All members of the Syracuse University community and beyond are invited to the OrangeAbility: Accessible Athletics Expo on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Women’s Building.
This student-led initiative is sponsored by the Disability Student Union (DSU), Beyond Compliance Coordinating Committee, Disability Cultural Center, Recreation Services, and MoveAlong, Inc. While OrangeAbility has typically been held in the spring, it will be hosted in the fall this year to take advantage of the nice weather—marking the eighth time the event has been hosted on campus, twice in 2018.
OrangeAbility provides disabled and nondisabled people of all ages with the opportunity to play and learn about an array of inclusive and adaptive sports. This year, OrangeAbility will feature tennis, sled hockey and cycles. Attendees will also engage with local teams on the court, as well as organizations in the area. The event centers the experiences and skills of disabled athletes and sports fans, while highlighting that accessible sports are about tailoring approaches to a wide variety of players, including nondisabled participants.
The afternoon of activities will celebrate disability cultures and identities and provide a space for all to feel welcome and comfortable. It is an event that highlights the legacy and growing vibrancy of the disability community on and off the hill. Occurring in October this year, highly anticipated events during Disability Awareness and Appreciation Month.
“OrangeAbility is always such an exciting event because it brings together the community, while also making space for disabled people on this campus,” says Priya Penner ’20, president of DSU.
The event is free and open to the community. Friends, family, kids and colleagues are all welcome. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided.
Free parking is available outside the Women’s Building across Mt. Olympus Drive. Volunteers will be directing attendees along the way.
Register online on the OrangeAbility website or day-of at the expo to play with a team, volunteer, table with groups or request specific information. For more information, to ask questions or to request additional accommodations, please visit the OrangeAbility website or email orangeability@gmail.com.
