Thursday, April 25
11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Conference registration
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel lobby
Friday, April 26
All activities take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel unless otherwise noted
8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Conference registration
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel lobby
7:45 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
VA National Adaptive Sport Training Conference (Invitation only)
U.S. Olympic Training Center
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Paralympic Sport Club working session (Invitation only)
Park/Pueblo/Teller Rooms
6:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Conference opening
Gateway to Gold celebration
Grand Ballroom
Road to Sochi, Russia
Featured speakers
Kevin Jardine, United States Olympic Committee’s high performance director and head coach for Paralympic alpine skiing; Heidi Jo Duce, Paralympic hopeful in snowboard; Tyler Walker, two-time Paralympian and Paralympic hopeful in alpine skiing; John Farra, USOC’s high performance director and head coach for Paralympic Nordic skiing; Sean Halsted, Paralympian and Paralympic hopeful in Nordic skiing; Dan Brennan, U.S. National Sled Hockey Team general manager; Tyler Carron, Paralympic hopeful in sled hockey; and Nikko Landeros, Paralympian and hopeful in sled hockey
Moderated By
Julie O’Neill, Team Leader of Sport Performance, United States Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Athletes and coaches from the Paralympic sports of alpine skiing, Nordic skiing (biathlon and cross country) and sled hockey share their personal experiences as they prepare for the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, March 7-16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia.
Saturday, April 27
All activities take place at the Olympic Training Center unless otherwise noted
6:45 a.m.-7 a.m.
Bus transportation
DoubleTree by Hilton to U.S. Olympic Training Center
Last bus leaves at 7 a.m.
7:15 a.m.-8 a.m.
Breakfast
Gym 9, Sports Center II
8 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Opening remarks and general session
Gym 8, Sports Center II
“My Next Step” An Extraordinary Journey of Healing and Hope
Featured speaker
Dave Liniger, RE/MAX co-founder and chairman
Long-time Paralympic supporter Dave Liniger spent much of 2012 recovering from a life-threatening infection that surfaced in late January. After multiple surgeries, weeks in intensive care and months in the hospital, he overcame fears and doubts of his darkest days to return to the headquarters of RE/MAX, the company he co-founded along with his wife Gail. It is a timeless story of challenge, family friendship, resolve and attitude. In telling his story, he provides hope and inspiration for anyone experiencing life’s difficult moments.
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Hitting the Bullseye: Putting Together an Archery Program
Gym 1, Sports Center 1
Presenters: Randi Smith, USA Archery; Steve Bosson, archer
Biathlon for Blind and Visually Impaired Athletes
Gym 2, Sports Center 1
Presenter: Ryan Ortiz, U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
Boccia: A Sport for All Abilities
Gym 6, Sports Center 1
Presenter: Jeff Jones, BlazeSports America
Strength and Conditioning: Pushing All Athletes to the Limit
Gym 7, Sports Center II
Presenter: Heather Pennington, Lindenwood University/Limit Free Training
Classification 101 – Paralympic Classification at the Grassroots Level
West Wing Conference Center
Presenter: Julie O’Neill, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Trikes, Bikes and More: The Right Cycles and Accessories for Your Cycling Program
Ray B. Essick Conference Room
Presenter: Greg Milano, Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program
Expanding Sport Opportunities for Student Athletes – Athletes with Disabilities in NCAA Member Institutions
Visitor Center Theatre
Presenters: Chris Ruckdaschel, National Collegiate Athletic Association; Erin Popovich, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics; Troy Engle, U.S. Military Academy at West Point; Mike Mushett, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Leadership Development through Paralympic School Days: Advocacy and Action
President’s Conference Room
Presenter: Cathy McKay, Horace Mann School
Deloitte Technical Assistance – Grants and Strategic Planning
Gold Room
Presenter: Chuck Steele, Deloitte Consulting
11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Hitting the Bullseye: Putting Together an Archery Program
Gym 1, Sports Center 1
Presenters: Randi Smith, USA Archery; Steve Bosson, archer
Biathlon for Blind and Visually Impaired Athletes
Gym 2, Sports Center 1
Presenter: Ryan Ortiz, U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
Boccia: A Sport for All Abilities
Gym 6, Sports Center 1
Presenter: Jeff Jones, BlazeSports America
Strength and Conditioning: Pushing All Athletes to the Limit
Gym 7, Sports Center II
Presenter: Heather Pennington, Lindenwood University/Limit Free Training
Classification 201: How a Better Understanding of the Classification Process and Data can Bring Greater Success to your Athletes
West Wing Conference Center
Presenter: Julie O’Neill, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
The Track and Field Pipeline
Ray B. Essick Conference Room
Cathy Sellers, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
The Naval Center for Combat and Operation Stress Control Program: What is it and Why is it Important?
Visitor Center Theatre
Presenter: U.S. Navy Capt. Scott Johnston, Naval Center for Combat & Operational Stress Control
Developing Adaptive Sports Programming in an Under-Represented State
President’s Conference Room
Presenter: Jeff Burley, Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation
1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Lunch
Gym 9, Sports Center II
2:45 p.m.-4 p.m.
Research and Coaching Application for Seated Shot Put Paralympians
Gym 6, Sports Center 1
Presenters: Ron Davis and Sang Woo Lee, Texas Woman’s University; Cathy Sellers, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Wheelchair Tennis: One of the World’s Fastest Growing Wheelchair Sports!
