RAA receives funding to develop youth basketball program

Aug. 01--Rochester Accessible Adventures recently received $5,000 from the Endless Highway Foundation to promote inclusion in sports for youth with disabilities.

RAA is rolling out a model of community health inclusion initiatives to ensure individuals with disabilities have accessible and inclusive active recreation opportunities.

Partnering with area municipalities such as the city of Rochester R-Centers, Victor Parks and Recreation and Hamlin Recreation, RAA is creating inclusion in sports and recreation so that peers with and without disabilities can participate in programs together.

"We are thrilled with this gift from Endless Highway," said Anita O'Brien, RAA executive director. "We are grateful that Rob has recognized our efforts to create sustainable systems which will ensure youth with disabilities are able to access sports and recreation along with their peers without disabilities -- and continue these lifelong passions through adulthood."

"This gift will allow us to have a variety of coaches and assistant coaches for our adult team and utilize the adult team to develop a youth wheelchair basketball team, which we have not had in almost 10 years," said Xavier Major, coach of the Rochester Wheels.

"Participation in sports and recreation provides access to important developmental milestones," said Rob Tortorella, whose friends started the foundation in his honor. "We must ensure youth with disabilities are included in our community opportunities. RAA and the Rochester Wheels understand the importance of creating sustainable and inclusive opportunities so that our youth gain self-confidence and team building skills, have opportunities for setting and achieving their personal goals and so that families with a youth with a disability can know their child has the choice to participate."

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