TENNIS

Wheelchair tennis is played by the same rules as able-bodied tennis, except that a wheelchair player gets two bounces to return the ball instead of one. Wheelchair tennis is one the few sports where a disabled person can effectively compete with able-bodied players.

The Wichita Adaptive Sports Tennis Program offers lessons for youth and adults at a minimal cost.  We currently host a USTA sanctioned wheelchair tennis tournament each summer. For more information contact:  Grady Landrum

Sophia's Story

I am writing this to let you know how glad my family is that the Wichita Adaptive Sports organization is available to us here in Wichita.  Our daughter, Sophia is 11 years old and was born with Spina Bifida.  She is wheelchair mobile with limited use of her legs.  While the wheelchair allows her the freedom to move around and participate in a lot of activities with other children it also unfortunately separates her from her peers as well.  She is not able to participate in most sports with able bodied children and as such had not shown any interest in sports.  This is where Wichita Adaptive Sports (WAS) come into play. 

About a year ago we became involved with WAS and their wheelchair tennis program.  Sophia not only enjoyed learning to play tennis she also met other local girls who were also wheelchair mobile.  Becoming friends with others who are similar to you and can understand you is critical to not just a child but any person.  Her relationship with these other girls and boys continues to grow even today.  It also provides a good forum for the parents to speak to each other and use each other for resources in regard to insurance, therapy, surgeries, recovery, treatments, etc.

As the year has gone by Sophia has become involved in wheelchair basketball, adaptive swim as well as track and field.  Many of these sports require specialized equipment such as a throwing chair for throwing field implements (discus, javelin, shot put), sport chairs for basketball and tennis, or racing chairs for track.  WAS has been able to provide some of this equipment for us to borrow and use to compete in these sports.  Without WAS we would likely not be able to participate in most of the sports Sophia is involved in. Sophia was also able to take swim lessons at not only a discounted rate because of WAS at the Wichita Swim Club, there was an instructor at the Wichita Swim Club that was able to go to Colorado Springs to learn how to teach adaptive swim to our kids. 

Because of the ability to borrow or use this equipment and resources Sophia was able to join several other WAS athletes and compete in the Endeavor games in Edmond Oklahoma earlier this month.  Sophia competed in 5 swimming, 4 track, and 3 field events earning 7 gold and 4 silver medals.  Sophia's interest in these sports continues to grow and I believe she will continue to participate in them for many years to come.

Thank you so much,

Rolf and Jackie Beers