The Disabled Athletes Sports Association held its eighth annual Try Para Sport Day at MizzouRec on Saturday.
DASA is a St. Louis-based organization that encourages people with disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs and fitness activities, according to the organization. It focuses on physical independence, as well as improving self-esteem and mental toughness.
In 2017, DASA expanded with a Columbia branch to provide greater access.
Young athletes participate in adaptive rock climbing as a part of the DASA’s eight annual Try Para Sport Day.
Having served over 3,000 athletes since 1997, the organization offers several different programming options throughout the year with special events and seasonal leagues lasting about a month and a half.
It supports athletes diagnosed with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, amputation, hearing loss and visual impairment and blindness.
Koda Inman-Ahlstrom serves as the program coordinator for the Columbia branch. Inman-Ahlstrom began volunteering with DASA in 2019 when he moved to Columbia to play for Mizzou’s wheelchair basketball team. He stepped into the role of program coordinator in 2023.
He says it’s all about spreading the organization’s reach to the wider community and letting kids know that local opportunities are available.
“You get people of different backgrounds and interests, but we’re all brought together through the adaptive sport opportunities we provide to disabled youth in our community,” Inman-Ahlstrom said.
He most enjoys being able to see how much joy it brings the athletes.
“The parents definitely see it, the families definitely see it, and the kids are just having a blast,” Inman-Ahlstrom said.
Wheelchair basketball is a favorite for DASA athlete Bradley Arnold. The now-10-year-old, who has spina bifida, said he has been going to wheelchair basketball since he was 5.
Bradley has participated in DASA’s Para Sport Day for the last five years.
“Baby steps, just baby steps,” Bradley said. “And take my time — and that’s how I always figure it out.”
Saturday’s Try a Para Sport event included adaptive pickleball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, bocce ball, adaptive cycling, power-wheel chair soccer, adaptive rock climbing, swimming and a fitness obstacle course.
“All the sports here are hard, very hard,” Bradley said. “It definitely took me a long time to get used to it. But they make it fun and easy at the same time.”
The event was made possible through DASA’s partnership with MU Health Care and the Rusk Rehabilitation Center.
“The DASA community spends a lot of time recognizing that individuals with disability need to be active and need to be involved in sports and team activities,” said Vovanti Jones a physician within the University of Missouri Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
As a former power wheelchair soccer player, Jones said she recognizes the importance of community found through sports. She encourages people with disabilities to go out and look into different sports in the community they might be able to try.
“Because you don’t have to be the best at it, but getting out and forming a community with your teammates brings a lot to your lifestyle,” Jones said.
DASA attracts people from all over the state who will drive hours to participate because it’s the only available program in the area.
Amy Tuley and her son, Josiah, traveled to Columbia from Holts Summit to participate in the event. They’ve been involved with DASA for the last two years. Tuley said she is thankful for the opportunities and sense of community that DASA has provided her son.
“For him … being able to gain independence and a little bit of community and to know that he’s not the only person with a disability trying to do sports — he’s gaining a lot of confidence,” Tuley said.
DASA will have three athletes participating in the Paralympic Games in Paris in a few weeks.
