Two Atlanta-based adaptive sports organizations have announced an exciting new working relationship that will provide more coordinated athletic opportunities for children with physical disabilities in both a school-based and community setting. BlazeSports America and the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs plan to collaborate on a variety of projects that will serve as a national model of excellence in community and school-based partnerships for adaptive sports.
 
“BlazeSports America and AAASP are natural partners,” says BlazeSports Executive Director Cynthia Frisina. “Working collaboratively on a variety of best practices and adaptive sports initiatives will provide more life-changing sports opportunities to children with physical disabilities.”
 
Since USDOE’s Office of Civil Rights clarified school's responsibilities to insure athletics are inclusive, new and existing program efforts have popped up or expanded across the nation.
 
“We are truly invested as national leaders in seeing all those efforts succeed,” states Tommie Storms, Co-Founder and Director of Operations for AAASP. “And what better way to continue to develop and share with others the lessons of two decades of BlazeSports community-based programs and AAASP school based programs than working together in local communities to insure opportunities exist at every level for these athletes?"

When like-minded adaptive sports organizations team up, the athletes win.
 
“Collaborations are key to forming the best possible environment and experiences, both in our nations schools and local communities, for individuals with physical disabilities,” explains Bev Vaughn, Co-Founder and Executive Director, AAASP. “This partnership strengthens our ability to achieve these results and narrow the gap in providing equitable adapted sport opportunities.” 
 
With the 20th anniversary of the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta coming up this summer, the timing could not be better for Paralympic legacy organization BlazeSports America and interscholastic sports association AAASP to get more kids with physical disabilities physically active and participating in adaptive sports.