Salus University and Hanger Clinic hosted its second annual Adaptive Recreational Activities Day on June 24 on the university’s campus. The event, sponsored by ALPS, welcomed members of the community with physical or cognitive disabilities, including limb loss, brain injury, blindness and low vision, or mobility challenges to participate in adaptive activities. Recreation Day began as an initiative from the O&P program at the university, its newest department.
New to the daylong event was the participation of the blindness and low vision studies (BLVS), speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy departments at Salus.
Activities included yoga, goal ball, sensory garden walks, an obstacle course, adaptive cycles, pickleball, wheelchair basketball, adaptive golf, board games, and nutrition and skincare workshop sponsored by ALPS. Healthcare and rehabilitation professionals and those with experience or expertise in adaptive sports and recreation served as volunteers.
“The College of Health Sciences, Education and Rehabilitation Services programs have all collaborated within the sensory space to come up with adaptations for participation that can take place across the spectrum of abilities and skill sets,” said Brianna Brim, PhD, MOT, OTR/L, CPAM, CLIPP, associate professor of occupational therapy.
“The goal is to be as inclusive as possible in everything we do, including sports and recreation, which are essential for physical, mental, and emotional health,” said Fabiana Perla, COMS, CLVR, chair of the BLVS department. “Nobody should be left out and there are ways that we can adapt or modify so everybody can play.”
