The United States is the primary country where adaptive sports and recreation centers exist, and it is also the country where the most number of disabled people live, according to a recent report.
The following is a list of the 13 best USA adaptive sports centers and organizations in 2022.
There is a lot of adaptive sports centers in the U.S. But this list of the best 13 will surely help you to find the best one!
Another post that will interest you is about the 15 Exercise Equipment For Handicapped & Disabled Adults.
Affordable and accessible facilities, instructors, and programs, these adaptive sports centers are a godsend for athletes and everyday people who have any kind of disability.
Table of Contents
What are adaptive sports?
Adaptive sports offer a variety of opportunities to improve or rehabilitate the health of an individual, and to participate in the same sport as non-disabled athletes. Adaptive sports can be enjoyed by people of all abilities, ranging from children to seniors, and are a great way to stay active, healthy and feel more confident.
There is no question that the Paralympics is an inspiring event that serves as a reminder that anyone can overcome adversity. But for every person who wants to pursue a career in adaptive sports, there are many others who simply want to have fun and stay active. One way to do this is by signing up for adaptive sports, which are designed specifically for disabled people.
6 Facts on Disabled In the US
1. 1 in 4 people (around 80 million people) in the USA live with a disability
2. The number of Americans with disabilities is going to be increasing in the next decade
3. Mobility is Most Common Disability Among Older Americans
4. There are over 20 adaptive sports centers in the USA That provide programs and activities for disabled people
5. There are hundreds of adaptive sports equipment manufacturers in the US
6. There are thousands of adaptive sports equipment suppliers in the US
Top 13 adaptive sports centers and Organizations in the USA in 2022
1. KEN LANNING GOLF CENTER – Jefferson City, Missouri
The KEN LANNING GOLF CENTER in Jefferson City, MO is one of the best golf courses for handicapped golfers in the entire USA. It has wheelchair-accessible ramps and torments and events for the disabled, as well as a fully accessible clubhouse. The golf course is located in Jefferson City, MO.
The KEN LANNING GOLF CENTER is a public golf course, and it’s operated by the City of Jefferson City.
The handicapped golfers who are customers at the KEN LANNING GOLF CENTER in Jefferson City, MO can enjoy wide green flat fields that enable the golfers to maneuver easily with their wheelchair.
Ken Lanning Golf Center has everything you need for fun and socializing: a well-stocked Pro Shop, a driving range, a chipping and putting green, a stocked bar, and a restaurant. It is a great place to take a golfing lesson or to have a private party.
And with an excellent disabled accessibility rating, this golf course is one of the best places for handicapped golfers to go and play golf in Missouri.
2. UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WELLNESS CENTER – Edmond, Oklahoma
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA WELLNESS CENTER is the premier adaptive sports program in the midwest, and it is now one of the only universities in America to be both an Olympic and Paralympic training location.
It is home to a number of top-level adaptive athletes, and a number of nationally recognized adaptive sports, including wheelchair basketball, boccia, and goalball. It also provides other adaptive sports programs such as golf, swimming, baseball, and softball, as well as strength and conditioning activities.
The mission of the Wellness Center is to inspire students to achieve their highest levels of personal development. They offer a variety of services to help students of all abilities reach their goals of better wellness. They are the only campus in the United States that offers a range of adaptive sports, an Olympic-style pool, specialized equipment, and highly trained staff to support a wide variety of students with disabilities.
3. CHULA VISTA OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER – Chula Vista, California
The Chula Vista Olympic Training Center was created to serve as a training ground for our nation’s top athletes, and is now one of the premier adaptive sports facilities in the country. It currently serves 200 athletes in 30 sports, including aquatic, cycling, and track & field.
Since the center was built in 2001, it has hosted several national and international competitions, including the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Swimming Trials, the 2005 World Rowing Championships, and the 2004 U.S. Paralympic Tennis Championships.
The center also hosts the annual Paralympic Sport Club Championships, which is a series of sporting events designed to create a fun and competitive atmosphere for athletes with disabilities.
The Chula Vista Olympic Training Center is one of the best adaptive sports centers in the United States. Located in California, the center is owned by the city of Chula Vista and is dedicated to the training and development of athletes with disabilities.
The center is also the home of the California Dream Team, which is a wheelchair basketball team that is part of the national program that trains the US team to compete in the Paralympics. The center is also the home of the US Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Team.
