On the Ice At the United Center

On March 26, 2011, two members of the NWI SCI Group played in an exhibition sled hockey game with the RIC Blackhawks before the Blackhawks faced off against the Ducks. Here are some pictures. Congratulations Gary and Paul!

March Meeting - date change and more...

Hello Everyone,

The date of our next meeting has been changed to:

Saturday, March 5, 2011
1:00 pm at
Gelsosomo's Pizza
2605 LaPorte Ave
Valparaiso IN
477-4255
map | driving directions

*Please RSVP for the meeting. Hope to see you there!

The date of our March meeting has been moved due to the fact that three members of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group have started playing sled hockey with the RIC Blackhawks and there is a scrimmage scheduled for the RIC Blackhawks to play GLASA’s Falcons sled hockey team on Sunday, March 6^th and March 13^th from 3:15pm – 5:30pm at the Hot Shot rink in Lake Bluff, IL.

Gary and Paul have been going to practices for a while now and I just started. If you are free and interested in supporting the fellow NWI members in their Sled Hockey endeavors, please feel free to ask one of us for more information.

To learn more about RIC Blackhawk Sled Hockey...


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*Hopefully those members who took part in the adaptive ski trips with Adaptive Adventures will be in attendance to regale us with their tails of adventure, as well.
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A message from Kim...

My friend Drew and his band This Last Dance are having a FREE show in Michigan City and he wants us to attend!

March 3rd, 10pm
Ryan's Irish Pub
401 Franklin St
Michigan City, IN

It's a pretty open bar, but if we need to, Drew said that we can sit to the side where they will be. They want to do fundraisers for us so this is a great way to find out what their music sounds like. I think they're awesome! Hope to see you all there!

Have you ever wanted to learn to fly?

Able Flight and Purdue University have partnered for a unique flight training program for people with disabilities for this summer. All training, travel, and lodging expenses will be paid under the Able Flight Scholarship program. Students will live in accessible university housing and train in specially adapted aircraft. It will be possible for students to earn an FAA pilots license by the end of the 4-5 week training program.

A number of Able Flight scholarship recipients with spinal cord injuries have completed training and are now licensed pilots. You can see profiles of many of our Scholarship winners here: http://www.ableflight.org/scholarships/65.html.

Applications are available on the Scholarship page on Able Flight's website (http://www.ableflight.org/scholarships.html), and applicants are strongly encouraged to read the "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQs) page as well.

Current or incoming Purdue students are given first priority for consideration, followed by Indiana high school juniors and seniors (must be at least 17 years old), Purdue graduates, and then other Indiana residents.

Please note that the training will be intensive and challenging, so only highly motivated applicants should apply. Applicants must also have a schedule that would allow them to spend up to 5 weeks in West Lafayette beginning in early June.

We appreciate your help in spreading the word on this opportunity.You should find answers to most questions on our website, but you may also feel free to contact me for additional information.

Best regards,
Charles --
Charles H. Stites
Executive Director

cstites@ableflight.org
www.ableflight.org
919-942-4699

Adaptive Waterski Clinic

There will be an adaptive water ski clinic in Tin Lakes, Wisconsin on July 14th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. Twin Lakes, WI is about three hours from Valparaiso, IN. To be honest, the drive there, skiing, and the drive back makes for a long day. A long day that is well worth the effort and gas money in my opinion. I've been to at least ten of these clinics in the last three years and have had a great time almost every time.

From Waterskiing Twin Lakes 2007

From Waterskiing Twin Lakes 2007

Day at the Races

May 15th, 2008 was the Day at the Races hosted by the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. The day started out by making the drive from NW Indiana to Indianapolis, which is only about two and a half hours away. Once we got there we all met in a parking lot outside the Indianapolis Speedway. The foundation handed out all of our credentials, passes, and a bag filled with all kinds of goodies.

We were then escorted to the infield parking lot and taken to the Green/Andretti hospitality tent for a complimentary lunch. San Schmidt spoke during lunch about his injury and the drive to keep going even after such a life changing event. The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation has set up a collage scholarship program for people with spinal cord injuries.

After hearing from Sam and the sponsors of the event, we got the chance to check out Sam's new van sponsored by VMI, and there was a meet and greet photo session with the Firehawk, James Davison, and Sam Schmidt. We got complimentary backpacks, hats, and t-shirts from UMP Urologicals.

Next we were taken to a wheelchair accessible bleacher area just before turn 2. The view is great from this area. We had the rest of the day to meander around the garage area, watch the time trials from the bleacher area, or from right behind the pits.
On behalf of the Northwest Indiana Spinal Cord Injury Group, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sam Schmidt, the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, and all off the volunteers and sponsors for the opportunity to attend the Day at the Races in Indianapolis.


