Adaptive Skating Provides
Opportunities for All On the Ice By Mary Johanson
A
s I walked into my rink in Ann Arbor, Michigan seven years ago, I assumed I was headed for just another Saturday morning Learn to Skate USA class. I had no idea how my life was about to change. On this particular Saturday morning, I met a young skater named Grace who would challenge how I thought about coaching, open my eyes to unknown possibilities in skating, and remind me of the pure joy of skating. Grace is on the autism spectrum. She spent many mornings in the stands watching her younger brother learn to skate. On the morning I met her, she convinced her mother to register her for classes. Having tried other sports with varying success, the family was not sure what to expect. They were nervous about how Grace would do in a group environment as well as whether the other skaters in the group would welcome her. As Grace took the ice for the first time, she displayed some nerves as many first-time skaters do, but it was not long before Grace found herself marching and gliding across the ice. While she achieved more success that day, her smile got wider and wider. She was exuding a sense of pride and pure joy that I had not seen in many years teaching learn to skate classes. Everyone in the group felt her infectious enthusiasm. Not only did the other skaters in the group accept Grace, they embraced her and allowed her larger than life personality to lift the excitement of the group. I will never forget the moment when I looked up into the stands and found Grace’s mom, who had tears
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of joy streaming down her face as her daughter had finally found a place to belong and feel successful working at her own pace. Suddenly that Saturday morning felt like one of those important and pivotal moments where you realize you can make an impact. Grace has since gone on to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World pre-Games in Austria and will head to Russia for the World Games in 2022. When asked about why she loves skating, her response is always, “It makes me feel free.” Grace’s life—and that of her family and mine—will be forever connected and altered for the better. That is the power of skating. The Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club started its Adaptive Skating programs soon after Grace entered our lives. As a club, we realized we wanted to do more and reach further into our local community. We launched two programs: an Adaptive Skating class and a Special
Olympics competitive team. Since implementing the program, we have averaged 20 skaters in a class and have 10-12 Special Olympics athletes who compete regularly. These programs have not only brought more skaters through our doors but have really made a positive impact on our club, it’s members, and our rink. Why Adaptive Skating? The greatest benefit of any new skating program is bringing more people into your rink. Ideally, more customers mean more revenue. Sometimes Adaptive Programs don’t bring big money, but you expose more people to what you have to offer. Family members of Adaptive skaters will be interested in joining learn to skate classes and word of mouth will reach a larger population. The interest will give you the potential to increase membership and nextstep programming that will contribute to club and rink revenue, including private lessons, synchronized skating teams, hockey programs, and more. Adaptive programming gives you the opportunity to network with community organizations you never had the chance to before, like veterans’ organizations and your local Special Olympics chapter. The community outreach increases your presence in the area, but more importantly, provides club members a feeling of pride and philanthropy. Along with all the physical benefits any sport provides its athletes, we have found the more profound
