentation will focus on the effective use of wearable technology and apps; particularly when in-person group activity is not feasible. It will also meet the need of coaches and program staff looking to deliver high impact programs with known success at the individual level by offering this “course in a can” approach to implement with their athletes and participants. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Speakers:
Cliff Cook – Lakeshore Foundation, Associate Director of Recreation and Athletics
Lauren Perry – Lakeshore Foundation, Coordinator of Recreation and Athletics
Lori Watkins – Lakeshore Foundation, Coordinator of Recreation and Athletics
Kelly Bonner – National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability, Associate Director

How to Foster an Adaptive Environment within Your Local Community
1:45pm – 2:30pm
Adaptive recreation should be available in every community and through this presentation the National Ability Center’s Steph Meyer guides attendees in how we can all advocate to make our public outdoor spaces more accessible to people with disabilities and the adaptive equipment that allows people of all abilities to recreate together. From working together with community and governmental organizations to consider accessibility in trail/trailhead developments, growing awareness in the trail community about the mobility use for e-bikes, you can create safe, welcoming riding environments for people of all abilities, leading to a more inclusive outdoor experience. Fostering an adaptive scene within your local community will require elemental processes like strategic partnerships to expand opportunities and build resources; incorporating adaptive trails and information to existing platforms like Trailforks; working with event organizers to feature adaptive categories in local races; and collaborating with local resorts to ensure an accessible experience and adaptive support. Steph will also walk attendees through how to utilize pre-existing resources and convert them to be inclusive and/or adaptive.
1. Becoming an advocate not only for the person, but access to recreation within your local community.
2. How to encourage trail builders, community developers, local governments, and event planners to build a more inclusive community.
3. Creating and enhancing local resources for folks to find adaptive info/beta.
a. Development of the Active Project, purpose, and goals!
Speakers:
Stephanie Meyer – National Ability Center, Recreation & Adventure Program Senior Manager
Greg Durso – Kelly Brush Foundation, Program Director

Current Orthotic Technologies to Support Adaptive Athletes
1:45pm – 2:30pm
The newest orthotic designs are helping people with neurologic and functional challenges achieve goals that are higher than ever. Technology is rapidly advancing and this course provides an overview of orthotics to improve your knowledge and help you provide the best outcome for your patient/athlete. Healthcare teams and adaptive sports programs will learn best practices, available resources and collaborative techniques to help the orthotic user improve their mobility. Attendees will also learn about the latest orthotic designs for support, mobility and stability.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about current orthotic technologies
2. Understand how current materials can increase activity and support mobility goals
3. Understand how orthotic interventions and therapy can help achieve goals for different activities
Speaker:
Chris Toelle, LCO – Hanger Clinic, Orthotics Specialist

Prosthetic Fundamentals – Design for Ambulation and Beyond!
3:30pm – 4:15pm
Prosthetics designed for sports and recreation are helping adaptive athletes achieve functional goals far beyond basic ambulation. Technology is rapidly advancing and this course provides an overview of prosthetics to improve your knowledge and help you provide a better experience for your patient/athlete. Healthcare teams and adaptive sports staff will learn about available resources and collaborative techniques to help the athlete pursue their dreams. Attendees will learn the tremendous forces exerted on sports prostheses and understand how to troubleshoot common challenges and limitations. The latest technologies for lower limb and upper limb prosthetics will also be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
1. Basic understanding of prosthetic design and function
2. Understand the forces applied to the athlete’s limb in high-impact activities
3. Reduce potential injury to both athlete and prosthetic device
Speaker:
Wendy Remington, CPO – Hanger Clinic, Clinic Manager

Girls on the Run – An Inclusive Program for You
11:00am – 12:00pm
Through a strong partnership with NCHPAD, Girls on the Run has taken an intentional and holistic approach to inclusion, including a policy review, curriculum modifications, staff/volunteer training, updates to messaging/imagery, etc. Join leaders from both organizations as they describe the fully inclusive physical activity-based positive youth development program, discuss learnings from their successful collaboration, and share ways for participants to get involved with Girls on the Run. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to identify the framework Girls on the Run and NCHPAD used to create an inclusive program
2. Participants will gain understanding of the important role partnership plays when designing a truly inclusive program
3. Participants will learn valuable insights that can be replicated on how Girls on the Run used an intentional and holistic approach to inclusion
4. Participants will be able to describe the goals and philosophy of Girls on the Run and how they can get involved with the program
Speakers:
Kelly Bonner – Lakeshore Foundation, Associate Director of NCHPAD
Allison Riley, PhD, MSW – Girls on the Run, SVP of Programming and Evaluation

