Empowerment
By Laura Buchanan
Tennis, rock climbing, half-marathons and other sports activities have filled Amy Saffell’s calendar since she was a young child. Opportunities to participate were plentiful in her native Atlanta, Georgia, but when she moved to Tennessee after graduating college, she found that some kids didn’t have the same experience.
Saffell plays adaptive sports for those with physical disabilities. She has spina bifida and has always used a wheelchair. Many people with similar disabilities struggle to find sports leagues they can join, but when they do, they find much more than fun – they discover a source of support, community, mentorship and empowerment.
“A lot of parents just don’t know what’s out there in terms of adaptive sports. Or in terms of their kid’s capability and being independent,” Saffell says.