TAASC Miami Valley upcoming events
June 11: Adaptive kayaking volunteer training, Eastwood Blue Lake, 6-8 p.m.
June 18: Kayaking, Wright State University Student Union pool, 6-8 p.m.
June 25: Adaptive climbing, Wright State University outdoor climbing wall, 6-8 p.m.
June 28: Kayaking and adaptive cycling, Eastwood Lake Park Lagoon, 1-4 p.m.
July 2, 9, 23, 30: Climbing, WSU outdoor climbing wall, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 6: Kayaking, WSU pool, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 13, 20: Climbing, WSU outdoor climbing wall, 6-8 p.m.
Aug. 23: Paddle Peddle Picnic, Eastwood Lake Park Lagoon, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Aug. 27: Climbing, WSU outdoor climbing wall, 6-8 p.m.
* For additional information, to volunteer or to register for TAASC Miami Valley events, contact John Boyko at john.boyko@khnetwork.org or visit the TAASC website at www.taasc.org/.
For Elizabeth and Jerry Burns, the focus is not on limitations, it’s on possibilities.
Their son Jesse, now 4, was born with schizencephaly, a rare developmental birth defect characterized by abnormal slits, or clefts, in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. He is considered a spastic quadriplegic, meaning his condition affects all four limbs, although he has partial use of one arm. Elizabeth describes him as “nonverbal but very vocal.”
“It used to be hard to come up with things we could all do together, but we have been able to do that with the help of TAASC,” Elizabeth said. “Now, it’s not about having to say, ‘Jesse can’t do that,’ it’s about finding a way to help Jesse do it.”
TAASC Miami Valley, which was established in 2013 by John Boyko, a physical therapist at Kettering Rehabilitation Medicine, is the local chapter of The Adaptive Adventure Sports Coalition (TAASC). Boyko, now 46, has cerebral palsy, the result of a bout with viral encephalitis when he was just 6 weeks old. But the Franklin resident has always been determined not to let his disability define him.
“I was the kid who was always doing way more than my physical therapists at the time were comfortable with me doing,” Boyko said. “They’d say, ‘you can’t ride a bike’ and I’d say ‘watch me.’ “
Boyko’s desire to bring TAASC to the Dayton area stemmed from his wish to connect individuals who have disabilities with volunteers and community organizations through adventure sports. And if the smile on Jesse’s face on his first kayak ride was any indication, that effort has been a success.
“TAASC’s big goal is to figure out ways families can do activities together,” Elizabeth said. “It’s about forgetting about the barriers.”
In its second year, TAASC Miami Valley is ramping up its efforts to make outdoor adventure a possibility for more people with a full slate of events and activities this summer.
A community effort
While Boyko was a driving force behind TAASC establishing a foothold in the Miami Valley, he is the first to share the credit for the organization’s success.
“It has met and exceeded my expectations, but that is due, in large part, to the dedicated volunteers and our steering committee,” he said.
From the beginning, the organization has formed partnerships with local entities such as Five Rivers MetroParks and the Adaptive Recreation Program at Wright State University to get experts on board. TAASC Miami Valley also benefits from the expertise and enthusiasm of volunteers from the University of Dayton physical therapy program.
“Our instructors work in healthcare or are experts in their field,” Boyko said. “And out volunteers all undergo training because safety is a priority.”
Participants in the kayaking program, for example, can ease into open water after completing their first session in the Wright State University Student Union pool. One of the first things participants will learn, in fact, is how to fall out of the kayak.
“My first time out at Eastwood Lake, I realized how intimidating open water can be,” Boyko said. “So this program is very helpful.”
A world of opportunities
For Boyko, there is no greater joy that seeing the smiles on the faces of the young participants and their families.
“It’s like you see the switch go on,” he said. “Parents go from dealing with a child with impairments to being engaged in the life of a child who has an impairment. It is so cool to be a part of that.”
TAASC programs, however, are not just for kids. They are open to all ages and ability levels from a child with cerebral palsy to a veteran who lost a limb during deployment.
“Everybody with a disability is welcome to come out and be a part of it,” Boyko said.
In addition to the kayaking program, TAASC will also hold regularly scheduled adaptive climbing sessions at Wright State University’s outdoor climbing wall this summer. Adaptive cycling will also be available at several of the kayaking events.
Later this year, TAASC will likely be a part of the inaugural Access Games and will again have a presence at the Midwest Outdoor Experience.
For the Burns family, which also includes 7-year-old daughter Emily, the events have brought them even closer together.
“I love that the focus is on what we can all do together,” Elizabeth said. “It’s very exciting.”
About the Author