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Reprinted with permission of the Meriden Record-Journal, January 10, 2005 Adaptive Skate at Choate
WALLINGFORD — Children spun around on metal chairs and wheel chairs as if they were on a merry-go-round as their proud parents sat in the penalty boxes watching their children have the rare opportunity to experience ice skating, in the adaptive recreational skate in Choate Rosemary Hall's ice skating rink Sunday. The free skate for disabled youth and adults was sponsored by the Wallingford Parks and Recreation Department and Choate Rosemary Hall. "It is an adaptive skate because kids that are unable to skate, can sit on metal folding chairs and be pushed around the ice by volunteers, or they can just use them to balance," Mary Pashely, director of community services for Choate said. About 30 people ranging from 4 to 60 years old and from as far as Cromwell took advantage of the opportunity to learn how to skate, which has been going on for the past 10 years. In addition to learning how to skate, children were also able to build camaraderie with the volunteers and their peers. "It is just nice that it gives him something else to do besides school," Sue Apuzzo, mother of a 13-year-old autistic child said. The town came up with the idea because a skating pond is inaccessible for them and Choate does have a public skate, but it can be too crowded for them so the parks and recreation department asked Choate to provide a resource for people with disabilities. The skating program is an extension of the adaptive swim program that is offered in the fall and spring. Chairs were incorporated two years ago when many of the children didn't have skates and it was their first time on an ice rink. Children were able to hold on to a chair and skate with someone. "It gives them a sense of accomplishment for a sport most of us take for granted every day," Cyndi Lynch, adaptive recreation instructor for the Parks and Recreation Department said. Lynch knows exactly how the children feel because her own 19-year-old daughter is disabled. Lynch has been bringing her daughter to the event since its inception. Her daughter still continues to participate. The skate is not open to just children, Hall Acres brought two of their group home residents to the skate. "They like the social interaction and the attention," day service worker Bonnie Fahy said. The program would not be possible without the volunteers who assist each skater. They are needed to help the skaters balance and guide them around the rink. The majority of the volunteers were uniformed boys and girls ice hockey players. Students at the school are required to complete 30 hours of community service to graduate. "They are just outstanding, they are above and beyond most teenagers I've ever met," Kathy Radziunas supervisor of therapeutic recreational services for Wallingford's Parks and Recreation Department said. Many of the students worked up a sweat as they tirelessly guided the disabled across the ice. "I want to give those skating for the first time the opportunity to feel what we feel on the ice," A.J. Meyer a junior on the boys ice hockey team said. Meyer has been involved with the adaptive skate for the past three years. All the children and adults who participated had ice skates to wear because 40 pairs of ice skates that had been donated and collected over the years. "It has become a tradition at Choate to be involved with this," Andy Noel, financial aid director for Choate and coordinator of the skate collection said. Choate graduate, Sam Paolini even started a program similar to this one with the hockey team at Cornell University. Paolini was honored for his efforts by receiving the NCAA Hockey Humanitarian Award. Many parents were very excited to watch their children participate. "This is my all-time favorite activity, every kid I know is out there and it doesn't matter the age or skill level they are all having fun," Sharon Healey mother of an 8-year-old autistic child said. Hot chocolate and cookies were provided for volunteers and participants at the end. The program will also run on Jan. 16, 23, and 30 also Feb. 13, at Choate's ice skating rink. "It's hard to get up on a Sunday morning, but it only takes one moment to see the kids in here and know it's all worth it," Pashely said. (203) 317-2234 |
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