We are in need of a few nurses that may or may not have experience with athletes with special needs. Many are very independent, but some need a little more help with carrying trays at meals, help transfering to different sports equipment, reminders and sometimes aid with showering, bowel and bladder programs, blisters on fingers, etc. We have several volunteers with experience in most of these things, but the bowel and bladder needs for a few is something we have to keep and eye on and remind the athlets at times to take breaks and attend to them if they can do it by themselves or if they need alittle assistance. Also to watch for things that may show up like bladder infections, or any type of pressure sores. We have a doctor on call, and I would like at least one nurse to stay overnight so they can remain for all of camp for continuity purposes and have a couple other nurses help out during the day. a few should be all we need. We have usually had just one on hand during the camps in the past years, but I think having a few helps out. I would like to talk to anyone interested in any part of camp. These athletes are doing paralympic type sports not Special Olympics. They have a lower limb disability, good cognitive, good hand eye coordination, and good upper body strength.
The mission of the University of Northern Iowa’s Adapted Sports Camp is to give qualified young people, ages 2nd grade-high school, with various lower limb disabilities around the State of Iowa, an opportunity to participate in various types of athletic events using a sports wheelchair.
As with any enterprise of this nature, there are costs involved. We project that the actual cost of participation for each athlete is $800. This covers room, board, staff stipends, medical personnel, and some supplies. Each year we are hosting several young athletes and several coaches, for a total budget of $5-9,000. We ask each athlete to pay $185, as most of the families involved are living on limited funds. We are always looking for sponsors to help us cover the rest of the expenses and camper ships needed by some athletes. Costs based on a partial week. We are also setting up funds for equipment desperately needed.
The camp promotes wheelchair awareness and provides healthy recreational activities for kids with disabilities. Activities such as wheeling around campus with their teammates to meals, recreational games, other skill activities, and pure fun are important for learning. Athletes enjoy traditional camp and recreation activities, while they are improving daily living, sensory-motor-perceptual, strengthening, and hand-eye coordination skills.
Please consider helping us offer a valuable growth experience to some of Iowa’s most deserving athletes with a disability. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Donations, questions or requests for information may be directed to:
Jack Eherenman-------Coordinator for Iowa Chairiots
JEConstruction1@gmail.com-------
----------319-232-1911 or 319-493-0978
or
Dr. Nancy Hamilton
203 WRC
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0241
Hamilton@uni.edu