Young Nordic Skiers with Autism Have Fun in Weston

Despite our snowless winter, we've seen some wonderful progress at our winter program on the Weston Ski Track. Its the only place in Massachusetts that makes snow for cross country skiing. This year we've enjoyed watching several participants with Autism Spectrum disorders build confidence and skills while having fun coming each week.

Some parents are able to take a little respite time while their children are with recreation staff on the snowfield by finding a spot nearby and being available by cell phone. Other parents ski with their children, or push them on a kicksled, or vice versa. Kicksleds are useful as an alternate way to be on the snow to get used to a new place and can serve as a break from learning to stand ski. Offering ski poles gives the seated person an opportunity to physically engage and gets them used to the arm exercise.

Brenda Davies, who leads the Universal Access Program on Sundays, says "It's great to get families out together on the kick-sleds and skiing alongside!" It provides the chance for family members to have fun and learn together in the context of a program experience with the built-in opportunity to meet and make friends with similar families. Some kids have found a new friend this winter on the ski track!

The young woman pictured here gets assistance while setting up to ski with a ski walker - an interesting balance tool that can serve as a transitional element for new skiers. Adding a gait belt around her waist can make it easier for helpers to assist with balance and help her test skiing without the walker. She is now able to fit her boots into the skis independently.

Many of the steps of skiing take time to learn, such as clicking your boot into the binding using a ski pole, learning to balance on skis while moving slowly without poles, learning to use poles and increase speed, turn, and fall. Each aspect can be broken into short steps and built upon, offering opportunities for improvement on a week-to-week basis.

Only one program left coming up this Sunday March 4!!! Call Brenda at 413-259-0009 to sign up! The program will run from 12-4pm. Might be a nice chance to check it out for next year and embrace some fun on the snow before this "winter" is over! The adaptive ski program also offers seated cross country skis and snowshoes.

Winter Fun Indoors and Out!

Program Increases Access at State Rinks from Chris Lovett on Vimeo.

We are still snowless in most of Massachusetts, but our skating programs at indoor rinks are still going strong! This week 65 people joined us in Brockton and 50 joined us on the ice in Revere. The Neighborhood Network News (Channel 9 Boston) showed up to do a film feature of our program! The reporter and cameraman stay on the ice for well over an hour and got some great footage of the heartwarming happenings that occur during a typical adative skating program. Check out both the NNN feature above and the youtube version below set to music!



Join the fun! Here's a list of the rest of our skating programs for this season!

Holyoke: Sundays February 26, March 18 and April 1:  12-2pm

Worcester: Thursdays March 1 and 29 from 2-4pm

Revere: Tuesdays March 20 and April 10 from 11:30am  - 1:30pm

Call Heidi Marie-Peterson at 413-577-3840 to register for the above programs.

Brockton: Sunday, February 26 from 1:30-3:320pm during public skating.

North Boston: Tuesday, February 28 from 1:30-3:30 during public skating.

Call All Out Adventures at 413-527-8980 to register for these last 2 programs!

You can still play outdoors on the snow at the Weston Ski Track outside Boston where snow is made overnight (thank goodness the temperature is dipping below freezing!). We have three more programs coming up:

Monday, February 20
Sunday, February 26
Sunday, March 4

Each Weston program runs 12 noon to 4pm. Call Stavros Outdoor Access to find out more and pre-register at 413-259-0009.

Adaptive Skaters - More Images and Techniques

In honor of faraway adaptive skating friends Oatie and Mel, and those in Massachusetts who are coming out to our adaptive skating programs, here are a few more photos from recent programs celebrating a variety of skaters enjoying the ice! There seems to be no end to the possibilities for creative support techniques!

Power chair users can spin, slide, do donuts, and even simulate bilateral skating if they can lean side to side while in motion.

Members of a high school hockey team assist sled skaters in playing hockey.


Stroller bar handles allow for assistance as needed and can be removed easily for those who can propel themselves independently.

Skilled ice skaters can push a sled or skate alongside for company, or even get in a sled themselves to model techniques. Skating backwards in front of a sled skater can offer face to face instructions and help focus those with attention challenges.

For some who are learning to skate on conventional ice skates, pushing someone else in a sled allows for mutual support!

We've seen strong sled skaters pushing other sled skaters in a train.