Reimagining Your Program Environment
11:00am – 12:00pm
We know that people who have experienced trauma can struggle with anxiety. We also know that sports and recreation are immeasurable in promoting self-confidence and independence. Therefore, we must recreate programming environment as a place where individuals can build resilience without fear of being triggered or retraumatized.
This presentation will introduce the impacts of toxic stress on the human body. The session will address common triggers in year-round sports programming environments, including some found outdoors, at ski resorts, and in locker rooms, and provide recommendations on how to eliminate or mitigate them. The recommendations will take into account the fiscal constraints often faced by programs, and will include principles of evidence-based inclusive design and biophilia. By reimagining your program environment, your program will be more welcoming to ALL participants, and when participants are at ease, they are primed to engage, have fun, build relationships, and learn. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to explain how toxic stress can impact a person and their behavior.
2. Participants will be able to recognize possible triggers in a sports programming environment.
3. Participants will be able to identify methods that can mitigate possible environmental triggers.
Speakers:
Christine Cowart – Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership/Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, Founder/Volunteer
Janet Roche – Janet Roche Designs/Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, Designer/Volunteer

Best Practices for Starting an Inclusive or Adaptive Sports Program
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Many sports program are looking to be more inclusive or offer adaptive sports programs- but have no idea where to start. This session is specifically geared for those not working in adaptive sports and recreation who would like to start an inclusive or adaptive sports program alongside their typical sports programs. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn a brief Background on Adaptive Sports/Recreation
2. Participants will learn what Adaptive Sports Bring to Your Existing Program
3. Participants will learn how to Start an Inclusive Program
4. Participants will learn best Practices in Starting an Inclusive Program
5. Participants will learn how to Start an Adaptive Program
6. Participants will learn best Practices in Starting an Adaptive Sports Program
7. Participants will learn about resources for Starting Programs.
Speaker:
Ashley Fallaize – BlazeSports America, Inc., Training & Education Manager

Global Examples of Inclusive Sport and Recreation
12:30pm – 1:45pm
In this session, a number of international experts from academia and practice will share best practices, research and evidence showcasing examples of diversity equity and inclusion through Adapted Physical Activity (APA) and in particular sport and recreation. The presenters will address inclusive sport and recreation within mainstream and disability-specific settings and will discuss the range of environments across the inclusion spectrum. The presenters will highlight the impact and outcomes of inclusive sport and recreation and the global relevance for promoting inclusive environments. The session is chaired by the President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA)(https://ifapa.net/) with speakers representing the various regions of IFAPA. IFAPA is an international scientific organization of APA higher education scholars, practitioners, and students. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Speaker:
David Legg – Mount Royal University / International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity, Professor / President (Canada)
Claire Boursier – Mooven, Lead Development Officer (France)
Omar Hindawi – Hashemite University, Professor (Jordan)
Martin Block – University of Virginia, Professor (USA)
Cindy Sit – Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor (Hong Kong)
Kwok Ng – University of Eastern Finland and University of Limerick, Adjunct Professor & Postdoctoral Researcher (Finland / Ireland)
Okey Ogu – Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor (Nigeria)
Mey van Munster – Federal University of São Carlos, Professor (Brazil)

Accessible Hiking with AllTrails – Finding and Contributing to Diverse and Safe Outdoor Experiences
2:15pm – 3:00pm
Join the outdoor experiences app company AllTrails on a mission to publish accessible trails and parks data worldwide available to the public for free. In this session, you will learn how to find, use, and contribute accessible opportunities and share the resources with your community. So far 5000+ trails and 200+ parks have been evaluated for inclusivity – how many more can we add together?
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn what classifies as an accessible hiking trail for a variety of disabilities
2. Participants will learn how to locate opportunities and be better prepared to safely access trails and parks
3. Participants will learn how to advocate and contribute to increasing community awareness of inclusive outdoor programming
Speakers:
Shay Muhonen – AllTrails, Disability Accessibility Program Lead
Fiona Allen, CTRS – AllTrails, Disability Accessible Trail Specialists
Hayden Murphy-Estus – AllTrails, Disability Accessible Trail Specialists

