THERA P E U T IC SK AT I N G
STAR skater Alice Jiang gets help from her instructor Alisa Robertson. Skating should be enjoyed by everyone, re-
gardless of any physical or mental challenges in- dividuals may face. Tat’s the attitude of B.L. Wylie, who
founded
SkateTerapy.org as a way to give those with disabilities the chance to skate in a safe and nurturing environment.
SkateTerapy.org is a program that was formed under the umbrella of U.S. Figure Skating’s Terapeutic Skating Pro- gram and curriculum. Wylie, the mother of 1992 Olympic silver
medalist Paul Wylie, has spent her life promot- ing skating at the grassroots level. Her decision to launch
SkateTerapy.org in her native state of Texas was the result of a couple of encounters she had in recent years. A young cancer survivor who had lost her leg to the disease approached Sugar Land Ice and Sports Arena, Wylie’s home rink, looking for ice skating lessons. Unfortunately, there was no pro- gram in place to meet her needs. Tat incident, as well as the memory of her teenage daughter once teaching a blind man how to skate, inspired Wylie to act. From those experiences,
SkateTerapy.org
was born. “Te skaters are able to get out there on the Instructors work together to help a young skater find his feet on the ice.
Coaches provice skaters assistance with their gliding and skating skills.
ice alone with their instructors for 30 minutes, learning how to work with others and grasp a skill no one ever thought they could do before,” Wylie said in a story written by Jessie Chan, an Ice Skate USA student reporter.
Tose individuals with special needs are en-
rolled as STAR (Skate Terapy And Recreation) skaters. Every Saturday, the nonprofit organiza- tion brings this diverse group together, with their ages ranging from 4 to 26, for a fun-filled morn- ing on the ice.
A high-energy, off-ice warm-up gets the skaters loose and ready to move into a 30-minute, on-ice instruction session. Each skater is paired with one or more instructors and has the chance
38 MAY 2013
to learn new skills, develop physical strength and confidence and even try out some hockey moves. “We always begin our off-ice warm-up at
9:18 sharp,”
SkateTerapy.org Behavior Special- ist Barbara Bartusiak said. “Consistency is in- credibly important.” “You’re going into their world,” she add-
ed. “You need to understand and accommodate them. Te connection between the student and instructor is very important.” One of the STAR skaters who is benefitting
greatly from the
SkateTerapy.org program is Al- ice Jiang. Since joining, she has fallen in love with skating, her mother said. Jiang has the rare chromosomal disorder
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