Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic

[Dulcinea714]

I've been slacking lately and haven't visited the board in a few months. I was busy with family and girl scouts. I found out about the DVWSC at the end of November and sent off my application. I sent it in after the deadline, but they told me to not worry about the deadline, just send it in ASAP, which is what I did. Got the acceptance letter in January and made airline and hotel reservations in February.

This is my first time going and I am finding out things along the way. Somehow, somewhere there are sponsors, but I have no clue on how to get sponsored, so I paid for my hotel and airfare. There is a negotiated rate for both, so costs were listed in the acceptance packet. They just don't tell you about sponsors.

Luckily, I do not have an extravagant lifestyle and with VA disability comp and my disability retirement from my civilian job, I was able to budget and put off buying that iPad I really want.

So, I am going downhill ski-falling. Equipment, trainers, other activities and food are provided. There are a bunch of activities planned and just a couple days of ski-falling, morning or afternoon, not all day. I am so excited. Heading to Snowmass, CO in a week.

And, oh, I had social security hearing this week and judge said she is finding in my favor. Three battles with three different government agencies and three bittersweet victories. Of course, my disability retirement and social security will offset each other, but, hey, it's in the regulations and I'm not going to be homeless.

[gomer]

Sounds like a WONDERFUL opportunity
............................................... and HAVE FUN!

Upon your return and short break to recover, your ORDERS are to come back here for good debriefing.

Gomer Sir Falls-a-lot

[Scooter24]

Do they do a summer sports clinic? how or where can I find info on these programs?

[KatieDidNOT]

Dulcinea-

This sounds like one heck of a lot of fun! Have a great time!

Katie

[gomer]

SCOOTER........

You might try your state's PVA chapter, if you have one. (Michigan does). I attended a couple meetngs, but its quite a drive for me.

They tried to get me involved in wheel chair basketball. These guys have some very fancy chairs and all the gear to go with them. They travel around for their games etc, even out of state. Most of them are pretty much confined to their chairs. I don't use or need a chair all day every day, but I was told you needed to use a chair for the games, level playing field, so to speak.

The manual chair I have is not suitable for any chair sports, its a used (std chair) one I picked up at a local St Vincents De Paul store. I can not begin to think of affording a sports chair, medicare of course does not cover anything beyond what is needed for every day living at home covered my power chair as a medical need, but my scooter was 100% out of my pocket since the VA does not provide me with any mobility aids, never have, not even when the VA noted I had walking issues back in the 80s.
(that might?, maybe? change a little if I ever get S/C'd??)

Scooter..since the VA is providing you with mobility aids, maybe they might provide you with some or even all of anything you need to get involved in some handicap sports? You are in a different state & VA plus your SC status makes your situation very different than mine. Another thing in your favor is you age, you are younger than me by maybe a decade, so that could also make a difference in your favor.

Gomer Sir Falls-a-lot

.

[Scooter24]

Gomer- Thanks for the laugh, I couldn't play basketball before I got hit with MS, not coordinated enough to run and bounce the wall at the same time and as in the movie title "White men can't jump" !!!

[gomer]

Scooter... I feel the same way as you about Basket Ball...

Coordinated.... My coordination was so great I was not allowed to march at my boot camp graduation. My CC could see I tried and tried hard but just could not coordinate, so he made me stand watch instead. I kinda missed doing it.

Still working on my SC claim, hope to get'er in maybe next week.

Gomer Sir Falls-a-lot

[Scooter24]

Get r done!!

[Dulcinea714]

Here is the link to the VA adaptive sports:

http://www.va.gov/adaptivesports/

I found out about the winter sports clinic on facebook. Can't remember which of the pages I like (VA, PVA, AL, VFW) posted the information. I will say I found out days before the deadline and sent email to the VA contact, they called me the next day and said they were sending application packet and not to worry about the deadline, just get it in ASAP. Sort of tells me that they were short enough participants.
I went to my local VA and gave the info to social worker at primary care clinic. She said she already had it, but I hadn't heard a thing about it until facebook. This is something that does need more publicity before the event to get more participation.
I will be back in April and give details.

[Dulcinea714]

Report on the Winter Sports Clinic

Hi all, It was awesome!!! I actually got up everyday, got ready, participated and had fun. This was a joint event by the VA and DAV, along with a bunch of other sponsors.

I arrived on Saturday and they had a newcomers orientation that afternoon. Sunday morning was registration and Sunday afternoon was Taste of Snowmass. For meals, we ate in the convention center or were given food coupons for restaurants down on the mall. Monday morning started activities with two half-days of skiing, two activity days and race day on Friday. I went to the hot springs and shooting range for my activities. There were so many activities, I have to go back next year(ice hockey, aspen trip, kayaking, scuba and more).

If you don't go with a team, they assign you to a team. Several VA facilities have teams and I have inquired with my social worker at the VA about putting me in touch with the recreational therapist and getting a team together. I paid my airfare and hotel, but some vets who came with teams had that covered. I met a vet on the Miami team and she told me they had to volunteer at the VA to get the free trip. Once there, food(Sunday dinner through Friday dinner), ski equipment and activity fees are covered. For activities away from the resort, the local Elks Lodge was there providing awesome meals. They had bands several evenings and a sponsor night where we got a bunch of info and free swag. I even got a beautiful orange quilt after registration from a wonderful group of folks set up at the hotel giving quilts to veterans.

I met a ton of fellow veterans and have some awesome memories. The summer sports thing is in September and I am seriously thinking about applying for that event. I posted the link earlier in this thread for those interested. There are restrictions on who can attend, but neurological conditions, such as MS, meet the conditions.

I also want to thank the USO people in Chicago; they met our planes and escorted the vets to our connection (Chicago to Aspen flight was all vets/volunteers headed to clinic). They had snacks for us and were just a great bunch of folks.

It was awesome and I definitely recommend this trip to anyone interested.