Disability Sports Night at SRU

November 6, 2015 | 6:00 pm | Aebersold Recreation Center

Mary Holms, President of the Adaptive Physical Activity Council, 

or APAC, gave a brief overview of the events held at Disability Sports Night.

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA - Many students participated in the Disability Sports Night held in the Robert N. Aebersold Recreation Center Friday evening.  The event was held from 6 pm to 8 pm in honor of Slippery Rock University’s declaration of November as Disability Month. 

Slippery Rock University has received recognition before for programs that work to educate students for careers that deal with the disabled.  In October, President Cheryl Norton accepted a check for $60,000 from the DREAM Partnership.  The grant was offered in support of the University’s new Transition Achievement Program for students with intellectual disabilities.

Several free programs are being offered as part of the University’s Diversity and Inclusion Series for the 2015-16 academic year.  The two main events for the month of November were Friday’s sports night and an educational symposium to be held later in the month.

SRU students participate in wheelchair tennis at Friday's
Disability Sports night at SRU.

The purpose of the Disability Sports Night was to raise awareness of disabilities and to learn about the various sports available for those with disabilities. 

Some of the sports of the night were wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, wheelchair tennis, and various track and field type events.  

The event featured paraplegic, Ben Bevington, as a guest speaker.  Bevington is a member of the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins, a “therapeutic and competitive” sled hockey program for cognitively and physically disabled individuals in and around Pennsylvania.  Bevington, a former high school football player, sustained a lower body injury after falling from a ladder while renovating a home for a family in need, confining him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Ben Bevington, a player for the Mighty Penguins sled
hockey team, brought equipment to show to students.

Bevington shared his story with students and discussed how he has come to terms with his disability. He talked about several different disabilities, including the difference between a quadriplegic and a paraplegic.  

Bevington also talked a great deal about sled hockey - rules, equipment, and differences from standing hockey - and his enjoyment for sports despite his disability.

He said, "It's great to get support from an international sport like that."

The sports night rotated groups of students every 20 minutes through the four different sport stations and time for question and answer periods with Bevington to give all students the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the event.  Pizza was offered along with the fun.

Students at SRU enjoyed themselves with a friendly game of

wheelchair basketball at Friday night's event.

Abbey Jones, an advocate for those with disabilities and an Adaptive Physical Therapy minor, shared her enjoyment for events like the sports night and the chance to get involved.

Jones said, "It's awesome because sports give everyone an active way to play."

SRU will also offer the PCDI Disability Symposium on November 24^th.  The theme for the symposium will be “Increasing Quality of Life for Individuals with Disabling Health Condition.”  It is to be held from 8 am to 1:30 pm in the Smith Student Center.


Click here for more information about November as Disability Month at SRU.