Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs and Chicago Park District host "Veterans' Adaptive Activities Day" for Veterans with disabilities

CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) and Chicago Park District hosted the third annual "Veterans' Adaptive Activities Day" at Northerly Island in Chicago today, providing Veterans with disabilities the opportunity to try a wide variety of sports equipment with adaptive fitness specialists from across the region. 

"We're proud to present this event, which showcases a multitude of sports and activities that are available for disabled veterans," IDVA Director Dan Grant said. "We're showing veterans who were fit and highly active before sustaining often debilitating injuries in combat, that they can still be fit and highly active, full participants in sports and other activities that they enjoy in spite of their disabilities."

For the third year, the Chicago Park District partnered with IDVA for Veterans' Adaptive Activities Day, providing the Northerly Island Visitor Center for the event.

"The Chicago Park District is committed to providing quality recreational opportunities and resources for all Chicagoans, and we are pleased to partner with the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs on this great event," said Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Timothy J. Mitchell.

"Veterans' Adaptive Activities Day" was held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and included adaptive sports demonstrations and activities for Veterans including: wheelchair basketball, seated aerobics, golf, handcycling, table games and other adaptive sports. Refreshments and entertainment were provided for participants.

IDVA Director Grant was joined by Park District officials and organizations across the region that specialize adaptive sports and support services, including: Adaptive Adventures, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Midwest Wheelchair Sport & Social Club, Schwab Rehabilitation Center, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports, National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs, Kostas Z Foundation, Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation, Disabled American Veterans, BulletBall Games, Project Mobility, Revelation Golf, Chicago Indoor Rowing, Diveheart's Military Wounded, NEDSRA, Special Recreation Association Network of Northern Illinois, Archery Custom Shop of Oak Forest, and Educational Center, and Inclusive Fitness Coalition.