Responses and Clarifications "Sports for AK Amputees"
Michael Mais
Description
Collection
Title:
Responses and Clarifications "Sports for AK Amputees"
Creator:
Michael Mais
Date:
10/5/2009
Text:
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you very much for the numerous responses to my question. I post
the replies later in this mail, but might first give some clarifications.
I am a German Prosthetist/Orthotist and worked most of my life in
developing countries. Equally at home with advanced technology I
sometimes try to push the barriers poor patients face, as is the case
with this 16 year old. She is full of beans, naturally challenging
anything and complains about the knee not bending as you would expect
from a young lady. My aim is to give her a perspective, maybe through
sports which also could absorb some of her extra energy.
There are limitations however. She lives in the north of China, in a
rural area and the family is pushed to cope. The components where a
donation by Peter Rosenberger of the NGO Standing with Hope (good job
Peter!). Equipment is out of the question and a pool or ski-slope not
available. But one mentioned Ping-Pong and there will certainly be a
table of some sort at her school. Maybe some athletics like jumping or I
believe badminton is a possibility.
All your suggestions are welcome and I will follow up. But - all the
sites I visited so far require extensive searching or reading. Long
lists of sports and when you look at it its for the blind, or
wheelchair. Not one Internet-page allows a search based on disability.
Sort of write AK amputee in a search field and it lists all the
options open to you.
At this time we face additional barriers, The suggested website
www.challengedathletetes.org is not available at the moment or is
blocked by Chinese Censorship for now (as are Facebook, YouTube and
others). But, be certain, I will put all the suggestions to her and will
keep following. There will be a way, it is just a little trouble to find it.
Of course, there is a disabled sports program in China and I follow this
too. But it seems a little centralised and I can see no way for her to
access it at present. First some results, then there might be an opening
to represent China.
Michael
_Postings received:_
I would contact the Challenged Athletes Foundation, they seem to
specialize in what you are asking. <URL Redacted>
Please contact the Challenged Athletes Foundation at www.challengedathletes.org. More specifically, you can call their Program Director, Jill Prichard at (858) 866-0959. This organization provides mentorship, grants and information on different ways to get involved in sports and a physically active life. Also, there is an event that will take place on Oct 25th in La Jolla Ca called the San Diego Triathlon Challenge which will attract hundreds of challenged athletes who have overcome adversity through sport. I highly recommend that if she is able, you bring her to this event. It will be life changing....
Short AK is no problem in cycling as they do not wear their prostheses in competition.
If she is in an area where there is snow skiing, she might be interested
in Ski Biking.
Look it up on the net. I've ski biked with both ak and bk amputees for
the past few years and there is a small group out here in WA that goes
fairly often.
Are you based in Germany? If so www.orthopoint.de is the best website
and forum
I`am amputation both legs. I play ping pong that sort of paraolympic.
Powerlifting!
Where is she located? OPAF offers First Clinics across the country, with
follow up locally within the sport or area of activity. All First Clinics
are offered free of charge.
In addition to the number of amputee resources included in the
attachment is a list of athletic associations for people w/ disabilities.
I live in San Diego, CA and we have many patients who have received
grants to help them participate in adaptive sports through an
organization called Challenged Athletes Foundation,
www.challengedathletetes.org. I believe they are nationwide, if not
worldwide. Take a look at their web site and see what they can offer
your patient.
If you guys are near water, there should be an outrigger canoe club.
That's a great sport for any one with any kind of disablility (even for
those without a disability).
You should definitely put her in touch with Derrick Stowell of the
Amputee Coalition of America Youth Camp. His e-mail is
<Email Address Redacted> and his telephone number is 888/267-5669,
ext. 8130.
This program provides a camp experience at no cost to the children or
their families. It is paid for through grants and donations from the
Amputee Coalition's supporters. It often helps young people start
becoming involved in sports activities again after amputation.
OPAF and the First Clinics offers lots of free opportunities for
amputees to participate in sports. <URL Redacted>
There is also an organization called P.L.A.Y. that offers grants to help
amputees get involved in sports and might also pay for the equipment.
