The new adaptive equipment, available in both the Student Recreation Center and Chinook Student Center, includes a ski erg which allows the user to mimic the motions of Nordic skiing by providing a modified platform for wheelchairs and extensions that lower the handles.
Adaptive equipment can make a big difference in building strength and agility for the athletes Shannon LaRoza, assistant director of aquatics and shared facilities, works with at ParaSport Spokane, an organization that provides training, recreational, and competitive opportunities for people with disabilities.
LaRoza has an invisible disability stemming from her autoimmune disease but is considered an able-bodied athlete for sports such as basketball and track.
Two of her athletes – a shot putter with a short stature classification, and a discus thrower who is a below the knee amputee – qualified for the Paralympic Trails held in Minneapolis, Minn., in June.
In the days leading up to National First-Generation Day on Nov.
8, the WSU Insider is featuring first-generation students, faculty, and staff on each of the university’s campuses.