WEEKLY UPDATE: 09/17/26
The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) continues a new Hospital Spotlight Series* with a feature on Gaylord Specialty Healthcare’s Gaylord Sports Association, in observance of National Rehabilitation Awareness Month.
Gaylord Sports Association empowers people with permanent physical or visual impairments to “get back into the game of life.” What started as a basketball clinic in the Gaylord Hospital parking lot three decades ago has grown into Connecticut’s largest adaptive sports program.
The Gaylord Sports Association offers 17 different sports and recreation opportunities to thousands of adults with permanent physical and/or visual impairments in our state and beyond. Programs are offered for free or for a minimal registration fee. Participants do not have to have been a patient in Gaylord’s system, although all Gaylord Hospital patients recovering from life-altering illness or injury receive information about the program during their hospitalization.
Adaptive sports give people back more than movement … they restore confidence, purpose, quality of life, connection with others, and offer myriad long-term health benefits. It is just as intense and competitive as regular sports, and participants find the same drive and teamwork. Adaptive sport opportunities help people discover their abilities and enable participants to return to a sport they once loved, or find a new sport to connect with.
Opportunities include adaptive kayaking, waterskiing, rock climbing, cycling, archery, boccia, golf, pickleball, skiing, snowboarding, virtual boxing, yoga, Exercise for Life (high-intensity circuit training), and veterans-only programming like fishing and bowling for those with physical disabilities and/or PTSD.
Competitive team sports include Gaylord paratriathlon team, Gaylord Warrior wheelchair rugby, Gaylord Hornets Wheelchair tennis, and the nationally recognized Gaylord Wolfpack – 2023 National Sled Hockey Championship winners! In 2025, four team members played for Team USA and brought home international gold!
Sports can be adapted to one’s specific abilities. Can’t pull an archery bow with your hands? There’s a mouth tab for that. Legally blind? Someone will guide you to line up your shot. We “Think Possible” to make it happen. Said one adaptive athlete, “The Sports Association improved my mind, body, and spirit … and gave me back my quality of life!”
(This program information was submitted by Gaylord Specialty Healthcare for consideration for Connecticut’s Hospital Community Service Award. Opportunities to submit programs for future award consideration will be shared in the coming weeks.)
*Connecticut hospitals and health systems are constantly developing and implementing innovative, collaborative approaches to care to meet the evolving needs of their patients and communities. Through the Hospital Spotlight Series, CHA will showcase initiatives that are transforming care delivery, advancing health equity, and elevating the world-class, high-quality care for which Connecticut is known. Each spotlight offers a closer look at one of the countless programs underway across the state.
