Essentials of Volunteer Training for Adaptive Sports and Recreation (EVoTAS)

Program Overview

Adaptive Sports and Recreation provide people with disabilities opportunities to exercise and participate in their communities. Although community-based Adaptive Sports programs nationwide are typically managed by qualified personnel with expertise in this area, these events often depend upon and recruit volunteers and staff who do not have any prior formal training.

Intended Audience

This program is open to anyone interested in learning more about disability or volunteering at adaptive sports events.

Start Date(s) and Duration

Participants can start this program at any time. 

This 75-minute course covers the fundamentals of disability and basic awareness across a range of adaptive sports and recreation equipment for the non-healthcare professional.

There are three independent sections, each 20-30 minutes in length.

Cost

This course is free.

Type of Certificate Offered

People who complete the EVoTAS course will receive a certificate of completion signifying that they have achieved a basic understanding of principles expected of an adaptive sports and recreation event volunteer.

Course Goals

At the conclusion of this online course, participants will have:

• Increased awareness of proper etiquette when interacting with people who have disabilities.
• Basic knowledge of common Assistive Technologies and other devices people with disabilities use in everyday activities and for participation in adaptive sports and recreation.
• Basic understanding of common functional and medical conditions that people who participate in adaptive sports and recreational activities may have.

Participant Expectations and Components

This course is taught at a beginner level, requires no prior experience, and is not intended to make course graduates experts in this field; rather, it provides some helpful information to volunteers prior to their engagement in adaptive sports and recreation activities and events. This course provides instructive examples using adult clients, but these concepts can often be applied to participants of all ages.

Course Sections:

1. Disability Etiquette
   • Helps participants recognize common mistakes and will familiarize them with appropriate language and etiquette when interacting with people with disabilities.
2. Adaptive Sports & Medical Equipment
   • Introduces participants to specific equipment that individuals will use in their everyday lives and when engaging in specific adaptive sporting events.
3. Functional & Medical Aspects of Disability
   • Introduces basic medical concepts and functional considerations pertinent to people with disabilities who participate in adaptive sports and recreation.

Featured Instructors

Instructor	Name and Information
	Mark R. Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, AT
	Justin Z. Laferrier PT, PhD, OCS, SCS, ATP, CSCS, AIB-VR is an Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Rhode Island where his academic focus and expertise is in biomechanics, amputation and polytrauma rehabilitation, adaptive sport, and rehabilitation engineering. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedics and Sports from the APTA, and a Certified Assistive Technology Professional from the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA).
	Vince Schiappa, MS, ATP is the clinic manager at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Center for Assistive Technology (CAT). He earned his MS in rehabilitation technology from the University of Pittsburgh and is involved in both research and clinical care for assistive technology users.

Contact Information and Additional Details
For questions or additional information, please contact Karl Kemmerer at kak216@pitt.edu.

The Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology at the University of Pittsburgh received a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of National Veterans Sports Programs & Special Events (NVSP&SE), Funding Opportunity Number VA-SPORTS-19 to develop this online course.