Since 1984, the Adaptive Sports Foundation has been providing services to children and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. Starting out as the Ski Windham Adaptive Ski Program, Gwen Allard began teaching approximately 20 students with 10 or less volunteer instructors. Since then, the Adaptive Sports Foundation has grown to 1300 student visits a year and a volunteer roster of 200 plus.

As the largest adaptive sport program on the East Coast and considered amongst the top adaptive programs in the country, the Adaptive Sports Foundation offers both winter and summer sports to a wide range of special needs children and adults. Participation in sports gives the disabled individual increased self worth and self esteem. Students are often heard saying, "If I can do this, I can do anything."

The Adaptive Sports Foundation prides itself in its first rate sports instruction as well as providing an experience where the whole family benefits.

MISSION

Founded in 1984, the Adaptive Sports Foundation offers mountain-based recreational activities for people with special needs. Through their participation in ASF programs, students increase their life skills, enrich their personal sense of accomplishment and foster their desire to participate in activities that have been inaccessible to them previously. ASF students live with disabilities ranging from relatively mild learning disabilities to more severe disabilities such as quadriplegia, autism, and traumatic brain injuries.

HOW VARIETY HELPS

Variety the Children's Charity of New York's grant to the Adaptive Sports Foundation supports the ASF 2009-2010 Winter Program. The 2008-2009 Program gave lessons to approximately 450 children. With the increased funding ASF hopes to increase that number to 500 children.