Gym 7, Sport Center II
Presenters: Sharon Kelleher, Riekes Center for Human Enhancement; Dan James, United States Tennis Association
Becoming a Classifier
West Wing Conference Center
Presenter: Erin Popovich, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Overcoming Fears and Working Together: School Sport Associations, Coaches and Paralympic Sport Clubs
Ray B. Essick Conference Room
Presenters: David Kirk, Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches; Teresa Skinner, Greater Spokane Adaptive Sports
Successful Sitting Volleyball Programming Through Collaboration
Visitor Center Theatre
Presenters: Elliot Blake, USA Volleyball and University of Central Oklahoma; Jenna Hinton, Triangle Volleyball Club; Ashley Thomas, Bridge II Sports; Jennifer Cooper-Weatherford, Armed Forces Services Corporation
Building and Sustaining a Community-Based Sports Program
President’s Conference Room
Presenters: Christine Obusek, Community Rowing, Inc.; Dr. Laura Bajor, VA Boston/Harvard Medical School
Deloitte Technical Assistance – Grants and Strategic Planning
Gold Room
Presenter: Chuck Steele, Deloitte Consulting
4:15 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Research and Coaching Application for Seated Shot Put Paralympians
Gym 6, Sports Center 1
Presenters: Ron Davis and Sang Woo Lee, Texas Woman’s University; Cathy Sellers, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Wheelchair Tennis: One of the World’s Fastest Growing Wheelchair Sports!
Gym 7, Sport Center II
Presenters: Sharon Kelleher, Riekes Center for Human Enhancement
Principles and Myths in Teaching and Leadership Development
West Wing Conference Center
Presenter: John Kessel, USA Volleyball
The Handcycle Athlete: Identify, Introduce and Improve
Ray B. Essick Conference Room
Presenters: Thomas Carr, Craig Hospital; Ian Lawless, U.S. Handcycling; Mike Durner, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
Therapeutic Recreation at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Visitor Center Theatre
Presenters: Cara Navarro and Tiffany Smith, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda
Developing Success: Lessons in Program Management from the Athlete Perspective
President’s Conference Room
Presenter: Kelly Crowley, U.S. Paralympian
Paralympic Sport Club 101 – Q&A
Gold Room
Presenters: Dan Schwieder, Dawna Callahan and Susan Rossi, U.S. Olympic Committee/U.S. Paralympics
5:45 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
Special presentation
Gym 8, Sports Center II
Gateway to Gold: U.S. Sled Hockey – Grassroots Outreach, Coaching Recruitment, Paralympic Success
Featured speakers
Dave Ogrean, USA Hockey executive director; Jeff Sauer, U.S. National Sled Hockey Team head coach; Dan Brennan, U.S. National Sled Hockey Team general manager
Moderated By
Charlie Huebner, Chief of Paralympics, United States Olympic Committee
USA Hockey exemplifies the model of how to grow a sport through grassroots initiatives all the way up to medal-winning national team performances. Topics will include how to connect local clubs to regional programs, provide coaching expertise for player advancement, as well as the sled loaner program. This session will help participants develop their own best practices in the pursuit of Paralympic success.
6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Reception
Gyms 8 & 9, Sports Center II
7:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m.
Transportation from Olympic Training Center to DoubleTree by Hilton
Last bus leaves at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 28
All activities take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel unless otherwise noted
7 a.m.-8 a.m.
Breakfast
Grand Ballroom
8 a.m.-9:15 a.m.
Closing general session
Grand Ballroom
The Gimp Monkeys
Featured speaker
Craig DeMartino
What has four legs, five arms and three heads? The Gimp Monkeys. Craig DeMartino lost his leg after a 100-foot climbing fall. Pete Davis with born without an arm. Bone cancer claimed Jarem Frye's left leg at the age of 14. While the three are linked by what they are missing, it is their shared passion for climbing that pushed them towards an improbable goal: the first all-disabled ascent of Yosemite's iconic El Capitan. There was no cause. No call for awareness. No fundraising. After a screening of the short film The Gimp Monkeys, which chronicles the journey, one of The Gimp Monkeys will lend an insider’s perspective on what it means to be disabled.
9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Eastern Colorado Health Care System Adaptive Cycling Program
Palmer Room
Presenter: Crystal Black, Denver VAMC
Convention and Visitors Bureau: Untapped Partnership Potential
Pikes Peak Room
Presenters: Leigha Pemberton, University of Central Oklahoma; Cathy Williams-White, Edmond Convention and Visitors Bureau
Best Practices for Finding and Writing Successful Grant Proposals
Royal Gorge Room
Presenter: Casey Moore, University of Central Oklahoma
“Variety of Illinois” Partners with Chicago Programs for Paralympic Success
Seven Falls Room
Presenters: Linda Mastandrea, Variety of Illinois; Dan Ferreira, Chicago Park District
Meeting Halfway: Cohesive, Sustainable Programming for the Military and Community
Fountain Creek/Cripple Creek Rooms
Presenter: Jeremy Houskeeper, National Ability Center; Aaron Norgaard, CBWTU-Utah
11:15 a.m.-12:15 a.m.
Helping Athletes Reach the Next Level of Training and Competition
Palmer Room
Presenter: Sharon Kelleher, Riekes Center for Human Enhancement
Exercise Techniques to Reduce Symptoms of TBI, PTSD, Depression and Anxiety
Pikes Peak Room
Presenter: Timothy Dempsey, Riekes Center for Human Enhancement
10 years In the High-Performance Pipeline
Royal Gorge Room
Presenter: Jason Regier, U.S. Paralympian, SpellBynder
Creating an Athlete Safety Program
Seven Falls Room
Presenter: Malia Arrington, U.S. Olympic Committee
Youth Sport and Disability: Applying Theory to Programming Outcomes
Fountain Creek/Cripple Creek Rooms
Presenters: Jennifer Piatt and Mary Wells, Indiana University
12:30 p.m.
Departures