THE EDITOR IN CHIEF'S DESK FAYE SIMON
A Sporting Chance
Adaptive sports help to maintain physical health, but offer a lot of mental, emotional and social benefits too.
More and more opportunities are being created for the more than 61 million people with disabilities in the U.S. Many studies have shown that taking part in adaptive sports helps to maintain the physical health of people with disabilities, but also offers a lot of mental, emotional and social benefits as well.
EP’s Adaptive Sports Issue explores several different adaptive sports and their participants. Jim Elliot does a deep dive on adaptive scuba, while Karl Lee and Gabby Hesse profile an extremely dynamic adaptive tennis program. In her article titled “Everyone Can be an Athlete,” Aviva Gans PT MS says that the key to adaptation is creatively individualizing and adjusting fitness activities to match a person’s health, motor, and perceptual abilities. Articles on accessible travel and retrofitting playgrounds round out our coverage.
The highlight of the issue, however, is our cover story – my in-depth interview with decorated Navy SEAL and seven-time Paralympic medalist Dan Cnossen. Dan is a true hero and a tireless advocate for overcoming obstacles as well as the restorative benefits of adaptive sports. After an IED explosion in Afghanistan took his legs, Dan's competitive spirit, positivity and sense of purpose propelled him to be an inspiring and successful para-athlete. I would love to hear feedback from readers on his inspirational story – or any other article that helped you or someone you know.
In addition, this issue includes summer
flea and tick bite prevention and ABLE accounts.
EP is continually expanding our outreach to the special needs community with a substantial and growing presence on social media and increasing the number of EP for Free subscribers. I very much appreciate and thank all of you who share our posts, articles, and EP for Free on you social media, in newsletters on your website, at events, and by word of mouth.
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Faye Simon
Editor In Chief
THE EDITOR IN CHIEF’S DESK
Faye Simon is a certified pre-K—8 teacher with a wide range of educational experience. She has worked in deaf/blind and infant stimulation programs, taught K—2 in public schools, and was a Head Teacher and Parent Coordinator for Head Start. She is Founder and President of the volunteer-run IES Brain Research Foundation. As EP's Editor In Chief, Faye sources and edits articles, creates partnerships with businesses and not-forprofit organizations, and develops relationships with EP's writers, corporate partners, readers and staff.
Information and Support for the Special Needs Community
VOLUME 53 ISSUE 6 ESTABLISHED 1971
Publisher
Len Harac
Editior In Chief
Faye Simon
Art Direction & Design
Leverett Cooper
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