Wheelchair basketball event, plus food truck rally, will highlight inclusion

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Individuals who are able bodied and those with disabilities will pit their skills against each other during the third annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Wheelchair Basketball Game, to be held Oct. 4 at the Wright-Field Fitness Center, Area B from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. The event will include a food truck rally hosted by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.


The game is being held as the kick-off in observance of October as the 72nd National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Reflecting the important role disability plays in workforce diversity, this year’s NDEAM theme is “Inclusion Drives Innovation.”


NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of their skills and talents.

To celebrate this, gameplay will begin at 11:15 a.m. There will be two games consisting of four, eight-minute periods each. Extra wheelchairs will be provided by the Wright State University Adaptive Recreation Program. Those who tire can tap out to be replaced.


The event is being supported by the 88th Air Base Wing and 88th Force Support Squadron.


Jana Wormuth, program analyst, 88 ABW Strategic Plans and Programs and an NDEAM committee member at Wright-Patterson AFB, said volunteer participants are needed and spectators are encouraged to attend. Prospective participants may simply show up.


“We want everyone to know that being in a wheelchair isn’t as easy as people may think,” Wormuth said. “Especially trying to shoot a basketball, you don’t realize how much of your body is used for shooting. When you are sitting, you don’t have the leg thrust; you don’t have as much of the upper-body follow-through. It’s quite a challenge in having to push the wheelchair and bounce the basketball at the same time.”


All military and civilian employees may participate and/or attend with the use of physical fitness time, designated lunch period, and/or charge to annual leave with supervisory approval, pending mission requirements. Contractors should refer to their contract for approval to attend.


“In many ways, people with disabilities are just like anyone else and contribute to the mission. But they do experience challenges in their professional and personal life that able-bodied people do not,” she said. “The different events we will be hosting this month are designed to bring about awareness, issues and accommodations that people might not think about if they don’t have to deal with a disability on a regular basis.”


For more information, contact Wormuth at jana.wormuth@us.af.mil.