The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation has developed the CHAMPS program, a community-based adaptive sports program for children ages 6 to 20. The program operates in coordination with the U.S. Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association and provides children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in athletic and recreational events. Its overall purpose is to provide both individual sports training and competitive opportunities for athletes with cerebral palsy and other related challenges such as traumatic brain injuries and strokes.

Sports and recreation offer many physical, psychological, and rehabilitative benefits, including:

• improved balance and coordination
• increased endurance and strengthening
• refined fine and gross motor skills
• improved performance in schoolwork
• enhanced social skills and relations with peers
• increased self esteem

The U.S. Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association is one of five national disabled sports organizations offering competitions at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Previously, the group did not offer a chapter in Northeastern Ohio. Our program now represents the Cleveland-area chapter.

Staffed by physicians and therapists, CHAMPS program training sessions are held at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood (26001 South Woodland, 216/831-0700) from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month. Each session consists of stretching drills and rotating choices of sports.

For more information, contact the CHAMPS phone line at (216) 721-7158.

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