Developing a Universal Mindset for Design, Programming and Implementation in Adventure Programming
*WORKSHOP – will have limited capacity*
2:15pm – 3:15pm 
How ready is your facility to be fully inclusive to all participants? In what ways is each participant welcomed to your program? Are you building structures with consideration for all abilities? In this workshop we will discuss the advantages and challenges for developing programs that are fully inclusive. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants in this workshop will become aware of current beliefs and mindset for universal programming.
2. Participants in this workshop will co-create ideas for how to best address the needs of all abilities in a way that moves beyond just making adaptations.
3. Participants in this workshop will develop an understanding of the components for a fully inclusive facility and program.
This will be an interactive workshop where participants have an opportunity to share their experiences in working with disabled individuals in adventure programming. This will be followed by a brainstorming session on how to best design, plan and program for all participants so that experiences become intentionally inviting to all.
Speakers:
Carla Hacker – Experiential Systems, Inc., Universal Design Specialist
Melanie Willis – Experiential Systems, Inc., Director of Operations & Development

Obstacle Course Races for All
10:00am – 10:45am
The sport of obstacle course racing (OCR) has been on the rise and athletes with disabilities have been carving out their place on the field since the very beginning. These races are typically 3-5 miles of challenging terrain with about 20 obstacles spaced throughout. Over the past few years, OCR organizers have specifically worked with adaptive sports providers and adaptive athletes to develop the sport and bring it around the country. OCR has the benefit of being a sport that is available on both a small and large scale. Courses can be developed for athletes on a community level using easily sourced materials, and they can also be accessed at an elite level through formally organized events.
Learning Objectives:
1. The benefits of this sport for athletes with disabilities
2. How adaptive sports programs can organize their own events
3. Examples of community collaboration
4. Opportunities to participate in OCR at the elite level
5. Individual experiences of several athletes, including how they got involved and what resources have been most helpful to them on the community level
Speaker:
Mike Halpert – GRIT Freedom Chair, Chief Experience Officer

Virtual Adaptive Fitness Workout with ATA
*LIVE WORKOUT*
10:00am – 10:45am
Experience an empathy workout by simulating an impairment during a guided workout and then discuss how to provide inclusive virtual fitness options. Session is hosted by Logan Aldridge, ATA co-founder and 2019-2020 World’s Fittest Adaptive Athlete (upper extremity).
Learning Objectives:
1. Experience virtual fitness training by simulating an impairment.
2. Become aware of the fitness challenges facing adaptive athletes in the virtual setting.
3. Learn how to provide an inclusive experience for virtual adaptive fitness.
Speakers:
Alec Zirkenbach – Adaptive Training Academy
Logan Aldridge – Adaptive Training Academy

The Wheelchair Tennis Pathway – From Novice to Professional
10:00am – 11:00am
Wheelchair tennis has a long and robust history. This has allowed for a great deal of organization and infrastructure over the last forty years. There are various levels in which newcomers to the sport can engage either as a player, coach, or volunteer. This session will give a comprehensive overview of wheelchair tennis offerings and entry points.
Learner Outcomes:
1. Participants will comprehend the existing wheelchair tennis structure.
2. Participants will be able to define the various entry points to wheelchair tennis.
3. Participants will understand the basic tenants of how to start a program, access funding, and use the curricula.
Speakers:
Jason Allen – United States Tennis Association, Manager, Wheelchair and Adaptive Tennis, USTA U
Evan Enquist – University of Alabama, Head Coach of Wheelchair Tennis

Can you move like Lightning? Try Parafencing!
11:30am – 12:15pm
Our fast paced, Sword yielding, combat arms/martial art style sport will never cease to amaze! Speed and accuracy, combined with “Physical Chess”, all from a seated position! Fantastic for those individuals with various physical disabilities and progression from recreational level all the way to internationally competitive level. Promotes concentration, hand and eye coordination and positive and constructive stress relief! Come take up your blade and engage in the body mind and spirit experience at Lightning speed! Join this session
Learning Objectives: 
1. Attendee will understand the difference between Parafencing, as apposed to Wheelchair Sports
2. Attendee will unerstand difference between Parafencing and Able Bodied Fencing
3. Attendee will understand the difference between the 3 fencing weapons and their associated garments
Speaker:
Cat Bouwkamp, CTRS 2012 Paralympian, USA Fencing Board of Directors

The Sport of Adaptive CrossFit: New Adaptive Divisions
11:15am – 11:45am
CrossFit has added new adaptive athlete divisions to the CrossFit Open and Games competitions. Learn about these new adaptive sporting opportunities and how you can get your local athletes involved.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about the adaptive sporting opportunities provided by CrossFit
2. Learn who is eligible and how to participate in CrossFit competitions
3. Learn how to get athletes started in training for CrossFit competitions
Speakers:
Alec Zirkenbach – Adaptive Training Academy
Logan Aldridge – Adaptive Training Academy