See <URL Redacted>
There is also the Challenged Athlete Foundation
http://www.challengedathletes.org/
Thank you very much for the numerous responses to my question. I post
the replies later in this mail, but might first give some clarifications.
I am a German Prosthetist/Orthotist and worked most of my life in
developing countries. Equally at home with advanced technology I
sometimes try to push the barriers poor patients face, as is the case
with this 16 year old. She is full of beans, naturally challenging
anything and complains about the knee not bending as you would expect
from a young lady. My aim is to give her a perspective, maybe through
sports which also could absorb some of her extra energy.
There are limitations however. She lives in the north of China, in a
rural area and the family is pushed to cope. The components where a
donation by Peter Rosenberger of the NGO Standing with Hope (good job
Peter!). Equipment is out of the question and a pool or ski-slope not
available. But one mentioned Ping-Pong and there will certainly be a
table of some sort at her school. Maybe some athletics like jumping or I
believe badminton is a possibility.
All your suggestions are welcome and I will follow up. But - all the
sites I visited so far require extensive searching or reading. Long
lists of sports and when you look at it its for the blind, or
wheelchair. Not one Internet-page allows a search based on disability.
Sort of write AK amputee in a search field and it lists all the
options open to you.
At this time we face additional barriers, The suggested website
www.challengedathletetes.org is not available at the moment or is
blocked by Chinese Censorship for now (as are Facebook, YouTube and
others). But, be certain, I will put all the suggestions to her and will
keep following. There will be a way, it is just a little trouble to find it.
Of course, there is a disabled sports program in China and I follow this
too. But it seems a little centralised and I can see no way for her to
access it at present. First some results, then there might be an opening
to represent China.
Michael
_Postings received:_
I would contact the Challenged Athletes Foundation, they seem to
specialize in what you are asking. <URL Redacted>
Please contact the Challenged Athletes Foundation at www.challengedathletes.org. More specifically, you can call their Program Director, Jill Prichard at (858) 866-0959. This organization provides mentorship, grants and information on different ways to get involved in sports and a physically active life. Also, there is an event that will take place on Oct 25th in La Jolla Ca called the San Diego Triathlon Challenge which will attract hundreds of challenged athletes who have overcome adversity through sport. I highly recommend that if she is able, you bring her to this event. It will be life changing....
Short AK is no problem in cycling as they do not wear their prostheses in competition.
If she is in an area where there is snow skiing, she might be interested
in Ski Biking.
Look it up on the net. I've ski biked with both ak and bk amputees for
the past few years and there is a small group out here in WA that goes
fairly often.
Are you based in Germany? If so www.orthopoint.de is the best website
and forum
I`am amputation both legs. I play ping pong that sort of paraolympic.
Powerlifting!
Where is she located? OPAF offers First Clinics across the country, with
follow up locally within the sport or area of activity. All First Clinics
are offered free of charge.
In addition to the number of amputee resources included in the
attachment is a list of athletic associations for people w/ disabilities.
I live in San Diego, CA and we have many patients who have received
grants to help them participate in adaptive sports through an
organization called Challenged Athletes Foundation,
www.challengedathletetes.org. I believe they are nationwide, if not
worldwide. Take a look at their web site and see what they can offer
your patient.
If you guys are near water, there should be an outrigger canoe club.
That's a great sport for any one with any kind of disablility (even for
those without a disability).
You should definitely put her in touch with Derrick Stowell of the
Amputee Coalition of America Youth Camp. His e-mail is
<Email Address Redacted> and his telephone number is 888/267-5669,
ext. 8130.
This program provides a camp experience at no cost to the children or
their families. It is paid for through grants and donations from the
Amputee Coalition's supporters. It often helps young people start
becoming involved in sports activities again after amputation.
OPAF and the First Clinics offers lots of free opportunities for
amputees to participate in sports. <URL Redacted>
There is also an organization called P.L.A.Y. that offers grants to help
amputees get involved in sports and might also pay for the equipment.
See <URL Redacted>
There is also the Challenged Athlete Foundation
http://www.challengedathletes.org/
Citation
Michael Mais, “Responses and Clarifications "Sports for AK Amputees",” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/230857.
