A program called “Gliding Stars” has been making figure skating accessible to people with physical, mental or emotional challenges since 1994. Started in Buffalo, New York, the program now operates in cities in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
A ritual is performed by Gliding Stars students each time they go on the ice. Each skater is escorted by one or two volunteers as they form a straight line in the center of the rink. Some can stand independently; some require walkers or arm braces. When the skating instructor gives the cue, they chant: “Can we skate? Yes we can!”
This spirit is shared by all gliding student stars, including Bryson Sparrin, a 6-year-old boy with cerebral palsy. Getting on the ice and skating, Bryson is able to feel like other boys his age. Using a sliding walker created out of plastic pipes, he is pushed along by his older sister, smiling the entire time.
Skating provides multiple benefits of disabled children. Physically, it helps strengthen muscles and improve stability. Children who are otherwise confined to wheelchairs or have limited ability to walk get a sense of freedom they could not otherwise achieve. Emotionally, they get to make friends through the program, boosting their self-esteem.
Children like Bryson get a lot out of the Gliding Stars program. We hope it continues to expand, offering its services to more children throughout the country.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs, LLP – cerebral palsy attorneys