Besides Special Olympics training, the Special Populations branch of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation also helps people with physical and intellectual disabilities get out and be active.
They call what they are doing the Adaptive Sports program. Special Populations Coordinator Cameron Levis explained that about five or six years ago, the division made a strategic and intentional effort to try to provide programs for people with physical disabilities where adaptive sports come into play.
The sports will not just help with fitness; participants could also make new friends and meet new people.
Levis hopes that more people will volunteer to help with adaptive sports and help those with disabilities, and explained that people don’t need to be any kind of “special person” to help individuals with disabilities. They need only to have an open mind and a heart of service.
Levis believes that the most significant thing the program does for the community is it truly does put on display the abilities that exist inside of every person with a disability and hopes that if more people become a part of the program, then they will know the community can be changed for the better.
