Adaptive Recreation
Recreation opportunities for Sun Devils with disabilities
Adaptive Recreation Mission
To create a network of individuals at Arizona State University with and without disabilities with varying life and sport experience to promote independence, in a fun and supportive environment using adaptive sport and recreation experiences as its tool.
Tempe campus
At the Sun Devil Fitness Complex you will find a 9000 sq. ft. weight room that is offering adaptive exercise equipment, and a dry pool ramp for an easy transfer from your wheelchair into the water. We currently offer goalball and power soccer however we are always looking for more sports to add to our lineup. If there is a sport you would like to see offered, please stop by or call the number below.
Weight Room & Cardio Areas
The weight room and cardio area is designed following ADA standards for distance between access points of equipment.
The Cybex Total Access Strength Line of equipment in our weight room. Our accessible pieces include:
- Leg Press
- Leg Extension
- Cable Column
- Chest Press
- Lat Pull
- Overhead Press
- Seated Leg Curl
More information about the Cybex Total Access Strength Line can be found at: http://www.cybexintl.com/products/ta_selectorized.aspx
Additional adaptive items in our weight rooms include:
- Raised Mat Tables
- Upper Body Ergometers
- Nu Step
We also have a staff of certified and experienced personal trainers for individuals who would like additional assistance developing their fitness program.
Group Fitness (Devil-X)
Our Devil-X program offers 80+ fitness classes per week taught by trained and experienced instructors. We have 2 upper-body ergometers in the group cycling classes for wheelchair users or anyone who would prefer an upper body workout instead of regular cycling. In addition, the following classes are designed to be accessible (instructors are trained to make appropriate accommodations.
Revolve (Circuit Training)
Ride & Cruise (60 or 45-minute cycle classes)
Burn Up (Upper Body only)
Tread (cardio on equipment)
Stretch
If there are other classes on the schedule that you would like to attend but may need additional accommodations, please contact asufitwell@gmail.com with your inquiry.
Call for more information:
| Michelle Jung | 480-965-0449 | michelle.jung@asu.edu | Fitness/Wellness/Strength Programs |
| Tara Yesenski | 480-965-5639 | tara.yesenski@asu.edu | Sports Programs |
| Justin Kern | 480-965-8924 | justin.kern@asu.edu | Aquatic Programs |
Pool Access
The Sun Devil Fitness Complex (SDFC) has two adaptive means of entry at the SDFC pool which includes a “dry” ramp and a portable aquatic lift (PAL). A "dry" ramp allows for lateral transfers in and out of the SDFC pool. The dry ramp is located on the southeast side of the pool with wheelchair ramps on the northwest and northeast sides of the pool. The portable aquatic lift is also available for use at any time. To use the P.A.L.. please ask any of the lifeguard staff on duty to position the P.A.L. in the area of the pool you would like to use. The full and part-time staff are not trained to assist in the lateral transfers for reasons of safety and/or physical abilities.
We encourage and support individuals with disabilities to bring trained assistants as needed. Any trained assistant supporting a person with disabilities may enter our facility at no charge (must be in compliance with Sun Devil Fitness Complex policy by presenting a valid i.d.)
Adaptive Programs
Power Soccer
If you use a power wheelchair, this is your sport. It was invented in 1982 by a group of athletes in Vancouver who were looking for a competitive team sport that combines strategy, power and quickness. Having found nothing to suit their needs, they created their own sport. It is a simple, hard-driving, straightforward game. It's played on a regulation basketball court with a goalie and three forwards on each side. The object is to outscore your opponents by driving an oversized 18 “soccer ball across their goal line. The rules are similar to soccer and equipment needs are minimal. The wheelchairs are outfitted with plastic foot guards in order to protect the athlete's feet and to provide for a surface to control the ball.
Some of the benefits of participating in power soccer are increased cardiovascular endurance and upper-body strength, increased mobility skills and increased use of different muscle groups.
Seated fencing
Seated fencing is a Paralympic sport played individually or in a team. Whether you are wheelchair bound or have a disability that prevents you from fencing in an able body program, we have a program that meets your needs. You can fence competitively or recreationally.
Seated fencing is conducted in the Sun Devil Fitness Complex gym in cooperation with the ASU Salle Diablo Fencing Club 3 times a week. see www.asufencingclub.com/ for more info on date and times.
Wheelchairs or special fencing chairs are mounted on a specially constructed floor frame which maintains the fencers at the appropriate distance from each other. The actual fencing bout is very similar to traditional fencing in which the objective is to score a touch against your opponent.
Electrical scoring equipment is used to determined when a valid touch has been scored We offer all 3 weapon, epee, foil and Saber. The sport helps develop physical and mental agility. This is because it is a fast paced combatant sport requiring quick thinking and parrying and thrusting to outsmart your opponent.
One of the unique characteristics of our program is that there is a strong integration with the able body program that gives us the opportunity to have mixed bouting which is beneficial for both, able bodied and disabled athletes.
The program has been highly successful and participants of the program have not only fenced nationally but have won medals including gold. Please call or email Pia Douglas at 4802887834 or piadouglas@earthlink.net if you are interested.
Area Resources
Arizona Disabled Sports www.arizonadisabledsports.com Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled Lane Jeppesen 59 East Broadway Road Mesa, Arizona 85210 480.835.6273 lane@mesadisabledsports.com City of Mesa Parks and Recreation www.cityofmesa.org/parksrec/ 125 N. Hobson Road Mesa, Arizona 85203 480.644.5702 US Paralympic Academy usparalympics.org/ John Register One Olympic Plaza Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909 John.register@usoc.org Arizona State University Disability Resource Center www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc P.O. Box 873202 Tempe, Arizona 85287 480.965.1234 Disability-q@asu.edu Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities disabilitysportscenter.com 5031 E Washington Phoenix, AZ 85034 Phone: 602.386.4566 Fax: 602.386.4567 Email spofitinfo@abil.org