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38 / MARCH.APRIL.2021 USICERINKS.COM PHOTOS: U.S. FIGURE SKATING REAL PROGRAMS Adaptive Skating head to Russia for the World Games in 2022. When asked about why she loves skating, her response is always, "It makes me feel free." Grace's life, that of her family and mine will forever connected and altered for the better, and that is the power of skating. The Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club started its Adaptive Skating programs soon after Grace entered our lives. As a club, we realized we wanted to do more and reach further into our local community. We launched two programs: an Adaptive Skating class and a Special Olympics competitive team. Since implementing the program, we have averaged 20 skaters in a class and have 10-12 Special Olympics athletes who compete regularly. These programs have not only brought more skaters through our doors but have really made a positive impact on our club, its members and our rink. Why Adaptive Skating? The greatest benefit of any new skat- ing program is bringing more people into your rink. Ideally, more customers mean more revenue. Sometimes Adaptive Programs don't bring big money, but you expose more people to what you have to offer. Family members of Adaptive skaters will be interested in joining learn to skate classes and word of mouth will reach a larger population. The interest will give you the potential to increase membership and next-step programming that will contribute to club and rink revenue, including private les- sons, synchronized skating teams, hockey programs, and more. Adaptive programming gives you the opportunity to network with community organizations you never had the chance to reach before, like veterans' organizations and your local Special Olympics chapter. The community outreach increases your presence in the area, but more impor- tantly, provides club members a feeling of pride and philanthropy. Along with all the physical benefits any sport provides its athletes, we have found the more profound benefits of Adaptive Skating are social and emotional. At our program, one parent has said that her daughter, who competes with Special Olympics, is no longer the "special needs" girl at school but now is known as the special girl who gets to compete all over. Another parent reported that her son is managing better at school since he started skating as he has gained more spatial awareness, allowing him to navigate the busy hallways at school that he struggled with before. These stories are the reason I am so passionate about adaptive skating. Every great program starts with an idea. One theme I hope you will take away is that creativity is king. With Adaptive Skating, there really is no "one size fits all" here. As you start to craft your idea of an Adaptive Skating program for your facility, you will need support from your staff, the community and your club or rink. How to Start an Adaptive Program Here are some things you will want to consider with your support systems: 1) When will you hold your class? Will it be a weekly class or a short-term, limited offering? Will it be seasonal or year-round? Keep in mind some of your skaters may have sensitivity to noise or light so you may want to find a quieter ADAPTIVE PROGRAMMING GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS YOU NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO REACH BEFORE, LIKE VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS AND YOUR LOCAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS CHAPTER. , Reaching into the Adaptive community opens new doors for ice arenas.