More than 100 students from Aurora Public Schools had a field day — literally and figuratively — Wednesday at the National Sports Center for the Disabled’s recently-opened complex in Golden, Colo., on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Students, many of whom were disabled, got to experience archery, cycling and an obstacle course — some for the first time.
The center’s opening addresses an area where accessibility for the disabled community has struggled to advance, outdoor recreation.
“I think we all believe that living in Colorado that we have access to the great outdoors and it’s just not the case for people with disabilities,” Julie Taulman, president and CEO of NSCD, said.
Using a $50,000 grant from The Hartford to purchase adaptive bicycles and tricycles, NCSD now has a small fleet available for students and other visitors. Some adaptive mountain bikes and trikes can run thousands of dollars above a typical children’s bike, Taulman said.
“They’re always told they can’t do that. When you get out and experience adaptive sports for the first time, they realize, ‘I can do that…’ It opens a whole bunch of doors that they thought were closed before,” Taulman said.
In the new NCSD cycle fleet are power-assisted rides for double amputees, individuals with spinal cord injuries and more. Taulman herself has noticed an increase in self esteem and confidence from program participants.
Three years ago, NCSD started a schools program, making the equipment and staff available to schools for free — which Taulman says was made possible with generous donations to the organization.
“We’re more than doubling our offerings in events this year, and we have this amazing partnership with NSCD,” said Matt Robbins, community connections director with Jeffco parks and conservation. “We want to get people outdoors, they want to get people outdoors, this is a population that is under-represented, and we believe open space is for all.”
The 100-acre facility gives NSCD lots of space to run programs and access to miles of trails. The goal is to host students from kindergarten through high school, as well as people with disabilities from Craig Hospital, Children’s Hospital and veterans organizations. It’s in a pleasant setting at the foot of Green Mountain with views of the foothills and South Table Mountain. There are picnic tables and a small playground.
Haylee Manzano Bravo, 16, right, gets help from Erik Petersen, Competition Center Director, left, while learning some archery skills as she takes part in the adaptive Field Day at the new National Sports Center for the Disabled Adaptive Program Center at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden, Colorado on May 1, 2024. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)Carruth had never been on an adaptive cycle until an hour before he became the proud owner of one. Asked what he liked about the experience, he said, “Everything.” He liked the message that was being sent, too.
“Now people can know that disabilities can be anything, and you can do anything,” Carruth said.
Taulman’s son, 22, is an engineering student at the University of Colorado. He goes scuba diving, plays wheelchair tennis and rides hand cycles.
“He’s doing great, and I always say it’s because of adaptive sports,” Taulman said. “It helped him to live independently.”