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Ability Sports &  Education Festival

Welcome

The primary purpose of the Ability Sports & Education Festival  is to promote physical activity and sports for people of all ages, with any disability, injury, or illness. The Ability Sports & Education Festival also works towards raising awareness about various disability sports and physical activity options available in the Inland Empire. It also provides service-learning opportunities for students to not only volunteer their time, but also learn how to create and adapt programs for people with disabilities. This event is a free opportunity for people of ALL ages and ALL forms of disabilities to come together to learn and have fun.

The Ability Sports & Education Festival started at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and is held annually in October. The 12th annual CSUSB Ability Sports & Education Festival will be held at Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, Oct. 6th from 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. (on-site registration starts at 8 a.m.). The Ability Sports & Education Festival is FREE for ANYONE with any type of disability and ANY age. Last year, we had 900 participants ages 8 months to 84 years old. This year, we expect to have over 1000 participants including 100 veterans at this FREE festival.

Ability Sports & Education Festival

Adaptive Swimming
Athletes learn swimming using techniques that emphasize skills modified/adapted for people with a range of abilities to improve swimming skills and increase physical fitness levels.

Kayaking
Aided by volunteers and coaches, athletes paddle around the pool on a kayak.

Adaptive Martial Arts
Using a variety of modified martial arts techniques that allow for accessibility by people with a range of abilities, athletes get a chance to spar with coaches and other athletes.

Adaptive Yoga
Teaches breathing, meditation, and physical postures for people with a range of abilities to help relieve body pain, increase flexibility, improve strength and increase mental and emotional stability.

Standard Basketball
Similar to the traditional game, but adapted to be accessible for people with a range of abilities such as lowering of the basket, a lighter ball and rule adaptations on dribbling.

Wheelchair Basketball
Open to all athletes with physical impairments. Not all players need to be wheelchair users in daily life, but all athletes compete in a wheelchair for the purpose of the game.

Track and Field
Some compete in wheelchairs, others with prostheses and athletes with blindness/visual impairment compete with the guidance of a sighted companion. Athletes compete according to their functional classifications in each event such as running, relay races, and high jump.

Archery
Coaches ensure they are providing a safe program where everyone can achieve success by using slight modifications to equipment or teaching techniques that are adapted to be accessible for people with a range of abilities.

Skateboarding
Provides the opportunity for people with and without disabilities to skateboard together. Athletes will get to participate in some of the fundamental skateboarding maneuvers adapted to be accessible for people with a range of abilities.

Tennis
Wheelchair or stand up adaptive tennis is played in a group setting and modified to fit the needs of each athlete.

Beep Baseball
A modified form of baseball for the blind and visually impaired. It is so named because the ball beeps -- allowing fielders to track it through sound.

Cycling/Hand Cycling
Athletes can ride single or tandem or try handcycling which allows the bike to be powered by the arms rather than the legs.

Soccer
Played on an outdoor field as traditional soccer, but adapted to be accessible for people with a range of abilities.

Power Soccer
A form of adaptive soccer developed specifically for power wheelchair users. The game is played indoors on a basketball court.

Wall Climbing
Coaches help guide athletes up the wall to help build sensory, cognitive, physical and communication skills. This sport is open for all abilities including wheelchair bound.

Golf
Working with adaptive equipment, athletes are taught how to swing and putt the ball.

Sitting Volleyball
Sometimes known as para-olympic volleyball, Athletes sit on the ground with a lowered net and play volleyball.