Alegent Creighton Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Center - Sports and Leisure Program

Overview

The Sports and Leisure Program is designed to enhance the lifestyle of participants through a wide range of sports and leisure programs. The program recognizes that learning to live life to the fullest is an important part of learning to live with a physical disability. Several programs are offered each month that focus on golfing, bowling, movies, fishing, water skiing, and softball. Other programs have taken participants to the community playhouse, the zoo, up in a hot air balloon, and on the ice to participate in wheelchair curling. The Sports and Leisure Program is offered for adults and children with physical disabilities in Alegent Creighton Health Immanuel Rehabilitation Center’s service area. The program provides opportunities to gain new leisure skills, explore community resources, and understand how special equipment or approaches can lead to learning or re-learning a recreational interest. Participants are challenged to reach new levels of independence that improve their self-confidence.

Impact

Approximately 600 people are on the Sports and Leisure mailing list, which highlights information on upcoming activities and how to register. Ten to 50 individuals take part in routine events depending on the activity. Outings to movies and other community venues encourage participants to get out and socialize and build new friendships. These events are also a means of providing feedback to organizations on the accessibility of their facilities. Some of the most popular activities have been golf, bowling, fishing, tennis, water skiing, softball, and rugby. The “Back 2 Swing” golf program offers clinics that provide participants an opportunity to be reintroduced back to the game after a significant injury. Transportation is provided to a driving range where participants practice hitting balls while receiving instruction. They also gain experience in the use of adaptive equipment including the Single-Rider Golf Cart, from which a golfer can play from a seated or standing-but-supported position. An end-of-season tournament is held during which physically challenged and able-bodied golfers compete with one another. In addition, a tournament is held on a Par 3 golf course with disabled participants competing against one another.

Challenges/success factors

Immanuel’s Sports and Leisure Program was recently granted Paralympic Sports Club status through its affiliation with the United States Olympic Committee. It is anticipated that this affiliation will open many doors in regard to funding and expanding the caliber of programs.

Future direction/sustainability

Funding for these programs comes from the hospital, private donations, and foundation grants. Private grants from sport associations have provided funds for Single-Rider Golf Carts that have been placed at cooperating golf courses and adaptive specialty equipment for water skiing. Nevertheless, fund-raising and grant writing are an ongoing challenge, especially for transportation to events. When possible, the events are scheduled at locations along the city’s public transportation system for the disabled routes. This encourages the use of public transit and thus greater independence.

Advice to others

For organizations considering initiating a similar program, a large database of people with disabilities that would potentially benefit from a sports and leisure program should be established. Work with businesses in the community; if they understand the purpose of your program, they will often provide free and/or discounted services. And be certain to make site visits before planning an event to make certain that the venue is wheelchair accessible.

Contact: Jena Munson, CTRS
Lead Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Telephone: 402-572-2276
E-mail: jena.munson@alegent.org