Joe

Local Wheelchair Basketball Exhibition

Wheelchair & Ambulatory Tennis Clinic

Instructed by Two-time U.S. Paralympian Karin Korb

A Program of RHI Sports, Indianapolis Community Tennis Association
and sponsored by the Indianapolis Racquet Club

When: April 20th, 2008
9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (Youth Session)
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. (Adult Session)

Where: Indy Racquet Club
8249 Dean Road
Indianapolis, IN 46240

Instructor: Two-time U.S. Paralympian Karin Korb and member of seven U.S.A. World Teams. Ms. Korb was the first female athlete with a physical disability to receive a Division I athletic scholarship to play collegiate wheelchair tennis.

Who: Any youth and adult athletes as well as interested pros, potential mentors and volunteers who are interested in learning teaching techniques such as court movement strategies, wheelchair pushing techniques and proper tennis strokes

Cost: $10 for Everyone

RSVP: Please contact Pat Dean: pat.dean@rhin.com / (317)-329-2281 Or Julie Fritz: jlfritz58@sbcglobal.net / (317)-925-9775.

Wheelchair basketball Feb 16-17

Wheelchair basketball

WHEELER HOSTS YOUTH TOURNAMENT: Wheeler High School will host the Midwest Conference wheelchair basketball tournament this weekend. Round-robin play will be held in the prep (age 6-12), JV (early teens) and varsity (18 and under) divisions Saturday with bracket play Sunday. The field of 17 includes a Hammond-based team in the JV division and the Fort Wayne-based Turnstone Flyers, who are ranked second in the nation in the varsity division. Wheeler senior Jared Arambula is a member of the Flyers. Games will begin at 8:30 a.m. each day with the championships scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free.

http://nwi.com/articles/2008/02/15/sports/region_sports/doc252da5d2aa2b6a6b862573f000143a47.txt

ADAPTIVE SLED HOCKEY CLINIC

RHI SPORTS

ADAPTIVE SLED HOCKEY CLINIC

WHEN: Saturday, March 8th

12:00 - 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Ellenberger Park & Ice Rink

5301 E. ST. Clair Street

Indianapolis, IN

WHO: Anybody who wants to try out Sled hockey. This sport is more challenging for those who have decreased arm and hand coordination. However, we can always adapt the equipment if you want to try.

PRICE: $10 includes gear and lunch.

RESERVATIONS:

Please RSVP to:

Pat Dean via pdean@rhin.com

or call Pat at 317-329-2281 By

March 5^th

Wheelchair Basketball

I went to see the Chicago Wheelchair Bulls play at...

The annual Holiday Sports Festival, sponsored by the Mayor Daley's Office, the Chicago Park District and the host site, McCormick Place.

"Imagine the biggest indoor gym ever, then think even bigger than that. We're talking 1 million square feet of all-ages sporting events. The only thing you and the kids have to do is show up."

I didn't know much about it before I went, but there was golf, wall climbing, football, obstacle courses, a tot's zone, bowling, martial arts, table tennis, inflatable tumbling, fencing, badminton, boxing, fishing ponds, giant slides, skateboarding and bicycling and more. New this year they had cheerleading clinics, double-dutch jump rope and 2-ball. The event was wheelchair accessible and there was an adaptive sports area that included wheelchair basketball ans sled hockey.

Here are some pictures of the last game of the wheelchair basketball tournament, in which the Bullies took first place.

Adaptive water ski clinic, Twin Lakes WI

There was a pretty good turn out for the clinic. I went on August 1st and 2nd. It was a blast. The clinic was open to kids of all abilities and ages. Adaptive Adventures and Dreams For Kids also had a hand cycle vendor there and kayaks to try.

Water skiing is one of my favorite things to do since my injury, but there were a few people that have expressed concerns about how safe it is. The people organizing this clinic have done so for 12 years and take every safety precaution necessary. For beginners or people with little to no hand function or trunk control. They have a sit ski with outriggers. This makes it nearly impossible to tip over.

They also have a "chase boat", that follows all of the skiers. This boat has volunteers that are ready to assist in any way needed. For questions or a more detailed description, email or call. I will leave you with a few more pictures from the event.


Joe

Adaptive waterskiing in Wisconsin

One of my favorite things to do since my accident, is water ski. There are two groups that host adaptive water ski clinics.

The Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana hosted one on June 6th and 7th, in Cicero, In.

The second clinic is hosted by Adaptive Adventures and Dreams for Kids. It will be held in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin on July 24 and July 31 - August 2.

These clinics usually have a fee of only $5, include lunch, and are open to all disabilities.

Water skiing is one of the few things that make me kind of forget about my wheelchair for a little bit. I urge everyone to check it out.



Joe