Graphs to Gold: How USAWR Uses Testing to Enhance Training Protocols
11:15am – 12:15pm
The difficulties in understanding the balance between exercise training, recovery and in-game success is challenging at any level of sport. This is even truer in athletes with disabilities due to a lack of information available for reference. Despite this shortcoming, performing team-based exercise testing can create a tactical advantage when creating athletic training protocols. The purpose of this session is to discuss how the United States Wheelchair Rugby national team “USAWR” utilizes team exercise testing as a tool to create complete athlete training protocols. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. To present what type of team testing is conducted when in camp at the Lakeshore Foundation (Birmingham, AL).
2. To show how different variables can easily alter performance for wheelchair athletes.
3. To show how USAWR training staff utilizes exercise testing results to create comprehensive training protocols.
This lecture/presentation is directed at coaches, staff and volunteers who serve athletes with disabilities.
Speakers:
Brandon Kane – Lakeshore Foundation, Sport Science & Exercise Lab Coordinator
Sharon Maskowitz – USA Wheelchair Rugby, Strength & Conditioning Coordinator

Adaptive Cheer & Stunting: Competetive, Recreational & Individual
12:15pm -1:00pm
Join USA Cheer as they present the inclusivity of ParaSport Cheer, including the adaptable skills and the standard of safety. USA Cheer will discuss the diverse options of cheerleading from youth sport, college team, club sport and coaches education. You will gain a great understanding of 2021 cheerleading, ParaSport Cheer and the ease of implementing ParaSport Cheer into current program curriculum along with benefits for the athletes.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn about the athleticism of both recreational and competitive ParaSport Cheer.
2. Participants will have an understanding to implement a ParaSport Cheer program into their curriculum with resources and points of contact from USA Cheer.
3. Participants will see the inclusivity and adaptability of ParaSport Cheer and it’s’ skills and techniques.
Speakers:
Lauri Harris – USA Cheer, Executive Director
Jim Lord – USA Cheer, Associate Director
Lee Trudell – ParaCheer Spirit NFP, Director

Para Martial Arts (Taekwondo)
12:45pm – 1:30pm 
Learning Objectives: 
1. Building Confidence as it pertains to martial arts:
– physical limitation (mind and body)
– public speaking
– success stories in 2020 with covid challenges
2. Teaching Respect through martial arts:
-language
-culture
-history
3. Elevating Individuals, Families, and Community to thrive
Speaker:
GM Sterling Chase Jr. – DuMyon Martial Arts, Founder & President

Creating Sitting Volleyball Opportunities in Your Communities
12:45pm – 1:30pm 
Sitting volleyball is a game that can be played by all with little to no additional costs. Most organizations or facilities do not realize that they already possess the equipment and space necessary to host sitting volleyball activities. Additionally, volleyball coaches with basic knowledge of volleyball skills and strategies can easily become sitting volleyball coaches while learning to work with athletes with physical disabilities. The missing link to hosting such programming is simply establishing the network between the volleyball community and the disabled sports organizations. This session will provide the methods for developing such partnerships and pass on the knowledge of how to organize and host sitting volleyball sessions.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn about the volleyball community around them and know how to connect with volleyball clubs, coaches, and Region Volleyball Associations in order create a partnership to develop sitting volleyball programming.
2. Participants will be shown how the equipment necessary to conduct sitting volleyball programming is already in place in most community recreation facilities with simple modifications to standing volleyball equipment.
3. Participants will complete the session with a foundation of knowledge to host sitting volleyball programming to include rules of the game, recruiting participants, and partnering with local volleyball coaches to provide instruction.
Speakers:
Elliot Blake – USA Volleyball, Manager of Sitting Volleyball

Adaptive Surfing
1:45pm – 3:00pm 
Adaptive surfing is a rehabilitative activity, a leisure activity, and a competitive professional sport. The freedom of moving through the water and being in the ocean has been found to improve self-esteem, increase self-confidence, augment social skills, amplify overall physical fitness, and reduce discrimination amongst peers. This session will explain the various levels of adaptive surfing, equipment and technology used by adaptive surfers, and classification for competitive adaptive surfing. This session will also discuss how to get involved with community organizations to learn to surf or help get adaptive surfers in the water. Locating and collaborating with community organizations will help develop sustainability for the sport so everyone can experience the Aloha spirit. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the 3 different purposes of adaptive surfing
2. Recognize the health and wellness from surfing in the ocean
3. Describe various surfing positions for adaptive surfing
4. Identify technology and equipment adaptations and modifications
5. Explain the importance of collaborating with community partners.
Speakers:
Maureen Johnson PhD – The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy / Head of International Classification for Para Surfing
Charles Webb – Stoke for Life Foundation, Professional Adaptive Surfer/Founder of SFL
Dana Cummings – Amp Surf, Owner/Professional Adaptive Surfer
Heather David – The University Health Sciences, Assistant Professor in Physical Therapy/International Classifier for Para Surfing

