Most of the content of these pages was authored by physical therapy graduate students enrolled in PT 735- Interventions in Neuromuscular Therapeutics: Advances in Spinal Cord Injury Management, a course taught in the Department of Physical Therapy at Northern Arizona University.
International Disabled Self Defense Association
The International Disabled Self Defense Association (IDSA) website includes information on programs, support, services and products for martial artists who are disabled and for those who are able-bodied. There is also information of interest to rehabilitation professionals, agencies that offer support to persons with disabilities and teachers of martial arts. The founder of IDSA, Master J Schmidt, practices martial arts using a wheelchair for mobility. There is extensive information regarding seminars, training facility locations, and training videotapes for purchase.
This particular page includes links to other sites about sports for persons with disabilities. There are a few links to martial arts sites, especially judo. Disability Resources.org is a nonprofit organization that monitors, reviews, and reports on information about legal rights, financial resources, assistive technology, employment opportunities, housing modifications, childrearing and educational options, transportation and mobility services, and more. This information is available from a wide variety of resources - nonprofit organizations, government agencies, books, pamphlets, magazines, videotapes, and online - often at little or no cost. Finding it, however, isn't always so easy. This organization disseminates information to libraries, disability organizations, health and social service professionals, consumers and family members.
National Handicap-able Martial Arts Association
According to this organization's website," the mission of the National Handicapable Martial Arts Association is to unify all American Martial Arts in a spirit of mutual respect and purpose, and providing outstanding services to all Martial Arts schools, organizations, and participants. These services include: Fair promotion systems with clearly stated rank requirements for all ranks; the development of superior materials for the teaching of moral values and character development." In addition, this group is working to present some guidelines instructors may adopt into their systems to allow handicapable martial artists to reach goals that they have set for themselves. Also, this group is gathering and producing information on the Martial Arts for the Handicapped and other organizations working with these martial artists.
E-Mail Anne Hart
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