Photo Description: Female athlete playing para ice hockey and playing the puck in an arena. Photo by SWSCD

For anyone looking to play any activity, often an important aspect in shaping a person's choice to play is knowing what equipment is required and how to use it.  For the para-athlete, equipment knowledge is particularly critical as often para-athletic equipment is designed with specific mobility, accessibility and performance accomodations in mind.

In the latest SWSCD ParAmazing Women's Circle virtual roundtable, high-performance athletes representing multiple sports (athletics, fitness, ice hockey, paddling, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis) along with fitness expert Paul Gabay from Resolution Fitness discuss their own experiences and expertise around para-athletic equipment. We also share important information on equipment rental programs available through multiple organizations including ParaSport Ontario, OnPara Sport and Cruisers Sports.

Tune in to the conversation in this roundtable video

Roundtable Video Highlights

ATHLETE PANEL AND EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATIONS

[2:16] High-performance athletes Jessica Lewis (athletics), Claire Buchanan (para ice hockey), Candice Combdon (para tennis), and Brianna Hennessy (paddling & wheelchair rugby) showcased different parasport equipment and discussed how it is used. Tune in to see how equipment differs across each activity (e.g. see how a sport chair for wheelchair tennis differs from wheelchair basketball). See how parasport equipment varies from assistive equipment like day chairs, walkers, and other assistive devices.

[34:45] Learn about different athlete classifications and how this impacts equipment.

[55:52] FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR THE ADAPTIVE ATHLETE

Fitness experts Jess Silver (Flex For Access) and Paul Gabay (Resolution Fitness) will share their top equipment picks for facilities for adaptive athletes and at-home fitness ideas.

[1:17:51] PARASPORT EQUIPMENT RENTAL AND BORROW PROGRAMS

Learn about different equipment rental and borrow programs and share yours too.

[1:19:33] This discussion concluded with networking and Q&A discussion.

Join Our ParAmazing Circle 

Bond with fellow parasport-loving athletes, organizations and local businesses as we work to encourage more women with disabilities to get and stay in the game.  Join the PARAMAZING CIRCLE. 

Check out Flex for Access: https://www.flexforaccess.ca/

Talk to Paul at Resolution Fitness: https://www.resolutionfitness.ca/

Check Out Other SeeWhatSheCanDo ParAmazing Resources

Encouraging Women With Disabilities To Take A Chance and Try Parasports

Photo description: Female wheelchair tennis athlete holding a tennis raquet and sitting in front the net on a tennis court. 

A shocking 93% of women with disabilities do not participate in sports. One of the biggest hurdles is getting women to take a chance - that first step - and try a sport. Sport professionals and para-athletes joined our virtual roundtable on September 29, 2021.  Led by Team Ontario wheelchair athlete Candice Combdon, Ontario Para Network (ONPARA), and ParaSport Ontario we discussed why para-athletes are trying parasports and worked on troubleshooting barriers that need fixing.

ParAmazing Resource Kit: Getting and Keeping Women With Diverse Abilities in the Game

Photo description: Female athlete playing wheelchair Rugby with wheelchair tilted on one side. 

Workshop organizers and participants have pooled expertise to create a resource kit filled with insights on the unique opportunities and challenges for women with diverse abilities plus inclusive marketing, recruitment, and adaptive program tips and best practices from elite para-athletes and industry pros. Get the resource kit. 

If you share our passion for a more inclusive world of sport and have expertise we invite you to <<share your resources with our community >> .

SeeWhatSheCanDo

Check out the SWSCD Athlete Advisor, your online athletic business directory. Find, rate, and review programs, local community offerings, and businesses that will help you do your thing.  

Start a group around a physical activity in your neighbourhood. Explore events. Check out our SWSCD Hub.

Look for stories, businesses and more on our ParAmazing Circle activity page.  

Tell us about your favourite way to get yourself moving. Share your highlights directly on our Discover blog or by using #seewhatshecando on social media and inspire others to get active.