TCU hosts Disability Sports Event

Fort Worth, TX

5/10/2010

By: Jennifer Neel, Schieffer School of Journalism

TCU kinesiology students held TCU’s first Disability Sports Event in April on campus. Kinesiology professor Leslie Waugh and her 60 students taking Physical Activity and Disability class partnered up with TCU fraternities Sigma Chi and Pi Kappa Phi, along with an estimated 20 students from Texas Women’s University, to organize and run the event to raise money for PUSH America.

PUSH America is an organization that helps support hands-on service programs that enhance the lives of people with disabilities. They hoped to raise enough money from the event to buy a wheelchair for a person in need. Waugh said, “These wheelchairs can cost anywhere from $1,500 up to $10,000 depending on the special needs of the person.”

This is the first time an event like this was held at TCU. Last semester Waugh and her students traveled to TWU to participate in their disability event. Students told her they loved the hands-on experience and they learned something that cannot be taught from a textbook.

This semester, with a larger Physical Activity and Disability class, Waugh decided to host an event at TCU with her students. One of who was Justin Shaw, a junior movement science major.

Waugh said, “Justin went above and beyond the call of duty.” In preparation for the event Justin asked local businesses for sponsorships and donations. On the day of the event he was part of the group handing out awards to the winners of the games.

Ashley Aikman, a junior movement science major, also helped to organize the event, in addition to being part of the first aid and water group. They were also in charge of having everything the athletes needed such as athletic tape, towels, water, etc. Aikman said there were also athletic trainers who are certified in CPR to assist if needed. In preparation the students learned how to play wheelchair sports, referee and monitor the event.

Waugh said, “I hope people who are able-bodied were able to understand that those individuals who are disabled can be as athletic as they pursue.”

Sports at the event included sit-down volleyball, wheelchair soccer and wheelchair basketball. The event was held in the recreation center and admission was free.

During the event items were raffled off to raise money, such as gift cards from Kroger Texas Grill, and Dos Gringos along with items from other sponsors. In addition, the Sigma Chi Fraternity sold purple TCU rubber wristbands around campus the week before the event.

“For our first event it was a great success,” said Waugh. “All of the TCU and TWU students learn and experienced first hand about three different disability sports. They were surprised how physically demanding wheelchair sports were on your upper body. Many of them gained a new appreciation for the athletic ability of wheelchair athletes.”