It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. No where is this more true than the of our athletes with disabilities who experience the joy in mobility, discover their independence and develop a sense of belonging.

Let us share with you a few of memorable moments in time of the programs and events we created that reflect the growing opportunities and inclusion of people who not only live with a disability, but thrive in spite of it.

ABILITY FESTIVAL

2012
Mobility Madness introduced adaptive sports to our Coachella Valley children and their families in 2012. The support of the So Cal Coyotes, Indio Teen Center youth and volunteer adaptive coaches launched an event that would raise awareness of adaptive sports and create an annual event that would grow beyond our expectations.

2013-2017
Mobility Madness moved to the Palm Desert Civic Center Park in 2013 and was renamed the DisAbility Sports Festival. Sports options would increase the number of adaptive sports and recreational activities to more than twenty five. Paralympian coaches from Southern and Central California as well as Nevada volunteered their time and expertise to these festivals.

2018 Ability Festival
In an effort to promote a more positive image of adaptive sports and disability, DAC “Ditched the Dis” and renamed the DisAbility Sports Festival the Ability Festival. To this end greater inclusion of students without disabilities was encouraged to reduce the stigma and increase understanding about the abilities of people with disabilities.

Through a program we called the Adaptive Sports Experience more than 100 youth and community volunteers would come each year to the Ability Festival and other events to play alongside their peers with disabilities.

2019 Ability Festival

TOUR DE PALM SPRINGS

DAC was built on creating cycling opportunities for people with disabilities. Four amputees rode in the Tour de Palm Springs in our first ever ride. Today more than 200 riders with disabilities participate in the Tour each year.

Connecting our children and adults with disabilities to their community is critical to instilling a sense of inclusion. Thus began a decade long program of promoting the inclusion of multiple disability-focused organizations in existing community events such as the Tour de Palm Springs.