4. PLASSMAN ATHLETIC CENTER – Fort Wayne, Indiana
PLASSMAN ATHLETIC CENTER is a facility that offers indoor sports and activities to the disabled. It is located just off Interstate 69, south of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Here, you will find an indoor swimming pool, basketball courts, an indoor track, a golfing facility, and a fitness center. Within the center, you will find a wide variety of adaptive equipment that can be used by wheelchair users, amputees, and the blind to enjoy their favorite sports.
PLASSMAN ATHLETIC CENTER is the premier adaptive sports center in the United States. Their high-tech equipment, knowledgeable staff, and excellent location give athletes of all ages and abilities a chance to participate in sports and activity they never thought possible.
Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, you can find PLASSMAN ATHLETIC CENTER at 3500 East Dupont Road, Fort Wayne, IN.
5. SPIRE INSTITUTE – Geneva, Ohio
Spire Institute is a non-profit adaptive sports and education center serving the disabled community in North East Ohio. Spire provides the community with a variety of adaptive sports, physical therapy, and other support activities.
SPIRE INSTITUTE has been around for decades, providing disabled, elderly, and other special needs people with the best adaptive sport equipment in the USA. Originally, it was just an athletics center for the disabled, but in the early 2000s it expanded its facilities to include the adaptive sports equipment and programs it is known for today.
The facilities are available to the whole community, not just the disabled, and many Olympians have trained there.
It is an amazing complex that offers almost any kind of adaptive sports you can imagine. The track is the largest indoor track in the world. The football complex is amazing and offers many different types of football, from flag football, to tackle football.
The baseball batting cages are also very high-tech and allow you to hit both righty and lefty. There is a lot more than that, but this gives a pretty good idea of what SPIRE offers.
6. WINTER PARK RESORT – Winter Park, Colorado
The Winter Park Resort is one of the best places for adaptive sports in the USA. It’s located in Winter Park, Colorado, just north of Denver, and about a 2 hour drive from the Denver Airport. This is a great place for people with disabilities who want to work on their body strength, or even for those who are just looking for a family-friendly winter vacation.
Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Winter Park Resort is a world-class destination for winter sports enthusiasts. Not only does it offer a wide variety of winter sports, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and more, but it also has the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) located on the same grounds.
The NSCD is a nonprofit organization that works to improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities through participation in sports and physical activity. Thus, in addition to Winter Park Resort being a world-class destination for winter sports enthusiasts, it is also a world-class destination for people with disabilities.
NSCD is also number 12 on this list as one of the best adaptive sports organizations in the US.
7. MECKLENBURG COUNTY AQUATIC CENTER – Charlotte, North Carolina
The Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center is one of the most advanced venues for swimming and diving competitions in the Southeast. The facility opened in 2002 and has hosted a number of top-level swimming and diving events throughout the country.
It boasts a 200-meter, six-lane pool, a diving well of 3-meter springboards and 1-meter and 3-meter platforms, and a beginner training pool. The center also has a high-tech video system, boasting the largest television in an aquatic center in the U.S.
The Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center is a great place for anyone in need of adaptive sports equipment, such as wheelchairs, crutches, and adaptive swimming equipment. It is also a beautiful place to spend a day or two enjoying the great outdoors.
Amenities include eight outdoor swimming pools (one Olympic-size and three 50-meter pools) and a fitness center. The center has equal access to all activities, including the pools, the fitness center, and the spectator areas.
8. HUFF HALL GYM – Champaign, Illinois
“Move over, Florida. The best adaptive sports center in the United States may just be at the University of Illinois in Champaign. With a newly renovated space that includes a weight room, training room and completely revamped locker rooms on the first floor, the historic Huff Hall is a haven for Fighting Illini volleyball, men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball and adaptive sports in general.
Huff Hall is a unique venue that allows the disabled to learn and compete in a variety of innovative forms.
Huff Hall has become a place where disabled people can work out, compete and earn a spot on the team. The facility also hosts wheelchair basketball teams from around the world on an annual basis, including many from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
9. LOON MOUNTAIN – Lincoln, New Hampshire
As one of the premier adaptive sports facilities in the country, Loon Mountain has become a destination for veterans with disabilities. Located in Lincoln, New Hampshire, it’s just a couple hours north of Boston, and home to the Disabled Ski Hall of Fame. The program began back in 1987 with just a handful of children, and over the years, it has grown into a facility that is home to more than 20 different sports camps and clinics.
When you think of Loon Mountain, you probably think of skiing and snowboarding. That is what the resort is best known for, especially considering it’s home to one of the largest terrain parks in New England. However, the area offers much more than just winter sports. The mountain is also one of the top adaptive sports centers in the country, offering an array of programs, classes, and activities for disabled skiers and snowboarders of all ages.
