From the backyard to the ISF

Many people who come to know Adaptive Sports Iowa wondered how an able-bodied athlete came start an organization dedicated to individuals with physical disabilities. For Mike Boone, the Director of Adaptive Sports Iowa, it started in his backyard as a child. It began with a beeping soccer ball and his visually impaired father. Mike's dad was blind as a result from Type-I diabetes and had to learn how to navigate life as an adult with a physical disability prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

While in college at Fort Lewis in Durango, Colorado Mike was able to volunteer as a ski instructor for the Adaptive Sports Association. This was the first exposure to adaptive sports he had since that beeping soccer ball and there would be no turning back. He packed in as many volunteer hours as possible and tried to learn as much as he could about adaptive sports.

Fast forward a few years - Mike has his Master's Degree from Drake and a little more work experience. Yet he hadn't been able to find a job that really made him happy. He had a desire to work in Adaptive Sports but no on in Iowa had an organization dedicated full time to sports for people with physical disabilities. That's when it hit him - if not one had an organization like that then there was a need to start one. With the help of his wife, Mike developed a business plan for Adaptive Sports Iowa and began networking with various business leaders in the Des Moines metro area.

This networking lead to the leadership of the Iowa Sports Foundation (ISF). When looking at the mission statement of the ISF and Adaptive Sports Iowa, it was clear they should be working together. Beginning in December of 2010, Mike became the director of Adaptive Sports Iowa for the ISF.

Since that time, Adaptive Sports Iowa has brought competitive wheelchair sports to the Iowa Games and has operated the first ever adaptive ski clinic in the state. You can also find the Adaptive Sports Iowa RAGBRAI team training on a regular basis for the week-long ride across the state.

Adaptive Sports Iowa is proud of have started as a backyard game and excited to be powered by the ISF.  We look forward to bring more groundbreaking programs to the state of Iowa.