Rolling Into The Mainstream
By Stephen Michael Kerr, Thu Dec 8th

Ask any disabled athlete if they would jump at the chance tocompete against able-bodied athletes, and they would probablygive you an emphatic "Yes!" Whether it's crossing the finishline in a track meet, or kayaking on the river, having theopportunity to participate in the same athletic activity as anable-bodied person is the goal of disabled athletes everywhere.

That's also the goal of World Wheelchair Sports (WWS), anorganization dedicated to providing outdoor activities forpeople with mobility impairments. Founded in 1990 and based inEugene, Oregon, WWS believes physical fitness is vital toeveryone, regardless of disability. People of all agesthroughout the Pacific Northwest take part in track and field,road racing, cycling, kayaking, and other sports andrecreational activities.

Best of all, many of these activities have been set up to allowdisabled individuals to compete with and against theirable-bodied peers. The track program, led by WWS ExecutiveDirector and former Paralympic track coach Kevin Hansen, hasproduced many Olympic and Paralympic medallists who have setworld and national records.

"Some of our junior athletes have competed with their standingpeers at regular high school track and field meets, and haveearned Varsity letters," Hansen explains.

Over the past several years, WWS has coordinated variouswheelchair track events, including the first ever exhibitionrace at the 2002 State High School Track Championships, and theannual Oregon Regional wheelchair track and field championships.

Another sport which allows disabled athletes to join theirable-bodied counterparts is sailing. WWS, in conjunction withDisabled Sailing of Oregon, offers both accompanied and solosailing activities and lessons.

"We currently have two boats in our program,"

Fish & Boat Commission, Coldwater Heritage Partnership Supporting Grassroots Work to Conserve PA?s Valuable Coldwater Streams, Trout Fisheries
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Public review of draft Susquehanna River Anadromous Fish Restoration Cooperative (SRAFRC) Migratory Fish Management and Restoration Plan for the Susquehanna River Basin
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) today announced that the Draft Migratory Fish Management and Restoration Plan for the Susquehanna River Basin is now available for public review and comment.
PA Fish & Boat Commission Plans Open House at Linesville State Fish Hatchery
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold their annual Open House at the Linesville State Fish Hatchery on Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 11am ? 3:30 p.m.
Fish & Boat Commission Names John Arway Executive Director
A 30-year veteran of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has been chosen as the agency?s next executive director. During a special public meeting today, the Board of Commissioners selected John Arway to lead the Commission, one of the oldest and most effective conservation agencies in the nation.
Pennsylvania Announces Fisheries Position Regarding N.Y. City Reservoir Releases to Delaware River
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today announced the release of a fisheries recommendation for management of water released to Delaware River tributaries from New York City water supply reservoirs.
Fish & Boat Urges Action on Susquehanna River Troubles
Calling the Susquehanna River ?increasingly impaired,? the board of commissioners of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today called on state and federal environmental agencies to expand efforts to determine the sources of pollution which are contributing to the demise of the river?s smallmouth bass fishery.
Fish & Boat Commission Names Acting Executive Director
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) today named Brian Barner as the agency?s acting executive director, effective upon the retirement of Dr. Douglas Austen at the close of business today.
National Saltwater Angler Registry (attention shad, striped bass, and river herring anglers)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission (PFBC) are reminding anglers that a new federal law requires anglers who target or catch shad, striped bass, and river herring from the Delaware River below Trenton Falls or in the Delaware Estuary to register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission staff at Butler Fishing Show
Staff from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will attend the Butler Fishing Show on February 13th and 14th 2010 at the Butler Senior High School.
Fish & Boat Winter Meeting Scheduled for January 27-28 in Harrisburg
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will hold its winter quarterly meeting on Jan. 27-28 at its Harrisburg office.
Biologist Report - West Branch Susquehanna River and Susquehanna River Younf-of-Year Smallmouth Bass
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Biologist Report - Laurel Hill Creek & Big Sandy Creek Basins, Somerset and Fayette Counties, Search for Wild Trout
Fisheries Management personnel from the Area 8 office surveyed 15 unassessed waters in the Laurel Hill Creek and Big Sandy Creek basins in Somerset and Fayette Counties.
Commissioner Lenny Lichvar Sworn in as District 4 Representative
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Updated Fish Consumption Advisories Issued for 2010
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Eleven Complete Police Training Requirements at State Police Facility
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Biologist Report - Susquehanna River smallmouth bass
During September 21 ? 24, 2009, biologists conducted nighttime electrofishing surveys targeting adult smallmouth bass at four historic sampling sites located within the middle portion of the Susquehanna River from the Fabri Dam in Sunbury downstream to the York Haven Dam near Middletown to determine trends in abundance, size structure, age structure, and growth attributes, among other attributes.
Biologist Report - Wild Trout Streams, Cumberland and Perry Counties
A subset of unassessed streams were surveyed in the Sherman Creek and Yellow Breeches Creek basins in south central Pennsylvania to determine if wild trout were present.
Fish & Boat Commission to inspect Marcellus Shale drilling sites
Safe Harbor Water Power Corporation, a hydroelectric generating station on the lower Susquehanna River, announces plans to draw down the water level in Lake Clarke above the Safe Harbor Dam.

Hansen says. "Oneis a 21-foot keelboat shared with the local Sea Explorer troop.The other craft is a 25-foot Santana 525 sloop purchased in 1999with a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust."

Wheels In Nature, or WIN, brings children and adults inwheelchairs together with those who aren't through musclepowered outdoor adventures. Each summer, WIN conducts youthcamps in kayaking, wheelchair court sports and racing, sailing,fishing, hand cycling, and a special Arts In Nature Day. Longeroutings include day trips to wildlife refuges and overnightcampouts in some of Oregon's national forests.

Funding for WWS is provided through membership and entry fees,donations, and grants. Members come from many differentbackgrounds and levels of disability. Hansen, who became aquadriplegic following a snow skiing accident, thought hisathletic days were over until he was able to acquire one of thefirst lightweight aluminum sports chairs to be mass-produced inthe U.S.

"That chair got me into road races and track meets, and was thefirst of many equipment upgrades," he says.

Some participants are older people who suffered a stroke orsevere arthritis, while others were born with disablingconditions that left them paraplegics or double amputees. Butthanks to the programs of World Wheelchair Sports, theseindividuals can experience the thrill of athletic competition,or the freedom to enjoy recreational activities in a morerelaxed environment. The chance to share these experiences withthose who are not in a wheelchair gives them an even greaterfeeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.

To find out more information about World Wheelchair Sports,visit their website at: www.efn.org/~wwscoach

About the author:Stephen Michael Kerr is the publisher of Adaptive Sports &Recreation, a free ezine devoted to sports and recreation forthe disabled. To read previous issues, visit:http://archives.zinester.com/41809