Introducing the USA Wheelchair Football League Athlete Development Model
1:30pm – 4:00pm
Get in the game with this USA Wheelchair Football League coaches training. Football applies a wide range of physical activities and skills, not all of which are simple to learn, teach or perform. Aligning skills in a progression with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) make them easier to grasp. In this session, USA Football Master Trainer, Kevin Lynott, and Move United Program Manager, Karalyn Stott, will introduce attendees to the new USA Wheelchair Football League Athlete Development Model and KPIs of football to help coaches provide the best experience for their athletes. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Trainees will learn how to introduce football’s key skill areas of passing, receiving, tackling, blocking and wheelchair movement to their athletes.
2. Trainees will learn learn the key performance indicators to look for in each area
3. Trainees will learn drill ideas that can be used in practices to help athletes develop.
4. Trainees will discuss ideas for developing a beginner team playbook.
Speakers:
Karalyn Stott – Move United, Program Manager
Kevin Lynott – USA Football, Master Trainer

Arts and Sports – Dance like a Pro Athlete
2:00pm – 2:45pm 
*WORKSHOP – will have limited capacity*
Bruce Lee was one of the greatest athletes and martial artists of all time.  He was also the Cha Cha Dance champion of Hong Kong.  Strength, flexibility, stamina, mental sharpness……athlete or dancer?  Both!
Football legend Lynn Swann, boxer Evander Holyfield, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger have credited studying dance with contributing to their athletic success.  Professional kickboxer and action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme said “If you can survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport.”
Whether for the pure joy of movement, to perform, or to help with other athletic activities, everyone can and should have the opportunity to dance.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn about the benefits of dancing.
2. Participants will learn how incorporating dance activities into athletic training will improve performance, at any leve, from recreational to competitive.
The workshop will include discussion and interactive activities for all abilities.  Participants will need a small amount of space around them to move.
Speakers:
Robin McCall – ComMotion – Community in Motion, Executive Director
Andre Avila – ComMotion – Community in Motion, Artistic Director

Get to Know U.S. Paralympics
3:15pm – 4:00pm
Have you ever wondered how the sports are managed within the Paralympic movement, what’s happening in the collegiate space or how a sport is added to the Games program? If so, then this is the session for you. Hear from Julie Dussliere, Chief of Paralympic Sport, at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) on some of the key updates and priorities within the Paralympic division.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn some of the key Paralympic initiatives, the structure and how the Paralympic sports are managed.
2. Hear updates on the key programs and initiatives within the Paralympic division and how you can get involved.
3. Learn about the upcoming Games’ programs and the process of how a sport is added to the Games sport program.
Speaker:
Julie Dussliere – U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Chief of Paralympic Sport 

Move United Inclusive Playbook Overview
11:00am – 11:30am 
Move United has recently launched the Inclusive Playbook! The Inclusive Playbook is a foundational building block to ensure all youth have an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their schools and communities. Geared towards elementary school students, the tool will help bridge the gap between individuals with and without disabilities at a young age through conversations, dialogue and activities. We want all teachers, coaches, administrators, and parents to feel comfortable using this tool to teach children about disability awareness and adapted sports with a full suite of lesson plans, worksheets, and more! This session will cover the basics of what the Inclusive Playbook is, how you may access it, and different ways in which you may use the tool.
Speakers:
Krista Rappoccio – Move United, Senior Education Manager
Lily Jagodzinski – Move United, Events Specialist

Adapted Sports Programming in Higher Education
11:00am – 11:45am 
This session will discuss the importance of the creation and development of an online adapted sports Master’s Degree program in higher education. Infusing Recreation and Kinesiology into an adapted sports program where disability and adapted sports are the main components of the program.
Learning Objectives:
1. To discuss the curriculum plan for the Adapted Sports concentration within the Kinesiology and Recreation Administration Program.
2. To justify the importance of a separate track of Adapted Sports with infusion from Kinesiology and Recreation Administration.
3. To explain the careers associated with a degree in KRA Adapted Sports.
Speaker:
Dr. Andrea Woodson-Smith – North Carolina Central University, Professor

