Taking Adaptive Recreation Further
Everything we're building has one purpose: expanding access.
We've learned what it takes to create meaningful adaptive recreation experiences. Now we're focused on taking those lessons further, strengthening our programs, developing new tools, and building the infrastructure needed to serve more individuals, support more families, and help more communities create opportunities of their own.
This is where we're headed.
Photo Credit: Erin Calfa Weide • Community Partner: Balance
Photo Credit: Erin Calfa Weide • Community Partner: Balance
A Place to Call Home
We've seen what's possible when individuals with IDD have consistent access to thoughtfully designed recreation. We've also seen what's possible become limited by something simple: access to court space.
A dedicated home would allow us to:
- Offer year-round adaptive pickleball programming
- Expand opportunities for both youth and adults
- Welcome more participants and reduce waitlists
- Develop and test innovative adaptive equipment
- Train coaches in adaptive recreation
- Create a welcoming space where individuals and families can gather, connect, and grow
The vision is ready. Now we're working to build the place that makes it possible.
Advancing the Research
There is still so much to learn about the long-term impact of fitness and recreation for individuals with IDD.
We've already begun tracking participant mood and calories burned, along with measures such as balance and reaction time. Our long-term goal is to partner with a medical research institution to strengthen that work, expand what we measure, and contribute meaningful evidence to the future of adaptive recreation.
Photo Credit: Erin Calfa Weide • Community Partner: Balance
Photo Credit: Forage Art House • Community Partner: Blossom
Innovation Through Design
As we've coached participants, we've identified opportunities where traditional equipment creates unnecessary barriers to learning. Rather than accepting those limitations, we've begun designing adaptive tools that make pickleball more accessible, intuitive, and enjoyable.
Today, several prototypes are in development as we prepare for engineering, patent, and manufacturing partnerships, with the goal of making these innovations available to adaptive recreation programs far beyond our own community.
Building the Blueprint
We're developing a comprehensive curriculum, coach training program, and implementation toolkit in collaboration with senior professional Gina Cilento. Our goal is simple: give organizations the tools they need to bring thoughtfully designed adaptive pickleball to their own communities.
Photo Credit: Jordan Pintar