Quality of Life Grants Spotlight: BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation
Imagine a place where you can exercise, meet people, and play sports. A place where you have the feeling of pushing past boundaries and doing what no one thought you could do is empowering. Knowing you can improve your health and sense of independence and socialize with others who share your passion for a sport can build your sense of self. Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) envisioned a place like this and made its vision come true.
BORP is the creation of people with disabilities who believe in integrating children, youth, and adults with visual and physical disabilities into sports and fitness. Their adaptive programs reach people throughout the Bay Area and virtually.
While BORP began to offer virtual classes before COVID-19, the pandemic increased the need for virtual classes and workshops. With a $31,000 COVID-19 grant from the Reeve Foundation’s Quality of Life grants program, BORP was able to offer virtual fitness, adaptive sports, and recreation activities. In addition, the funding from the Reeve Foundation allowed BORP to increase personnel (instructors), expand programming, and hold a weekly support group for those living with paralysis and other disabilities. The increase in instructors meant they could offer more classes, leading thousands of people to participate globally. Those who take courses through their virtual program say they are "grateful for the program and its offerings." All of these services are popular among BORP's participants.
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Rick Smith, Executive Director of BORP, discussed the benefits of holding virtual classes, "Overwhelmingly, the outcomes participants experienced included perceiving better health, fitness, and independence. The Reeve Foundation's grant allowed us to expand programming that decreased feelings of isolation during and after COVID-19.
The virtual fitness program is offered through Zoom and is recorded so people may access the classes later if they can't join live classes. The classes include seated Tai Chi, yoga, strength training, dance, Pilates, and breathwork. On Mondays, a participant is in charge of the class. They pick the theme of giving everyone a fun way to meet people and boost leadership skills. In addition, Raye Kahn, one of the instructors, offers a class designed to facilitate everyday movement.
The organization has also increased its outreach work. According to Rick Smith, the Executive Director of BORP, their goal is to "find people with disabilities, reach out, encourage them to participate, and make them feel welcome, so they return." For example, adding virtual classes may encourage those who aren't sure if they can participate in physical activity to become more comfortable.
BORP's plans include increasing user engagement on its website. In addition, they hope to encourage more people to take virtual classes by improving their website's calendar to show virtual classes.
To learn more about the Reeve Foundation’s Quality of Life Grants Program, please see: www.ChristopherReeve.org/QOL.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reeve Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center created a special grants category (COVID-19: Addressing Social Isolation) for non-profit organizations to address social isolation by providing programs and projects to support the physical and mental health of people living with paralysis.
Christina Sisti, DPS, MPH, MS is a bioethicist and health care policy advocate. She works to create awareness and improve health care policy for those with long-term health issues.