Sport Opportunities for Collegiate Students With Disabilities: A Review of Current Program Offerings, Barriers, and Facilitators
12:15pm – 1:00pm
Students with disabilities are not being afforded the same access to sporting opportunities as their peers without disabilities. Fay’s (2011) call for specific, US legislation to mandate adapted sports at the collegiate level underscores the need to correct this inequity through social movement and policy, similar to Title IX legislation and the Women’s Movement in the early 1970s. Grassroots efforts are already underway at universities across the country though little is known of them. The purpose of this study is to understand these programs and the barriers and facilitators they face. Initial results indicate intercollegiate adapted sports programs (N=16) cited financial, environmental, institutional, personnel, and sociocultural factors that play the biggest role. More research is warranted to see how these factors impact the success of these programs to generate clearer pathways for more, and how their collective efforts can be used to galvanize policy efforts towards equity in disability sport.
Learning Objectives:
1) Identify current intercollegiate adapted sport opportunities
2) Interpret findings of program barriers and facilitators
3) Critique the level of inclusion at the collegiate level
4) Propose strategies for pathways to more programs and the role of the university system.
The goal of this presentation will be to briefly share findings of my dissertation and to engage in a dialogue to discuss and strategize the academy’s role in creating more adaptive sports opportunities and how research in this field can be built by the entire community.
Speaker:
Kathleen McCarty – Oregon State University, PhD Student

Designing Parasport Curriculum in Kinesiology for Undergraduate Students
12:15pm – 1:15pm
The preparation of undergraduate students to work with individuals with disabilities in sport and physical education tends to be the responsibility of adapted physical education and special education programs. Traditional undergraduate programs provide minimal or inadequate training to general physical education teachers and often no content in sport coaching and sport management related to working with persons with a disability and parasport. Increased visibility of individuals with disabilities in sport nationally and internationally requires greater inclusion of curricular content and opportunities for engagement in parasport within the college curriculum to ensure undergraduate students gain knowledge and skills needed to work in and or build integrated sport and physical education and activity environments. This presentation will profile one universities efforts and challenges to include disability curriculum within physical education, sport coaching, sport management, and recreation to build capacity and training related working with persons with a disability in sport. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will gain an understanding of how adapted physical education and special education teacher preparation curriculum was used to build curriculum in sport coaching that focused on disability
2. Participants will gain an understanding of evidenced based best practices to infuse disability into the sport management curriculum
3. Participants will gain an understanding of strategies and challenges to integrate campus based parasport service-learning experiences for physical education, sport coaching, and sport management students.
Speaker:
Deborah Shapiro, PhD – Georgia State University, Professor

Strategies to Promote Education through Adaptive Athletics
1:30pm – 2:15pm
University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics has the largest college based adaptive sports program in the US. Sports include men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair track and road racing, wheelchair rugby, handcycling, adaptive golf and adaptive swimming. The program has been successful in providing people with disabilities the opportunity to pursue academic achievements while chasing athletic success. Student-athletes are placed in an environment closely mimicking the experience of able-bodied student-athletes with high expectations placed on academics. Academic success is further enhanced with the implementation of sports related mental skills training highlighting motivation, confidence, emotional regulation, time management, and goal setting. Mental skills learned are crossed over into the educational setting, with the intention to be reflective in everyday life. Additionally, 99% of the student athletes have earned an athletic scholarship. The program’s dedicated fundraising efforts ensure student-athletes have access to scholarships, academic resources, and community.
Learning Objectives:
1. Promoting Education First and Athletics Second
a. Sport is an inroad to higher education and the success of student-athletes
2. Promoting Optimal Mental Performance
a. Sports related mental skills training supports academic success, athletic performance, and growth in everyday life
3. Promoting Scholarship, Fundraising, and Community
a. Athletic scholarships and fundraising enhances the learning experience for student-athletes and supports long-term community involvement
Speakers:
Peter Thomas Hughes – University of Arizona, Director of Adaptive Athletics
Dr. Dani Wade – Mental Performance Consultant

“Just Say ‘Hi!’”: Cultivating an Elementary School Climate Where Disability Inclusion Thrives
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Special educator and award-winning para-equestrian Alanna Flax-Clark, M.S.Ed., will offer her experience as an elementary school special educator and self-advocate. She will address disability inclusion both from the perspective of students with disabilities and as a classroom teacher — and the lack of disability representation among adults in the school setting. Flax-Clark will also share her journey into the world of adaptive sports. Her breadth of lived experience is woven into her engaging storytelling.