I have done my fair share of both conventional and sled skating and even received a ride on a sled as shown here. Some new variation is revealed in almost every program.

A young man in a wheeled stander gets to test out his skating legs.

It is always nice to have families enjoy the ice together! We also see groups from day care facilities, group homes and even rehab hospitals at our programs.

A variety of medical equipment can acquire a sense of fun appeal out on the ice. Last week I observed a young man in a wheelchair, with skates on his feet, alternate between playing hockey from his wheelchair and trying out skating using a walker, with the assistance of a few skaters.

Kids fit fine in adult sized sleds - just make sure to fasten the seat belt! A sliding foot tray is moved to the position closest to the seat so this young boy has a place to rest his feet. A piece of foam could also be strapped or taped to the frame for leg positioning support and also serve as insulation from the cold of the ice below.

A chest strap can help keep a child, or anyone who might need additional torso support, in an upright position.

Blankets can be wrapped around the legs of sled skaters and cover people in wheelchairs to help keep them warmer.

Adaptive Ice Skating Techniques

Winter is wimping out on us so far this season. Thank goodness we can always resort to ice skating indoors! Ice skating provides an amazingly fun way for everyone to play, despite any fears of cold or falling. With more attention on this activity, we are embellishing our techniques for supporting skaters with disabilities on the ice. Here are our favored methods:

Assistive Skaters

One or more skilled ice skaters can easily assist a new skater with or without props. All Out Adventures shares some of their techniques on this video, which also shows skating on an ice sled.

Skatewalker

This is a home-made item using PVC pipe, glue and sometimes even screws. It is meant to serve as a balance aid, not to support full weight all of the time. We like to see people wear helmets when using these and work towards independent use if possible. If you make your own skatewalker, we highly recommend 1" pipe. We find 1 1/4" to be less strong and more likely to break. Can be made at varying heights. Users should grip midway along the upper side sections to ensure stability.

Gait or Transfer Belt

This standard item is a great aid for stand skaters, especially anyone for whom falling is not recommended due to fragility or a previous injury. The transfer belt has handles all the way around, allowing quick assistance when needed without invading personal space. Multiple skaters can more easily support a skater to stay more upright.

Portable Folding Ramps and Carpet

One or two three foot ramps are incredibly helpful for wheelchair access to the ice. They can be screwed into the threshold for stability. We like to add a short length of carpet coming out from under the ramp to provide a stable transitional spot for anyone who needs it. The end of the carpet can be "glued down" with some water, which quickly freezes it to the ice. This set up allows people using power chairs especially to get enough traction to come back off the ice.

Ice Grippers

This is of course not technically skating. In some of our programs we invite people on the ice "as they are" from power chair users to non-skaters, creating a near totally inclusive environment. Where rinks allow street shoes, those who truly wish to avoid skates can - using slip-on Yak Trax or other ice gripping devices - while tending to family members or clients, and enjoying the play experience on the ice. The use of ice grippers provides vital support to people assisting individuals using ventilators who have other especially sensitive needs.



Look closely to see the anti-tippers on each sled.

Ice Sled anti-tippers

We get our ice sleds from Unique Inventions in Ontario, a small company that supplies sled hockey equipment. They will custom fabricate sleds to order. We set our blades wide apart for extra stability and add anti-tippers to the backs of the blades under the seat, to prevent sled users from tipping over backwards by accident. Its a piece of aluminum rod that extends back from the blade above the ice and acts as a brace.

Ice Sled seat add-on

A jacket serves as a cover for
a personal seating device strapped
to the ice sled.

Some wheelchair users can transfer their seating devices right onto the sled. This works especially well for kids who need their usual or custom seating support. A few extra straps can help secure such items to the sled. Pieces of foam can be taped on or simply inserted under the legs as shown to provide additional support and protection from the cold beneath. We also have extra "chest straps" available to provide additional torso support for those who may need it on sleds with higher seat backs.

Ice Sled outrigger prototype

We are in the process of developing an added piece to act as an outrigger to prevent tipping sideways. Although falling down is an expected part of ice skating, some sled skaters really need to not tip over.

Ice Sled grip sticks

For those who have difficulty with grip and can move their arms, we staple or bolt adjustable straps to the sled sticks. These allow the palm of the hand to be more secure against the stick and the heel of the hand a place to push down for self propulsion.

