Children can improve their physical, mental, and emotional health, and build their independence and self-esteem, by being active, including doing sports and other recreational activities. Children with disabilities participating in sports and recreation also promotes inclusion. Recreational activities like soccer, swimming, or singing in a choir can also help children and teens to make friends and have social time with peers. Staying active is needed to keep up muscle strength, flexibility, and joint function, and may slow the decline often linked to disability. We hope the information on this page will help you and your child to get involved in a variety of types of recreation.

Finding local services that offer adaptive recreation programs can be the key to helping your child get involved. To find recreation services for people with disabilities:

• Check with local parks and recreation centers, the YMCA, your child’s school, or Easter Seals to find out about the clubs, teams, summer camps, or other activities that might be fun for your child.
• Check for your state on the Disabled Sports USA and Sports Abilities websites for more information on adaptive sports and recreation opportunities and events in your area like skiing, cycling, rock climbing, rafting, etc.
  • Adaptive Skiing
  • Adaptive Cycling
• Look at the Medical Home Portal’s Adaptive Recreation Services category for organizations in your chosen region: see Adaptive Sports services providers in our database.

Athletic equipment and toys can often be adapted to better serve your child. Occupational or physical therapists can help to make equipment work for your child.

Support your child in trying any activities that interest them. From downhill skiing, to creating art, to gardening, there’s bound to be something that is fun, exciting, and interesting for your child.

Physical education (PE) and recess activities at school are also important. The need for adapted PE and/or supports or social structuring on the playground should be addressed in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child.

For more tips on adaptive sports and recreation activities, see the links below.