Flax-Clark will be joined by Debbie Fink, Vice President of Disability, Education and Inclusion and Rachel Byrne, Executive Director of the Cerebral Palsy Foundation (CPF), who will discuss CPF’s school-based disability inclusion program designed for all students and abilities, called “Just Say Hi.” They will highlight the need to expand school-connections with adaptive sports. The “Just Say Hi” program has been piloted in NYC schools, in partnership with the NYC DOE and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital of New York.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn from a self-advocate and special educator regarding disability inclusion in the greater school community and from allies in the field;
2. Learn about the school-based, disability inclusion program “Just Say Hi”: https://www.yourcpf.org/just-say-hi-in-schools/
3. Reframe the need for disability inclusion within the school community: for students, as well as disability representation among educators, coaches, and staff.
Speakers:
Alanna Flax-Clark M.S.Ed. – U.S.A ParaEquestrian, Special Educator, Disability Advocate
Debbie Fink- Vice President, Disability, Education and Inclusion for Cerebral Palsy Foundation (“Just Say Hi” program)
Rachel Byrne – Executive Director for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Move United Inclusive Playbook Workshop
*WORKSHOP – will have limited capacity*
2:45pm – 3:30pm 
At Move United, we use the power of sport to push what’s possible for people with disabilities, fueling conversation, and inciting action that leads us to a world where everyone’s included. The Inclusive Playbook is a foundational building block to ensure all youth have an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their schools and communities. Geared towards elementary school students and the tool will help bridge the gap between individuals with and without disabilities at a young age through conversations, dialogue and activities. We want all teachers, coaches, administrators, and parents to feel comfortable using this tool in their domains to teach children about disability awareness and adapted sports with a full suite of lesson plans, worksheets, and more! Tune into this workshop to learn how to use these tools and implement them into your community to help create a world where every  person, regardless of ability, is included in sport.
Speakers:
Krista Rappoccio – Move United, Senior Education Manager
Lily Jagodzinski – Events Specialist
Catarina Guimaraes – Athlete

Athletes, Ableism, and Advocacy: Centering Disability Identities, Disability Rights and Disability Justice
11:00am – 12:15pm
Even with having national laws, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and numerous equity driven policies, Disabled people/People with disability regularly encounter discrimination and oppression. Restrictions by society as to where people with disabilities may participate in physical activities, social experiences and life in general are often prohibited by a non-inclusively built environment as well as programmatic exclusion.  Public health messages often ignore Disabled people and tend to reinforce normative assumptions about human bodies and the need for all bodies to be physically productive to be valued by society.
Challenging ableism, oppression and discrimination using the platform of sport is a powerful tool. Disabled athletes/Athletes with disability are well positioned to highlight social injustices they experience and to engage in advocacy to facilitate change for a healthier and just society.
Learning Objectives:
1. Basic understanding of Disability Rights and Disability Justice.
2. Increased familiarity with Ableism and Internalized Ableism.
3. Increased knowledge of advocacy best practices.
4. The benefits of centering your identity/identities as a tool to dismantle systems of discrimination and oppression.
Moderator:
Karin Korb – Lakeshore Foundation, Policy and Public Affairs Coordinator; Paralympian
Panelists:
Candace Cable – Disability, Diversity and Equity Inclusion Consultant; Paralympian
Keith Jones – Soul Touchin’ Experiences, CEO; Krip- Hop Nation, Co-Founder, “Rising Phoenix” artist/composer and author
Ileana Rodriguez – Principal at I Design Access, LLC, Architect; Paralympian; Board member of the Americas Paralympic Committee as the Athlete Representative and Commissioner for the Houston Planning and Houston Airport Commissions.

Going The Distance; How Endurance Athletes and Race Organizers Can Collaborate for Inclusive Sporting Events
11:00am – 12:00pm
There are many community programs and organizations that promote and support the goals of athletes with disabilities (AWD) in competitive endurance sports. Training plans and workouts aside, getting to the starting line may be one of the greatest barriers for AWDs. Often times athletes are the first person with a disability that a race or event organizer meets. This session will provide etiquette for race and event organizers when supporting an AWD, and toolkits for athletes to reference when requesting accommodations. Additionally, attendees will examine some of the legal protections that exist in insuring reasonable accommodations on a race course for AWDs.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will build awareness around interacting and supporting AWDs
2. Participants will have a toolkit to review when planning a sporting event that is inclusive of athletes of all abilities
3. Participants will have a toolkit to review that assists in advocating for the accommodations they need as an AWD
4. Participants will have a basic understanding of the legal protections for AWD
Speakers:
Abigail Shaw – Learning Ally, Mentorship Coordinator; Achilles International (NYC Chapter), Co-Captain