Take Advantage of State Park Programs to Explore Winter in Massachusetts



Frank Grindrod (left) provides tracking
expertise for a Universal Access outing.

 Now that there is a little snow on the ground, animal tracks and trails are visible! Last weekend I found signs of coyote, gray fox, fisher, snowshoe hare, deer, mink and weasel on a hike in the woods, along with small birds, squirrels, mice and voles. Its a great time to get in touch with local wildlife, which often can be found not far from areas of human habitation. Our Universal Access Program yesterday at the D.A.R. State Forest in the Berkshires gave winter adventurers a good look at coyote and red fox tracks along the the trail.

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation offers education programs year round in state parks. Park programs offer a wonderful chance to learn about nature and the outdoors for people of all ages and abilities. Here's a few of the most noteworthy and relatively accessible opportunities coming up - featuring wildlife in eastern Massachusetts and a taste of culture in the Berkshires!



Boston Area:

Even dog tracks (left) provide an opportunity
to study how animals move and how tracks
change as snow ages. Human boot
print on right.

Breakheart Reservation, Saugus

January 28 and February 18 - Nature's Mysteries - 10-11am and 1-2pm. Join ranger Matt Nash in the fully accessible Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center for a children's learning experience about the lives of animals. Pre-registration required - contact matthew.nash@state.ma.us or call 781-485-2804 extension 105 to sign up.

January 29 - Winter Tracking Hike - 1:30-3:30pm. Join expert tracker naturalist David Brown in search of wildlife signs. We may discover the trails of the coyote, fisher, deer, otter, and other animals normally associated with distant wilderness. Two miles or less will be covered at a slow pace. Please dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear. Please call 781-233-0834 to pre-register and inquire about access. The visitor center is fully accessible but this hike is probably best for those who are ambulatory.

Belle Isle Marsh Reservation, East Boston

February 11 - Winter Tracking Hike - 9-10:30am. Join reservation staff for a walk in search of animal tracks and signs in this wetland environment. No visitor center or restrooms on site, but the trails are quite accessible depending on winter conditions. Call 781-485-2804 to pre-register and for specific info.

Wompatuck State Park, Hingham

February 21 - Tracks, Scats and Nests - 9-10:30am. See listing for Borderland State Park below - and be aware that there is a 2" dip in the concrete near the front door of the visitor center at Wompatuck State Park, otherwise the center is wheelchair accessible. Please call (508) 866-2580 x 163 for more information.

Southeast & Cape Cod:

Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Waquoit

February 4 - Coyote/Coywolf Ecology and Behavior - 2-3:30pm. Jonathan Way, Ph.D., is the leader of the Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Project in Massachusetts. Hes part of a team that has recently investigated the eastern coyote's genetics, finding that the animals are coyote and red wolf hybrids, and proposes to call them coywolves due to their mixed species origin. His talk will focus on his team's genetic findings as well as the ecology and behavior of coywolves in urban/suburban settings. Meet at Reserve Visitor Center, 149 Waquoit Highway (Rt.28), Waquoit, MA. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request. Co-sponsored by the Friends of the Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge. For information, call (508) 457-0495.

Borderland State Park, N. Easton

February 21 - Tracks, Scats and Nests - 1-2:30pm. Animal signs tell stories if we know how to read them. Watch a 45 minute interactive slide show in the Visitor Center and guess who made the signs. Afterwards, we will enjoy a short excursion outdoors at a gentle pace searching for wildlife and the signs they left behind for us to discover. Please dress in warm clothes and winter boots. Program meets at the Visitor Center at 259 Massapoag Street in N. Easton. Rain, snow storm, or very icy conditions will cancel the hiking portion of the program. Please call (508) 866-2580 x 163 for more information. Program is free; there is a $2.00 per car parking fee, unless you have a handicapped placard.

Berkshires:

Western Gateway Heritage State Park, North Adams

Winter Global Theatre - Global theatre venues from around the world, for all ages. All performances at 10am. For more info, call 413-663-6312.

January 14 - Kamishibai - Japanese Paper Theatre
January 21 - Shadow Theatre
January 28 - Noh Puppet Theatre

Click here for other intriguing programs in the Visitor Center in the month of January.

