Inch by inch, participants pull themselves to the top of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 adaptive-climbing rock tower, ascending high above their wheelchairs and achieving new heights that others sometimes think they can 麻豆精品 S檛 reach.
麻豆精品 S淚t feels like a bit of freedom, 麻豆精品 S� said Katherine Torres, a student majoring in health services administration who has a muscle weakness that doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 allow her to stand or walk. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檝e always been one to challenge myself. And when a lot of people say I can 麻豆精品 S檛 do something 麻豆精品 S� just watch. I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what to expect, but when I got half way there I thought to myself 麻豆精品 S業 麻豆精品 S檓 going to keep on going. I can do this. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S�
Some other universities in Florida offer rock climbing to their students, but UCF is the only one to have an adaptive climbing wall, giving students with limited mobility a chance to climb, said Nathan Vink, assistant director of UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Outdoor Adventure program.
This summer the Recreation and Wellness Center provided special training to eight staffers to jump-start its new adaptive-climbing program.
麻豆精品 S淭his is a growing focus in recreation 麻豆精品 S� to look beyond the able-bodied student and offer opportunities to all students, whether with physical or mental disabilities, 麻豆精品 S� Vink said about the campus Student Assisted Workout program. 麻豆精品 S淥ur goals are also to try to reach the students who aren 麻豆精品 S檛 here yet, to open up opportunities. We have students who don 麻豆精品 S檛 have the same abilities, but they do have abilities. 麻豆精品 S�
The adaptive-climbing program empowers students, whether beginners or experienced, to reach their potential on the 41-foot tower.
麻豆精品 S淭hey challenge themselves. They set their own goals, 麻豆精品 S� Vink said. 麻豆精品 S淲e don 麻豆精品 S檛 tell them they have to reach the top. We 麻豆精品 S檙e supportive of what they want to achieve. 麻豆精品 S�
The center trained staffers in the techniques of harnessing climbers in the equipment and controlling the safety ropes as the participants ascend. The climbers use a handlebar-style device that grips a rope and slowly ratchets them upwards as they repeatedly pull downward on the bar.
The ratchet system requires a quarter of the strength that other climbers would need to ascend the rope. There are different seat harnesses with various strapping and padding to help with pressure issues, and participants with prosthetic limbs can use the equipment in a way to help propel them up the rock face.
Torres, who also works in the Recreation and Wellness Center, said she heard about the campus climbing tower two years ago when she was a freshman, and has long wished she could somehow try to scale it 麻豆精品 S� even if the prospect of ascending the tower was a little intimidating. And now with the staffers on duty to help, she has made the trip up twice.
Kristen Cioce, who uses a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, was hesitant at first to try the tower, but said she went up to fulfill a promise to one of her physical trainers 麻豆精品 S� and it was an exhilarating experience that she 麻豆精品 S檇 do again if the opportunity came up.
麻豆精品 S淚t was not something I was looking forward to doing. At first it was something I was trying to get out of, 麻豆精品 S� said Cioce, who graduated last month with a master’s degree in social work. 麻豆精品 S淏ut it 麻豆精品 S檚 an amazing opportunity that UCF offers.”
Vink said the staffers also talk with the climbers to allay any fears about heights or falling. And as the climbers ascend, staffers 麻豆精品 S渂elay 麻豆精品 S� the safety ropes 麻豆精品 S� or take up the slack to prevent slips.
麻豆精品 S淓very student is unique, 麻豆精品 S� he said. 麻豆精品 S淲e just try to see how we can help them. 麻豆精品 S�
Three students used the system during the summer, and now that the fall semester has started, Vink expects others to check out the adaptive-climbing experience.
What advice do the veteran climbers have for others?
麻豆精品 S淚 highly recommend it to any student who has inabilities, 麻豆精品 S� Cioce said. 麻豆精品 S淛ust follow your gut if you 麻豆精品 S檙e being led to do it. You don 麻豆精品 S檛 have to get to the top. 麻豆精品 S�
And while聽people in wheelchairs usually feel smaller than others, Torres said, “This is a time to feel bigger than everyone. You can have a different perspective. 麻豆精品 S�
For more information about the climbing program or to schedule a climb, visit http://rwc.sdes.ucf.edu/facilities/climbing-tower.