Communities are expanding adaptive programs, facilities and events to ensure athletes of all abilities can competeĀ
By Madelyn Bugai
Arizona boasts a vibrant sports landscape, offering a wide range of teams at the professional, collegiate and recreational levels. In particular, Arizona focuses on fostering an inclusive environment for people of all abilities by providing various adaptive sports and sports facilities across the state.
Flagstaff
āāāFlagstaff, known for its thriving mountain culture, enjoys a significant amount of snowfall during the winter months, making it ideal for snow sports.
Those who are interested in winter sports head to Arizona Snowbowlāa āāski resort located on the western slope of the tallest point in the state, Mount Humphreys. Nonprofits High Country Adaptive Sports (HCAS), Arizona Disabled Sports and 360Outdoors collaborate at the Arizona Snowbowl to offer specialized adaptive skiing and snowboarding lessons and equipment during winter. Ski/snowboarding instructors are trained to ensure access for individuals with visual/hearing impairments, cognitive/developmental disabilities, amputations, spinal cord injuries, Cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.
The Alpine Snowbowl Ski Resort also hosts the Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding events in Arizonaās Special Olympic Winter Games. This event promises not only unforgettable views, ā ā but also provides an opportunity to engage with a competitive, diverse community that is on the rise in the sporting industry.
High Country Adaptive Sports offers adaptive sports in the Flagstaff area during the warmer months. HCAS invites everyone to explore the mountains, lakes, and trails of northern Arizona through adaptive kayaking, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Phoenix
Phoenix is a leading center for adaptive sports, āāand is home to both Special Olympics Arizona and Ability360. These two organizations provide year-round opportunities for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities to participate in sports and foster an inclusive community.
Special Olympics Arizona offers a wide range of athletic programs and competitions, including basketball, track and field, swimming, golf and Alpine skiing. More than 21,000 athletes participate in the Summer and Winter Games, bringing together athletes from across the state to promote not just fitness, but also confidence, inclusion and social connection.
Ability360, one of the largest Centers for Independent Living in the U.S., is home to a state-of-the-art sports and fitness center designed specifically for people with disabilities. Their adaptive sports programs include wheelchair basketball, power soccer, rugby, cycling and rock climbing. Ability360 also partners with community organizations to host clinics, leagues, and tournaments, supporting both recreational and competitive athletes. Phoenix offers a variety of ways to engage with adaptive sports, providing ways for differently abled people to participate as well as offering large-scale competitions to enjoy.
Tempe
Tempe is a recognized leader in inclusion and adaptive sports. In addition to hosting major adaptive sporting eventsāsuch as the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, Paradragons USA and the Legends Masters ChampionshipsāTempe houses a handful of accessible sporting facilities and centers.
The Kiwanis Recreation Center includes tennis courts, exercise equipment, batting cages, a basketball gym and classrooms. They ensure every activity can be accommodated to be done on the first floor for accessibility. āļæ¼āThe pool is zero-depth entry, and the center offers water wheelchairs to those who need it.
The Tempe Sports Complex is a 60-acre multi-purpose sports and recreation facility and includes two of the first ADA-accessible pickleball courts in the state. Within a city that has achieved āāthe Certified Autism Center designation, the Tempe Sports Complex has updated the center to accommodate for the sensory sensitive. Furthermore, the center has a wheelchair friendly design, utilizing a clear, open layout.
The Sun Devil Fitness Complex is a fully-ADA compliant, multipurpose facility at Arizona State University. One of these accommodations is the āāAdaptive Training Zone, which is a dedicated space equipped with adaptive workout equipment. The complex hosts adaptive sports group eventsālike the National Veterans Wheelchair Gamesāand has continuous programming through their Devils Adapt Program. Many of the adaptive events and facilities in Tempe are made possible through Tempe Tourismās partnership with Ability360. Tempe Tourism also co-sponsors the Adaptive Sports Economic Impact Study with All In Sport Consulting, helping raise awareness of the social and economic impact of adaptive sports.
āāļæ¼āMesa
Having received the first-ever designation of an Autism Certified City in 2019, Mesa has adopted the brand of āCity Limitless,ā promising to accept people to come enjoy Mesa just the way they are. Mesaās work towards inclusivity and accessibility extends into their sports, providing limitless recreational and professional options for residents and visitors to explore.
The Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled, also known as Arizona Disabled Sports (AzDS), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every person, regardless of ability, can participate in sports and recreation in their community. As a chapter of Move Unitedāa larger scale nonprofit with a similar missionāAzDS offers year-long programming for individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities.
Arizona Heat is AzDSās adaptive sports and recreational programs for people with physical disabilities. A variety of sports are offered through Arizona Heat, includingābut not limited toācycling, kayaking, power soccer and pickleball. These sports are programmed for individuals with physical disabilities and designed for athletes ages 6 through adulthood who have orthopedic, neurological, or sensory impairments.
Team Mesa Bulldogs, on the other hand, offers recreation and social programs for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Individuals can explore bowling, basketball, golf, floor hockey, soccer, swimming, tennis and many more. Team Mesa also provides social programming classes such as Zumba, theatre, cooking, outdoor camps and their TGIF Social Club.
Tucson
Tucson offers a wide variety of ways to engage in adaptive sports at both the local and competitive levels. Driven by the efforts of Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS) and the University of Arizonaās Adaptive Athletics Department, these two institutions have transformed Tucson into a hub for inclusive athletic opportunities, training and competition.
Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS) is a nonprofit organization offering year-round recreational and competitive sports for individuals with physical disabilities. SAAS offers programming specifically for wheelchair sportsāsuch as basketball, softball and tennisāas well as adaptive handcycling, golf and climbing. Their mission centers on community engagement, health and independence through sport. Their calendar is full of both recreational and competitive programming, offering a balance between tournaments and laid-back games.
Complementing this grassroots impact, the University of Arizona Adaptive Athletics Department stands as one of the most established collegiate adaptive programs in the country. The department supports elite-level teams in wheelchair basketball, rugby, tennis and track.
Each spring, the university hosts the College Wheelchair Basketball National Championships, attracting top-tier talent and raising the profile of collegiate adaptive sports. The event showcases the universityās dedication to accessibility and athletic excellence, while inspiring younger athletes and community members.
