By Deb Risden
In El Paso County School District 49, adaptive athletics and Partners in PE give students with disabilities opportunities to compete alongside their peers, develop friendships and feel that they belong.
D 49 adapted physical education teacher Sarah Brockberg has been building opportunities for students with disabilities to participate alongside their peers for the past several years. They can participate in Partners in PE classes, adaptive athletic classes and competitions throughout the school year.
Partners in PE pairs students with disabilities with their typically enrolled peers so they can participate in physical education and other school activities together.
The goal, Brockberg said, isn’t simply to provide an alternative athletic program. “We have seen culture change within all of the schools,” she said. Students become part of their school community, excited to compete for their school and be part of bringing home a trophy.
The relationships that develop can extend beyond the gym. Brockberg has seen students without disabilities invite their teammates to activities outside school, building friendships that can be long-lasting.
For students with disabilities, the excitement can be obvious when they arrive for a program and see their peer waiting for them. “They feel they belong, and it’s a chance for adults in their lives to step back and know they belong,” Brockberg said.
D 49’s program is different from Special Olympics. Brockberg said the district moved away from using Special Olympics as its primary after-school model because she wanted D 49’s school-based program to be open to students regardless of the type or diagnosis of their disability.
Special Olympics continues to be one of the opportunities available to D 49 students outside the school day. Special Olympics Colorado’s programs include Unified Sports, in which athletes with intellectual disabilities and partners without intellectual disabilities compete together. SOCO also offers programs for younger children designed to introduce them and their peers to sports and inclusive play.
Brockberg said although there are many organizations in Colorado Springs and Denver that provide services and recreational activities for people with disabilities, there aren’t as many opportunities closer to Falcon, Peyton and the eastern part of El Paso County.
“It would be a huge blessing if we had more opportunities for the kids just in our local area,” Brockberg said.
After graduation, where do they go next?
For families, the transition from school to adulthood can be complicated.
D 49 students can enter the district’s transition program and be connected with community organizations that offer recreation, social activities and other opportunities. Brockberg said the goal is to help students continue developing independence and connections after they leave school.
One organization helping with that transition is Special Kids Special Families, a Colorado Springs nonprofit that provides services to people with disabilities and their families.
Executive Director Kevin Porter said SKSF works with school districts to help students who are getting close to graduation explore what comes next. He said students can visit SKSF programs before leaving school to see whether they are a good fit.
SKSF created its own connection to Special Olympics Colorado. The organization has two Special Olympics teams — one for bowling and another involving Topgolf. SKSF’s clients and community members are invited to participate.
Porter said for some athletes, the programs provide the experience of being on a competitive team.
“Some of these athletes didn’t have that opportunity in high school,” Porter said.
Being on a team also provides a chance to travel, socialize and develop friendships with other athletes.
Ashley Steinbach, director of Cool C.A.T.S. (Children of All Types Succeeding), understands that sometimes the needs involve social activities and fun, and that’s what she provides.
When her daughter was about 10, Steinbach said she wanted her to have more friends. She began looking for opportunities through Special Olympics and eventually created a bowling team. Six children initially signed up, and eight showed up for the first practice. She later added adaptive cycling.
Over a few short years, those programs grew into something more. Today, Cool C.A.T.S. focuses heavily on socialization and community involvement, with activities including bowling, cooking, movies and family events. Steinbach said the organization now serves about 200 families.
“They want to hang out with friends and socialize,” Steinbach said. That need doesn’t disappear when a student graduates. She said she hears from other parents who are wondering what comes next for their children after school.
Steinbach said that for some families, particularly those whose children have higher medical needs, finding programs that accommodate both their needs and their desire for social connection can be difficult. That’s where Cool C.A.T.S. tries to fill the gap.
These organizations serve families from Colorado Springs as well as surrounding areas. Cool C.A.T.S. serves families from throughout the region. Steinbach said she has families from Calhan and east of Falcon, including one family that drives an hour each way and another that drives two hours to participate. Families also come from communities including La Junta, Castle Rock and Monument.
SKSF has clients in Falcon, Meridian Ranch and Peyton as well, and Porter said the organization provides transportation to those areas.
The City of Colorado Springs Therapeutic Recreation Program is another option. Although based in Colorado Springs, its programs are open to people throughout the Front Range. Felicia Barnhart, program supervisor, said participants come from communities including Peyton, Pueblo, Woodland Park and Florissant. Its offerings include adaptive sports, social activities, outdoor recreation and programs for both children and adults.
The common thread among these programs isn’t participating in a specific sport. Rather, it’s connection. The need doesn’t disappear when a student walks across the graduation stage. Organizations such as Cool C.A.T.S., Special Kids Special Families, Special Olympics and the City of Colorado Springs’ Therapeutic Recreation Program can help children make those connections into adulthood.
