WHEEL WORLD NEWS
June 2018
13
In 2006, I was attending a Phoenix Suns game when I was told by an employee to check out their wheelchair basketball team. They put me in touch with no other than AZSCIA board member Gary Venjohn and I must say I’ll never forget entering the gym for the first time. The first thing I saw upon entering the gym was two athletes collide falling over in their chairs, followed by getting themselves right back up and continuing on to the next play. I’ve been hooked ever since. Through playing basketball I was able to become involved with Ability360 as a member and a coach at their youth sports camps. So when I heard they had an open position I applied for my current role and was thrilled when I was offered to be brought on. I am the Membership Supervisor and Outreach Specialist at the Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center I started my position year a little over 2 years now.
In my current position at Ability360 I manage our outreach which enables me to be put front and center at numerous community events to spread the word about all that we do as well as the resources available to those who need them. In my time here at the Sports & Fitness Center it has been my pleasure to be able to show people with disabilities and their families that there are ample resources in the community for them to live as independently as possible. In my youth I relied heavily on the older teammates of my basketball team as mentors in navigating life with a disability now as an adult and an employee of Abiltiy360 I get to do the same thing. I feel extremely lucky to have the chance to work within the community to mentor youth and new injuries helping them navigate their own paths in life as my mentors did for me.
-Robert Reed
If you are interested in being featured in the "Professional Profile" segment, please contact Allison via email @ [email protected]