ISU Therapeutic Recreation Department holds annual Adaptapalooza

Photo provided by Sherri Hildebrand

NORMAL, Ill. – On Wednesday, Feb. 28, the Therapeutic Recreation Department held their annual Adaptapalooza in honor of Therapeutic Recreation Month, and they hope to hold another event in the fall.

The event showcases inclusion as it serves as an opportunity for students to experience and understand the adapted sports available for those with physical disabilities. Instructional Assistant Professor Sherri Hildebrand detailed the event and its specifics.

She said, “Back when this was first held, the president at the time said it was important enough for our campus vision and mission that it needed to be held every year, so that is why we are still doing it. It really has been a successful event.”

This year’s event featured its staples, adapted climbing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair races and goalball. Goalball is for those that are visually impaired or blind, so players were blindfolded as they rolled the ball to the other side of the floor, in hopes to score in the other team’s goal. Since they could not see, they were challenged to locate the ball through hearing as the ball had a bell inside.

Looking back, Hildebrand explained she was very pleased with the event’s outcome.

“From the people I talked to, everybody seemed to say how much fun it was and how engaged they were. They didn’t even mind standing in lines to wait their turn,” she said.

Hildebrand shared that she is passionate about adapted sport and recreation awareness because there are limited opportunities for those with disabilities to participate in throughout Bloomington-Normal, along with most smaller towns.

“The problem for me is, and the reason we started [Adaptapalooza] to begin with, is to let people know this is a need in everybody’s community to reach out and offer these opportunities for people with physical disabilities because they just don’t exist,” she explained.

Hildebrand expressed potential plans to hold a similar event in the fall.

“I’ve got some plans in the works to try to change some things around to try to make this a bigger event or more opportunities throughout the year, so keep on the lookout.”