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My Adaptive Sports Journey with The Bridge


Discovering Adaptive Sports Through Community Connections

I was first introduced to The Bridge through Erik Robeznieks, the Assistant Director in the Services for Students with Disabilities Office at the University of Michigan. Erik oversees adaptive sports and fitness programs, and I initially connected with him after reading about his work in an alumni newspaper. When I was preparing to move to Cincinnati, he shared the website for The Bridge Adaptive Sports and Recreation with me. That simple act of connection turned into one of the most meaningful parts of my life in a new city.


Exploring a Variety of Adaptive Sports with The Bridge

The Bridge offers a wide variety of adaptive sports and activities for people with disabilities, and I’ve had the chance to try many of them—golf, adaptive video gaming, waterskiing, cycling, skiing, track and field, and more. But my absolute favorite is sled hockey. There’s something incredibly special about the team dynamic—the way everyone shows up for each other not just on the ice, but in daily life as well. It’s not just a sport; it’s a community.


Getting Started with Adaptive Cycling and the Flying Pig 10K

My involvement with adaptive cycling began after I met with Danny Meyer in Fall 2023. Danny introduced me to different types of sports equipment, helping me find what worked best for my needs and goals. I was interested in applying for a grant from the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and with his support, I was able to try out several options. We ultimately decided that a recumbent cycle—a leg-powered adaptive bike—was the best fit. Thanks to the grant, the cycle was fully funded, and I began training for my first Flying Pig 10K race in May 2024. This year, 2025, marked my second time racing. It’s a deeply satisfying experience to set a goal, put in the training, and see it all come together on race day.


The Bridge’s Impact Is Expansive

Participating in The Bridge has given me greater confidence both at work and at home. It’s also improved my physical health through a more active lifestyle. I highly recommend The Bridge to any person with a disability. You’ll find a welcoming, empowering community, make lasting friendships with fellow athletes and volunteers, and gain opportunities to grow in ways you never expected—on and off the field.

 
 
 

8 Comments


taniguchi1983
5 days ago

Turning your own snapshots into black-and-white line art is a clever way to make personalized activities. This tool works without an account, so you can upload a photo and have a printable page in moments. It is particularly useful for family projects or quiet time at home. The output is clean and suitable for kids to color. For a simple way to create custom sheets from your pictures, the photo conversion page is worth trying.

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tomi3e6e
Sep 01

Me pareció una publicación interesante porque presenta sus ideas de forma clara, natural y comprensible. Los numeros ganadores también pueden despertar curiosidad entre distintos lectores. Gracias por crear contenido tan informativo, organizado y fácil de disfrutar en cualquier momento.

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Your experience with sled hockey shows how a sport can become a powerful engine for community and personal growth. Turning raw experiences into music can be similarly transformative, much like converting lyrics into song—a creative process that shapes emotion into something shareable. That team dynamic you described is something every artist looks for in a collaborative session.

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Mình có lần lướt đọc mấy trao đổi trên mạng شيخ روحاني thì thấy nhắc nên cũng tò mò mở ra xem thử cho biết. Mình không tìm hiểu sâu rauhane chỉ xem qua trong thời gian ngắn để quan sát bố cục s3udy cách sắp xếp các mục và trình bày nội dung tổng thể. Cảm giác là các phần được trình bày khá gọn, các mục rõ ràng nên đọc lướt cũng không bị rối Berlinintim, với mình như vậy là đủ để nắm   tin cơ bản rồi. q8yat

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Adam. Baker
Adam. Baker
Dec 29, 2025

I really enjoyed reading about how adaptive sports became such a meaningful part of life, especially sled hockey and cycling. It reminded me of my own experiences trying new activities while juggling school responsibilities. There were times I felt overwhelmed managing deadlines and assignments, and I even thought about using an accounting exam-taking service to lighten the load, but stories like yours show how dedication and community support can make challenges feel rewarding rather than impossible.

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Clinic to Community
Sedentary to Active
Unequipped to Fully Fitted
Getting by to Thriving
Uninformed to Educated
Challenging to Possible.

Bridging the

gap from

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