Bend’s reputation as an outdoor paradise is justly deserved, with rivers and lakes to paddle and mountains to ski, hike and bike — and thanks to Oregon Adaptive Sports (OAS), visitors with disabilities have a great resource to access the bounty of outdoor adventures. The Bend-based nonprofit was founded in 1996 as an adaptive skiing program and has since grown to become a year-round resource creating access to outdoor recreation experiences for individuals with disabilities to get outside along with their friends and families.
The summer program, which operates from late May to early September, currently includes four primary sports for youth and adults: road cycling, gravel riding, mountain biking and golf. Paddling sessions are offered sparsely through the summer, so don’t miss an opportunity when it comes up. Registration for these programs opens in early May. There are many ways to participate with OAS including private mountain bike lessons, Crank Camps, community golf outings and area events listed on the OAS events page.
OAS is equipped to accommodate a full range of populations, including those with physical disabilities ranging from spinal cord injuries, amputees, stroke victims and individuals with visual impairments, to those with developmental disabilities including ADD/ADHD, autism and youth with learning disabilities. OAS works to keep costs low for private and group sessions, and also offers scholarships to qualifying participants. The costs include gear, instruction and optional transportation from the OAS offices. As a nonprofit, OAS is inviting both new and returning volunteers to summer programming; visit the volunteer page for more information.
Golf, Cycling and Gravel Biking for All
Community Programs (at no cost to participants) were created as a space for everyone to enjoy the outdoors together, so participants are encouraged to bring along friends and family. OAS provides adaptive equipment for road cycling, gravel rides and golf, as well as accessible transportation to trailheads (for most gravel rides). Participants can experience the Deschutes Forest on a Community Gravel Ride, join a Summer Cycling Series at Pine Nursery Park or enjoy a Community Golf Session in the summer.
Custom Adventures for All
Participants can also choose to book custom mountain bike or trail ride adventures that can accommodate friends and family as a fun, inclusive introduction to the sport. These participants are partnered with trained staff and volunteers as well as the right equipment. “They can develop and learn the skills and hopefully incorporate that into their everyday life, allowing individuals of all abilities to engage in the outdoor community,” says OAS executive director Pat Addabbo.
Accessible Trails for All
The OAS gear room is stocked with a variety of road and mountain bikes for adults and youth including tandem bikes, recumbent bikes and hand cycles, which the group uses to get out on the scenic roads and bike paths. OAS continually communicates with Central Oregon Trail Alliance to identify the ideal dirt trails that best accommodate these bikes. There are dozens of forested trails that the group regularly rides.
Inclusive Experiences for All
The end goal, Addabbo says, is for participants to come to OAS and learn the ropes, then be able to participate independently in the community or with their family or friends. The best example of this evolution is the adaptive teams competing in the Pole Pedal Paddle, an iconic annual Bend event. The adaptive category was started a number of years ago by an OAS board member. Addabbo shares, “To us it’s a great example and success of our mission of providing life changing outdoor experiences to people with disabilities.” A majority of the adaptive athletes that competed tried a sport for the first time or improved skills through OAS.
“Our vision is a day when everyone regardless of ability has access to outdoor recreation,” Addabbo continues. “By having adaptive athletes compete in the Pole Pedal Paddle right alongside 3,000 other athletes is the perfect example.”
Beyond OAS, Bend has many other characteristics that make it a great travel destination for special needs visitors including newer wheelchair-friendly hotels and the almost year-round accessibility of the river trail. Bend Park & Recreation District also maintains a listing of all accessible parks and trails in the city including the new Riley Ranch Nature Preserve.