Get Ready for the Holyoke Winter Carnival!

We are desperate for snow in southern New England, although I have to admit not having snow sure makes life easier! Outdoor snow sports are suffering - even the outdoor ice is marginal. Let's hope conditions improve so we can break out of our indoor rinks and enjoy some snow soon. In the mean time, hiking adventures and outdoor skating on man-made ice will have to suffice.

Janet Zeller - Forest Service Advocate for Access



Janet paddling in Utah.

Janet Zeller is the National Accessibility Manager for the U.S. Forest Service - a woman with a severe disability and enormous enthusiasm for helping others access the great outdoors. Although we had met long ago, she remembered me when we crossed paths again this fall at a conference. The warmth of her personality and her vibrant energy for the work she does leaves me with a glow that continues to inspire the work I do. She's been traveling extensively this fall, presenting at conferences and conducting trainings, so it was only recently we were able to speak on the phone in preparation for this post.

"Outdoor recreation was my lifeblood," she said, "my sanity. I grew up with the idea that you work so you can recreate." Her childhood summers were spent in the White Mountains with her family, in a big cottage built in 1890 that served as a wonderful base camp for outings. She became an avid canoeist and had just learned to sea kayak before her injury. Her first career was as an elementary school supervising librarian, a "hazardous occupation", she emphasized with a laugh, in which she became quadriplegic after a serious fall in the school building.

Jim Ebert - A Life Well Lived Helping Others to the Top



Jim Ebert (left) with Juan Botero at the top of
Mt. Kilimanjaro.

At year's end I offer up the story of Jim Ebert - a professional mountaineer who not only lived to summit the world's most challenging peaks, but focused his work on helping others experience the thrill of extreme adventure. Jim died this year in July at 64 years old, while climbing Mt. Whitney in California in preparation for a trip that will bring people with disabilities to the highest point in the lower 48 states.



Jim was raised in a family of mountain climbers who were well connected with the world's leading mountaineers. He took hold of the family's passion early on and devoted his life to the epic sport. Along with numerous personal climbing accomplishments, Jim also made a stunning array of contributions to the climbing world. These include guiding the Iowa Mountaineers to become the world's largest university climbing club, offering the first outdoor toprope instructor certification course in the U.S., training the U.S. military in mountain climbing and winter wilderness skills, and leading countless first ascents in the U.S. and abroad. In thirty years of climbing expeditions and trainings he maintained a perfect safety record, personally guiding over 67,000 people to 17 alpine countries ascending over 1300 major peaks. Jim loved to share the joys of reaching pristine places with others, yet his life work was not complete without helping those with disabilities to access the same thrill of adventure he sought out for himself.

DCR Hosts Accessible Winter Activities

Here's the official release on our winter program season! You can find these and more opportunities from other organizations on on Winter 2012 Recreation Calendar - just click the tab above.

This month begins the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Accessible Winter Activities calendar. DCR’s Universal Access Program will sponsor a wide variety of adaptive cold-weather recreation opportunities at locations across the Commonwealth. Designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends, the programs are free. Pre-registration is required.

Activities offered through March include accessible cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kick sledding, snowmobiling. Staff assistance and free use of accessible equipment, such as sit skis and kick sleds, will be available.

DCR’s Universal Access Program is one of the most innovative accessible state park programs in the nation. It enables people with disabilities to participate in a wide variety of activities, making recreation programs in Massachusetts more inclusive. DCR invites participants to come out and enjoy the various adaptive winter programs, and is also looking for volunteers to assist with them. Interested volunteers should call Heidi Marie-Peterson at 413-577-3840. Two trainings are scheduled: January 7 at Wendell State Forest and January 22 at the Weston Ski Track.

For additional information on DCR’s Universal Access Program, a schedule of activities, and to preregister, visit www.mass.gov/dcr  and click on “universal access.”

DCR Universal Access Program

2012 Winter Schedule

Call the phone numbers listed to register for these exciting programs!

Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Kick-Sledding, and more!
D.A.R. State Forest, Goshen Thursdays: December 12 & 19, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tuesdays: March 6 & 13, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 413-259-0009

Weston Ski Track, Weston Sundays: January 19, February 5, 12, & 26; March 4

Monday: February 20 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. 413-259-0009

Mt. Tom Reservation, Holyoke Saturdays: January 21, February 4 & 18

Wednesday, February 22 from 11a.m. – 3p.m. 413-527-8980

Wendell State Forest, Wendell Saturdays: January 14 & 28, February 11 & 25, and March

3 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (includes snowmobile rides) 413-527-8980

Accessible Skating Program Schedule

Asiaf Memorial Rink, Brockton Sundays: January 15 & 29, February 12 & 26
 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 413-527-8980

Buffone Skating Rink, Worcester Thursdays: January 26 from 10 a.m.-noon; March 1 and 29,
 from 2 - 4 p.m. 413-577-3840

Cronin Rink, Revere Tuesdays: January 10, February 14, & March 20, from
 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 413-577-3840

Fitzpatrick Skating Rink, Holyoke Sundays: January 22, February 26, March 18 and April 1, from

12 noon to 2 p.m. 413-577-3840

Kelly Outdoor Rink, Jamaica Plain Wednesday: January 18 and February 1, from 1-3p.m.

413-527-8980

Steriti Rink, Boston – North End Tuesdays: January 24 and February 7 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

413-527-8980.

Thursday, February 9 from 7 – 9 p.m. Call 413-577-3840.

Tuesday, February 21 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Call 413-577-3840.

Ice Sleds Available for Public Skating & Winter Gear You Can Use at Weston Ski Track!

The skating season is upon us and many state rinks in Massachusetts have accessible ice skating sleds for people with disabilities to use on their own during public skating! Call in advance to ensure availability and find out anything else you need to know before you go!

Here is a list of places to go:

Auburn - Horgan Rink: 508-832-7201 (2 sleds)
Cambridge - Simoni Rink: 617-354-9523 (3 kids sleds)
Boston: Hyde Park - Bajko Rink: 617-364-9188 (2 kids sleds)
Boston: North End - Steriti Rink: 617-523-9327 ( 2 sleds)
Boston: West Roxbury - Roche Rink: 617-323-9512 (4 sleds)
Brockton - Asiaf Rink: 508-583-6804 (4 sleds)
Franklin - Pirelli/Vets Rink: 508-541-7024 (2 sleds)
Greenfield - Collins/Moylan Rink: 413-772-6891 (2 sleds)
Holyoke - Fitzpatrick Rink: 413-532-2929 (6 sleds)
Jamaica Plain - Kelly Rink {OUTDOORS!}: 617-727-7000 (1 sled)
Medford - Flynn Rink: 781-395-8492 (2 sleds)
Newburyport - Graf Rink: 978-462-8112 (1 sled)
North Adams - Vietnam Vets Rink: 413-664-8185 (3 sleds)
Plymouth - Armstrong Rink: 508-746-8825 (2 sleds)
Revere - Cronin Rink: 781-284-9491 (4 sleds)
Springfield - Smead Rink: 413-781-2599 (4 sleds)
Taunton - Alexio Rink: 508-824-4987 (2 sleds)

Each sled has a set of hockey sticks with which you can propel yourself and there is at least one stroller bar at each rink to allow for being pushed too. Some sleds have more support - a higher back and chest strap for those who need additional stabilization. If a rink has 2 sleds, one will feature extra support and a stroller bar handle. Kids usually fit fine into adult sleds (but alas the reverse it not true!). If you prefer to use another DCR rink that isn't listed, call 413-545-5758 to see if we can accommodate your need.

At the Weston Ski Track outside Boston, there are 2 cross country sitskis and 2 kicksleds available for use. Even if there is no snow, as long as its cold enough, snow is made for 2km of groomed trails! When there is snow, the trails expand! For those who have utilized the adaptive ski programs on site but don't have their own sitskis, you can go on your own any day of the week! If you are already experienced at sitskiing, contact the Ski Track at 781-891-6575 to find out how you can access the snow. The Ski Track is open until 9pm Monday - Thursday! Try night skiing!

Scandinavian kicksleds are a nice accommodation for anyone who can't walk far and would like to tour the trails with an assistant to push them. They are also great movable seating for seniors who would like to watch ski races at the Weston Ski Track!

For a list of adaptive winter program opportunities in Massachusetts, click on the Winter Calendar tab under the header above.