Adaptive Ice Skating: 2015 Program Recap

Maria Fragala-Pinkham, PT, DPT, MS, is the Director of Adaptive Sports at Franciscan Hospital for Children. Our Adaptive Sports programs provide children with special needs the opportunity to participate in sports and active recreation in a fun and safe environment. If you have questions about our Adaptive Sports programs, please contact us at info@fhfc.org or 617-254-3800 x2280.

On Wednesday evenings from mid-September through mid-November, Simoni Rink in Cambridge is home to the Franciscan Adaptive Ice Skating Program. The program is designed to teach basic or advanced ice skating skills to children, ages four to 22.

Uniquely designed to serve children with special needs, the Adaptive Ice Skating program runs for one hour per week for 10 weeks. With diagnoses of autism, cerebral palsy, and genetic conditions, 21 children with disabilities participated in the program this year, along with 11 of their siblings. Fourteen of those children were returning participants, having completed the 2014 program, as well.

For those of us who have tried ice skating before, most remember falling as an inevitable part of the learning process. Many children with disabilities, however, don’t have typical protective responses when falling. Where some have the automatic response of putting their hands out to catch them, some children have delayed protective responses that make them more prone to injuries.

The Franciscan Adaptive Ice Skating program provides children with one to one, or two to one, assistance from staff. Physical and occupational therapists provide assistance and ideas on how to modify skating activities. In addition, college students studying physical therapy or other allied health professions also give their time to work with the children and share their passion for skating.

Adaptive equipment such as skate walkers and gait trainers provide added support for balancing on the ice, and the individual assistance of staff help children learn and build their skills in a safe, comfortable manner. One to one coaching also allows the program to meet the individual needs of each child while in a fun and social group setting. Children receive encouragement from not only staff, but each other as well!

Our friends from the Boston Bruins Foundation, including Bob Sweeney, Blades and the Ice Girls, joined us for the final session of the program!

The 2015 season was filled with sharing smiles, building skills and overcoming challenges. Check out our infographic here, or by clicking the image below, for a look at what we accomplished, and join us in celebrating the milestones met by our talented ice skaters!

Additional feedback from parents of children in the program:

“David loves ice skating, he wrote this at school today! I think this is a sport that he could do with other kids his age.  Thanks for a great program!”

“Thanks for the opportunity for the kids to have fun and learn ice skating.  It was great to include brothers and sisters in the program.  Now we can skate as a family since his sister can skate on her own and I can help Jake when we skate as a family.”

“My primary goal for the program was to boost my child’s confidence and to fight anxiety.  He improved greatly this season.  He had an awesome coach who cheered him up!  He improved his confidence, had fun and he really improved his skating! Thanks for another fantastic season.”