Enabling All in Challenging Game of Basketball

Published: November 03, 2014 | Author: Alex Homer | Read Time: 2 minutes

For many playing basketball can be second nature, but to others suffering with a disability, it could be the equivalent to rocket science. To equalize the playing field, Southern Utah University’s Disability Support Center, with the support of several other campus organizations, will host Basketball With A Twist and several other events as part of the annual Dis-Ability Week.

Joining with SUU’s women’s basketball team, as well as any SUU students, faculty or staff to play basketball in the shoes of someone who is disabled. Basketball With a Twist will be on Wednesday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Centrum Arena.

“I hope to bring awareness regarding anxiety and depression, the focus of our event this year,” said Carmen Alldredge, coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities. “I hope students, faculty and staff at SUU and community members will be able to understand obstacles regarding these disorders, to find support and gain skills to progress in life.”

During the game participants will have to learn how to play while simulating a disability such as blindness, depression, schizophrenia, dyslexia, physical handicaps, ADHD, arthritis and more.

Dis-Ability Week will run from Monday, November 3 to Friday, November 7 and will involve several events to help raise awareness and sensitivity of disabilities. Kicking off the event will be the Disability Obstacle Course. 

With nine different disabilities on display, the obstacle course is another event that will test your ability to perform everyday tasks with a challenge that many students suffer with on this campus.

With this year’s focus on anxiety and depression, Alldredge stated that it is especially interesting because of the large group it affects.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America nearly 40 million adults in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders, which is the most common mental illness in the U.S. 

Anyone interested in registering for the event can contact Carmen Alldredge at (435) 865-8022 or alldredge@suu.edu. 

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