Able to play: Middle school students of varying abilities take part in Adaptive Sports event

A team of two blindfolded students line up in front of a goal, listening intently to the sounds coming from the team with a ball on the other side of the court. The team trying to score the ball, whose two members are also blindfolded, launches it toward where they think the other goal might be, while the defending team members splay onto the ground when they hear the ball coming toward them in an attempt to stop the ball from entering their goal.

The intense, fast-paced sport is goalball and was one of five activities being played Thursday at Sandia Preparatory School’s Adaptive Sports event to promote inclusivity and raise awareness for children with disabilities.

The event partners — Sandia Prep, Carrie Tingley Hospital and the University of New Mexico Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program — organized a group of about 200 children, most Sandia Prep middle school students, to rotate through five stations: sitting volleyball, goalball, boccia ball, blindfolded guided walk/run and adaptive bowling. The first four are recognized as summer Paralympic sports.

PETE students were the instructors at each station, while Sandia Prep eighth graders guided participants — most able-bodied while eight had some sort of disability — from one activity to the next. The able-bodied students wore blindfolds or sat on the floor to emulate disabilities.

“The goal is for inclusivity to be emphasized outside of sports as well, not just through sports, but through everyday activities, whether it’s people with disabilities or varying characteristics, I think that’s the bigger message,” said Martin Vasquez, a faculty member in the PETE program.

The Adaptive Sports event grew in its second year, with roughly 50 to 75 more middle school students and about 10 additional PETE students participating in this year’s program.

For Sandia Prep eighth graders, the day was a learning experience as much as it was a leadership opportunity.

“It’s been really eye-opening to see how people live their everyday lives,” explained eighth-grader Thalia Kelin.

“It’s really fun to do activities and see how kids with disabilities here on campus engage with other students and people,” added Ananda McCall, who is also in the eighth grade.

Susi Hochrein, Sandia Prep’s assistant head of middle school, explained the school’s curriculum focuses on students giving back to their community.

“Some of our engineering students have built toys for students with disabilities. We also have our eighth-graders go and help other kids at various schools. We’ve also had guest speakers come and speak about their disabilities and why having this awareness is impactful,” she said.

Thomas Romero, a PETE volunteer and sophomore at UNM, called the Adaptive Sports event a “great experience.”

“I get to experience what the disabled children go through and get a feel for the games,” he said.

Hochrein hopes to expand the event.

“It can grow bigger. I’m really hoping that eventually other schools can come be a part of this effort and that it can truly be a greater community service,” she said.