Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991 TAG: 9104030285
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Sports Jamboree
The Old Dominion Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America will have its Virginia Sports Jamboree May 11 at Camp Virginia Jaycee in Blue Ridge.
The event is for youngsters who are blind and/or in wheelchairs. Age range is 12 to 20, but older people with those disabilities also may participate.
Activities will include wheelchair races, softball throw, basketball games, archery, horseshoes and Frisbee, said Linda Dudley of the Telephone Pioneers.
A softball game for the blind will be held sometime in May, Dudley said.
For more information about these activities, call her at 982-4442 during working hours or 890-2641 evenings and weekends.
Fishing
During National Fishing Week, the Jefferson National Forest will offer fishing for disabled people of any age June 4 at the Pines Campground in Craig CCounty.
The campground is bordered by the Barbours Creek trout stream.
Some fishing equipment will be available, but participants are asked to bring their own, if possible. The activity will be from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
For information, call Paul Paradzinski at 864-5195.
Disabled children between the ages of 6 and 12 may participate in Kids' Fishing Day at Bear Tree Lake of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area May 25 from 7 to 11:30 a.m.
Two docks will be availble for the use of children with disabilities, and some of the area's trails are negotiable by the disabled, as well. The event is open to all children, whether disabled or not.
For information call Cecil Thomas at 783-5196.
Another Kids' Fishing Day will be held June 1 at Bark Camp Lake in the Clinch Ranger District of Southwest Virginia. It is open to all children. For information, call Greg Towers at 328-2931.
Blind bowlers league
The blind bowlers league in Roanoke meets Tuesday nights at 7 at Viking lanes. Each team consists of at least one blind person, one sighted and the the rest may be mixed, said Dennis Helms, the league president.
The season concludes at the end of April.
For information call Debbie or Dennis Helms at 857-7122 or 345-6873.
Special Olympics
Area 8 of the Virginia Special Olympics offers sports training and competition for the mentally retarded. The program offers bowling, basketball, gymnastics, softball, track and field, swimming, volleyball, soccer, roller skating, ice skating, skiing and equestrian competitions.
The age 21-and-younger bowling competition will be April 26 at Vinton Bowling Center, said Ethel Holdren, the area coordinator.
The Special Olympics telephone number is 342-2651.
Wheelchair basketball
The Star City Saints wheelchair basketball team will give tryouts to any disabled adults who would like to play, said team member Jerry Richardson.
The team plays 20 to 30 games from October to February against teams from Maryland and Virginia. It also has participated in international competition in Toronto.
Practice will resume the second week of June, Richardson said.
His daytime number is 985-8770.
Challenger baseball/
District 12 of Little League baseball will again offer its Challenger program for the disabled, said Willis Waldron, the district administrator.
It's a buddy-system baseball league for the physically, mentally and visually handicapped ages 6 to 18.
Last year, two teams - one in Cave Spring and one in Salem - participated. District 12 covers Covington, Clifton Forge, Waynesboro, Bath County, Cave Spring American and National Glenvar and Salem Little Leagues.
Last year, 18 youngsters played six games in the summer and six in the fall. They used a batting tee and a soft-coated ball. For more information, call Walrond at 389-8797.
Other programs
The Roanoke City parks and recreation department tries to make its general offerings accessible to the disabled whenever possible, said Gary Fenton, the department manager.
The city contributes money and the use of some facilities to Roanoke County's Therapeutic Recreation Services, and expects to offer its own programs at some point in the future.
Salem's parks and recreation department is a co-sponsor of the disabled Little League team, said director Charlie Hammersley. The department is studying the possibility of a handicapped playground for Longwood Park.
Roanoke County's Therapeutic Recreation Services has a wide array of activities for the developmentally disabled, visually impaired and for people with other disabilities. Current offerings include water aerobics and archery for the developmentally disabled and a low ropes course for the visually impaired.
Betsy Dennis supervises the program. Information is available from 387-6089 or 387-6065.
by CNB