New Sporting Initiative Gives South Florida’s Children with Cognitive and Physical Challenges
The Opportunity of Athletic Inclusion
The Florida Panthers have teamed up with ABA Centers of Florida and American Special Hockey Association to launch the Adaptive Skating Program, a four-week community engagement designed for skaters with cognitive and physical challenges, obstacles out of each child’s control that can leave them sitting on the sidelines with a feeling of isolation.
This weekly program aims to break down barriers that prevent those with cognitive and physical challenges from participating in sports and gives them the opportunity of athletic inclusion that they have desired and that they deserve.
Coaches leading the Adaptive Skating Program are USA Hockey-certified and trained to work with children with autism. Adaptive skaters will develop skating skills, make new friends, and have fun in a safe environment where compassion and patience are paramount.
ABA Centers of Florida has been a partner of the Florida Panthers since 2023, first as a sponsor of the team’s Autism Awareness Night and then as its official Autism Education Partner for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons. ABA Centers of Florida unveiled Amerant Bank Arena’s first ever sensory room last year and, for guests that would like to soothe-on-the-go, ABA Centers of Florida has also supplied the arena with sensory bags that include headphones and other items to provide another layer of overstimulation alleviation.
“In addition to worldclass autism care, ABA Centers is committed to providing kiddos on the spectrum with the kind of experiences that make a childhood a great childhood – and the Adaptive Skating Program is a step in that direction,” remarked Christopher Barnett, Founder & Chairman of ABA Centers.
The Adaptive Skating Program will be hosted each Friday at the Baptist Health IcePlex, located at 800 Northeast 8th Street in Fort Lauderdale. The cost to participate in the four-week program is $40, equaling just $10 per session. (Not inclusive of skate rental.)
More information about the Adaptive Skating Program, including how to register, can be found at https://www.ftlwarmemorial.com/hockey/adaptive-skating.
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