Body
In a recent news broadcast, NBC 5 aired a segment on the After School Matters Adaptive Sports Camp at Rainbow Beach Park. This pilot program — a partnership between After School Matters, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Adaptive Sports Program and the Chicago Park District — introduced Chicago Public Schools students to wheelchair basketball and hand-pedal bikes.
Mentioned Page
Adaptive Sports & Fitness Program
ServiceBody
NBC 5’s story included the perspective of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab team member Kelsey LeFevour. Born with the spinal conditions scoliosis, kyphosis and diastematomyelia, Kelsey is a two-time Paralympian; she competed at the 2016 Rio Games and the 2021 Tokyo Games in wheelchair racing events.
In reflecting on what a program like this would have meant to her growing up, she said, "I think about how cool I would have thought this would have been to have been in a gym, playing sports, doing something competitive with peers and feeling like I could authentically participate in that."