A Physical Therapist’s Role in Promoting Equitable and Inclusive Wellness in Sports Participation for Athletes with Disabilities
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Athletes who have disabilities have a higher risk of being referred to providers incorrectly or not being screened for health conditions not directly associated with their cause of disability, and thus not receiving a referral at all. Athletes with disabilities experience musculoskeletal injuries such as muscle strain/sprain, fracture, and overuse injuries as a result of their participation in sports. They or their healthcare provider(s) may be unsure which healthcare provider to go to when they have an injury or issue due to blind spots in the healthcare system, including those of clinician bias. Physical therapists can be prime or lead team members in the care and health promotion of athletes with disabilities. There are 10 board-certified clinical specialties in physical therapy, including pediatrics, oncology, neurology, and sports. Sports physical therapy clinicians are trained in promoting sport participation, implementing injury prevention techniques, treating on-field injuries, and rehabilitation of all athletes back to their sports. Just as it is important for athletes with disabilities to be physically active, one of the keys to success in this area relies on inclusion, which in this case includes equitable access to healthcare and sports training opportunities. Physical therapists can be a great conduit for athletes with disabilities with and without injuries to fully participate in sporting events. The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of the roles of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants in adaptive sports; how sports PTs and PTAs help athletes get appropriate health services; how through health promotion physical therapists facilitate optimization of movement and maximization of inclusion of all athletes, including those who have disabilities. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Speakers:
Katie Lucas – University of Louisville, Postdoctoral Associate
Hadiya Green Guerrero – American Physical Therapy Association, Senior Practice Specialist
Heidi Kosakowski

Intersectionality & Belonging
12:45pm – 1:45pm
Intersectionality & Belonging will focus on defining what intersectionality means and the importance of celebrating and recognizing intersecting identities in spaces among teams, staff, work places, etc. We will provide perspectives on how to honor these identities and ways to create a sense of belonging and community within these spaces. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will have a greater understanding and awareness of social identities and the identities of individuals in their respective communities.
2. Participants will be able to define intersectionality and belonging and understand how they interact in order to build inclusive communities.
3. Participants will be able to brainstorm and list action items to take back and implement with their respective communities.
Speakers:
Patty Cisneros Prevo – Wisconsin Athletics, Assistant Director of Inclusion & Engagement
Stephanie Wheeler – University of Illinois, Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Head Coach

Empowering Female Athletes
2:15pm – 3:15pm
*WORKSHOP – will have limited capacity*
Two and a half years ago at ParaSport Spokane we began a weekly group with the goal of developing connections and fostering leadership skills in our female athletes. Over time, topics covered in this group have ranged from self-advocacy and communication skills to mental performance and goal setting and much more. The benefits of this group (both observed by ParaSport Spokane staff and reported by our athletes) are outstanding and include increased self-confidence and a deep sense of belonging. This presentation will outline our process of beginning and continuously tailoring the group to the needs of our athletes; provide suggestions on how other programs might begin a similar group; and define best practices we have discovered over time. We are eager to share stories that have come out of this group and are convinced this is something athletes and programs across the country will benefit from. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify three important reasons to establish this type of group in your community.
2. List three possible opening topics or ice-breakers to use each group session.
3. List five topics to consider addressing in a similar group.
4. Differentiate between this group and a traditional “support” group.
Speakers:
Brittany Croft – ParaSport Spokane, Health & Wellness Coordinator
Teresa Skinner – ParaSport Spokane, Executive Director/Wheelchair Racing Coach

We All Have a Sports Story to Tell- The Why & How to Share Your Sports Story
*WORKSHOP – will have limited capacity*
2:30pm – 3:45pm
This will be a 75-minute interactive session where athletes, coaches, and sports organizers will learn the importance of telling their sports stories and how to effectively share them with others to redefine ability, to raise awareness for adaptive and inclusive sports, and to promote greater equity in sports for all athletes. This session content is CE pre-approved by NCTRC.
Learning Objectives:
1. To deconstruct the notice of sports participation and the value of one’s affinity to sports.
2. To demonstrate the impact of sharing your adaptive and/ or inclusive sports story with others and its role in creating greater equity in sports participation/fitness.
3.To model how to tell your adaptive and/or inclusive sports story effectively using reflection, graphic organizers, and multimedia tools.
4. To identify digital tools for sharing your adaptive and/or sports stories with stakeholders, outside organizations, and funders.
Speakers:
Jennifer Stratton – Baypath University, Professor of Education
Jessica Silver – Flex for Access, Founder/Author
Caitlin Stratton