There’s no greater pleasure than watching all the results of her hard work unfold in creating adaptive recreational programs for people with disabilities, Jane Hoffman said.
For Hoffman, the director of UCLA’s Adaptive Recreation Program in the department of recreation and cultural affairs, the pivotal moment of her work occurred while testing out the first kayaking program last year.
“We had about 30 people kayaking,” Hoffman said. “I didn’t see wheelchairs and disabilities, I saw people having fun, and I know how valuable that’s been to me.”
A former volunteer for the United States Adaptive Recreation Center, the Special Olympics, and Casa Calina, Hoffman said she gets the most satisfaction from watching what a little innovation and hard work can do for individuals who have been denied the chance for personal recreation their whole lives.
“They’ve been told their whole lives that they can’t, but now they’re being given the opportunity to participate,” Hoffman said.
The Adaptive Recreation Program, which was founded a little over a year ago, allows individuals with disabilities “from a to z” to safely participate in recreational sports including wheelchair basketball, kayaking and hand cycling.
“There’s now an opportunity for individuals with disabilities to try different things,” said Emanuel Lin, a computer science graduate student who suffers from cerebral palsy.
Lin, who has watched the program develop over the past year, was one of the first individuals with a disability to try hand cycling.
“I think the recreation program is spectacular,” said Jeremy Newman, a T10 paraplegic and member of the board of recreation. “People with disabilities are often seen as an afterthought. Here, we’re a forethought.”
But Newman said UCLA did not always cater to students with disabilities.
He said maneuvering around the big campus in a wheelchair in the past was nothing short of inconvenient, though UCLA quickly took steps to solve the problem after several complaints.
“Going to the campus from the dorms was a big … hassle. However, less than a year went by and an entire new walkway was constructed that went by the dorms to the campus. They’ve addressed and solved all of the problems that we were plagued with,” Newman said.
Other students agree that UCLA’s ability to respond quickly to issues such as accessibility have made it a disability-friendly campus.
“People with disabilities shouldn’t look at the Wooden Center as “˜not working’ as long as you’re willing to experiment,” Lin said.
For Hoffman, experimenting has been one of the key components to the overall success of the program.
Starting with kayaking, Hoffman eliminated the weight of the paddle by fixing it to a bar that connects to a pivot point.
“It basically facilitates paddling with the feet or paddling without the ability to grip,” she said.
In addition, Hoffman pioneered the use of hand cycles, which are paddled with the hands.
“I love it, it’s just such a great exhilarating experience. It’s also really important for everyone to have fun and exercise, no matter if they’re disabled or not,” said Marie Sharp, a doctorate student in epidemiology.
But the costs of funding such a program can add up.
“The program is still in need of funding,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman added that sport wheelchairs, which are required for sports such as wheelchair tennis and basketball, can go for as high as $2,000, and hand cycles can be as much as $3,000 each.
“Any typical student could get a pair of tennis shoes for a hundred dollars, but for a student with a disability to participate is highly unlikely due to the cost,” Hoffman said.
Some sponsors have made generous donations to the organization.
“We have had equipment donations from the Christopher Reeve Foundation, Athletes helping Athletes, and Score,” Hoffman said. “But we’re still always in need of funding.”
The program, which is being funded through grants, still heavily relies on a volunteer base.
“We do wish that more people from UCLA would volunteer and be willing to help with the program,” Lin said.
Hoffman mentioned that the program is open to nondisabled individuals and could also be of assistance to war veterans, the elderly and temporarily disabled persons.
Future plans for the program will include competitive sports such as rugby, wheelchair basketball and tennis.
“Everyone, regardless, should be able to participate,” Hoffman said.