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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Athletes don’t let disabilities deter them

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Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program is dedicated to providing competitive and non-competitive athletic opportunities to individuals with disabilities to enhance quality of life, promote physical fitness, introduce recreational and wheelchair sports and challenge participants to perform at a competitive level.

ā€œWe provide opportunities for athletes to succeed or fail based upon their own abilities,ā€ explained Patrick Dean, RHI sports coordinator. ā€œOur goal is to positively change the lives of youth and adults with disabilities who desire competition, to gain greater self-knowledge, decrease their feelings of isolation and increase their level of physical fitness.ā€

Over the past decade, quad rugby, wheelchair basketball, power soccer, water skiing, track and field, beep baseball, golf and racing have all grown into staple programs of RHI Sports but they started as introductory clinics.

While participants can choose to commit to these sports for seasons at a time, RHI also provides opportunities for athletes and their families to enjoy weekend outings such as bowling, White River rafting, horseback riding, sailing, rock climbing, tennis and scuba diving. RHI offers introductory clinics over 20 times per year.

These programs are usually offered for a small fee. Programs are available at discounted rates due to special event fundraisers, grants and individual donations.

ā€œWe challenge and lead participants to perform at a competitive level through RHI sports program: however, we also serve athletes and their families in their activities and different sports by providing physical and emotional support,ā€ said Dean.

One participant in RHIā€™s sport program is Darnell Booker, who has played baseball for many years. He has played on church and corporate teams but currently is the coach and a player on the Indianapolis Thunder, RHIā€™s beep baseball team.

Booker is completely blind in his right eye and has an impairment in his left eye. He has been this way since he was a young child. Heā€™s since grown up to choose the life of a coach, athlete, leader and teacher.

ā€œI knew I wanted to play sports since I was 11 years old,ā€ Booker said. ā€œI made the choice to do whatever I put my mind to. I choose to participate to give back to the blind community and let others know there is stuff out there for them to do.ā€

Booker also coaches the wrestling team at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired where he works as a job coordinator. Throughout his life, he has excelled in numerous sports. This isnā€™t just a job to Booker, rather a mission. His entire life is embodied by competition. What Booker lacks in vision, he makes up for in confidence. When he speaks about sports, his voice is on fire.

ā€œIt means everything,ā€ said Booker. ā€œI want to be the best. I donā€™t like to feel like Iā€™m losing in life.ā€

RHI Sports Program has become an intricate part of the existence and success of the Indianapolis Thunder by supporting a team of men who play not just for themselves, but also for their community.

Booker is a man of calling. His calling is to be active, to make a difference, to compete.

ā€œI have a responsibility,ā€ says Booker. ā€œWe are all role models. It is my responsibility to put people in a positive situation where they can succeed around other people with positive attitudes. If you feel you can do things, go out there and do them.ā€

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