The Loon Mountain adaptive sport facility is operated by New England Disabled Sports (NEDS) which is one of the best disabled sports organizations in the US and it is number 11 on this list.
10. LAKESHORE – Homewood, Alabama
LAKESHORE in Homewood, Alabama is a regional adaptive sports center with an indoor pool. It opens its doors to people of all ages with various physical disabilities. The indoor pool is available for all to use, and also provides the backdrop for a number of the center’s programs. These are designed to help the disabled learn and enhance their abilities.
LAKESHORE in Homewood, Alabama is an adaptive sports facility that was built for the disabled, elderly, and adaptive sports enthusiasts. It has all the facilities and equipment needed for a great adaptive sports experience.
The gym has the complete range of adaptive sports equipment including wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, adapted tricycles, adapted scooters, adapted golf clubs, adapted bowling equipment, adapted skateboards, adapted playground equipment, adapted boccia equipment, adapted volleyball equipment, adapted basketball equipment, adapted swimming equipment, adapted tennis equipment, adapted table-tennis equipment, adapted curling equipment, adapted beach volleyball equipment, adapted skiing equipment, adapted rock-climbing equipment.
11. New England Disabled Sports – top Adaptive Sports organization in the US
New England Disabled Sports (NEDS) is the best adaptive sports organization in the USA. It is a nationally recognized program that provides year-round adaptive sport instruction to adults and children with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Their programs allow individuals with disabilities to enjoy a boundary-free environment, enjoy outdoor recreation with friends and family, as well as provide access to equipment and instruction that might otherwise be unavailable.
NEDS is operating in Loon Mountain(number 9 on our list) and in Bretton Woods.
It is a nationally recognized program that provides year-round adaptive sport instruction to adults and children with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Just one hour from Boston, NEDS brings an unparalleled opportunity for disabled participants to enjoy a boundary-free environment, enjoy outdoor recreation and activities with friends and family, and more.
New England Disabled Sports offers over 20 sports programs for individuals with disabilities. Programs include Skiing, Snowshoeing, Waterskiing, Cycling, Golfing, Surfing, Sailing, Triathlon, Fishing, and Tennis. The sports programs are open to men, women, and children age 7 and up, who are physically and mentally impaired.
12. National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD)
The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) is an incredible organization that is changing the lives of many individuals each and every year. The NSCD began in 1970 providing ski lessons for children with amputations for the Children’s Hospital of Denver.
Based out of Winter Park Resort and Sports Authority Field at Mile High, the NSCD is one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies in the world.
Each year more than 3,000 children and adults with disabilities participate in programs to learn more about sports and themselves. With specially trained staff and volunteers, and its own adaptive equipment lab, the NSCD teaches a variety of winter and summer sports and activities to individuals with almost any physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral disability.
13. Disabled Sports USA
One of the most important parts of any sporting organization is ensuring that the people it serves can easily access all of its facilities and events. As an organization that provides sports and recreation opportunities to thousands of people each year, Disabled Sports USA is committed to providing a safe environment for people with disabilities.
That’s why the organization has revamped and rebranded its website to be more accessible in accordance with the standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The new website — https://www.moveunitedsport.org/ — features a clean, modern design that is compliant with Section 508 standards.
As a disabled or elderly individual, you want to live your life as normally as possible. But, with the hot weather comes a slew of problems. You may be confined to a chair/wheelchair, and your home may not be wheelchair-friendly. You may not be able to get out and about as much as you would like. But there is a solution to your problems.
Disabled Sports USA is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to giving disabled and elderly individuals the opportunity to do things they wouldn’t normally be able to do.
Top Ten States for Adaptive Sports
According to the moveunitedsport.org website which is the new website of Disabled Sports USA These are the top 10 states for adaptive sports:
- COLORADO
- CALIFORNIA
- FLORIDA
- NEW HAMPSHIRE
- OREGON
- MARYLAND
- VIRGINIA
- MAINE
- MICHIGAN
- VERMONT
Check their post here:
https://www.moveunitedsport.org/top-adaptive-sports-states/
Hi, my name is Eddie, I am a professional trainer specializing in the elderly population and I’m also a website designer. I love training in the gym, going to the beach, traveling, and having good food.
I combined my love for sport and website designing to make “DisabilitEase” whose purpose is to help elderly and disabled people live a more full and active life, have more fun, and enjoy their unique journey despite any disability.
