Programming: Adaptive Skating

Focus on ability instead of disabilityBy Heidi LemmonPublic skateparks have come a long way in the last 25 years; they are no longer single- or even double-use facilities. Chances are your park is being used by skateboarders, BMX riders, scooters, rollerbladers, roller skaters, and even wheelchairs. All genders, all ages, abled and disabled riders, create a huge melting pot of active users who make a skatepark the most welcoming play space in a city. Even the Olympics has added skateboarding, freestyle BMX, and adaptive riding, and there is a lot of buzz about how to design a park to get the most use per square foot. Laura Island, a Supervisor for the city of Los Angeles’ Citywide Adaptive Recreation Division, holds multiple events for disabled children at its skateparks through a partnership with Los Angeles Olympics 2028 (LA 28), funded by Play LA Youth, and Adaptive Youth Sports programing, and is thrilled with the results. She says parents and children are excited and grateful for the opportunity to explore their abilities at the same facility and at the same time as their friends and family. She adds that often a sibling or family member who skates encourages a disabled rider by pushing that person in the park. And the city’s adaptive classes, which can accommodate 15 per class, have been a hit.