On a recent weekend, dozens of adults with disabilities gathered at United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona for a basketball clinic that marked the final session of the program’s inaugural season.
The event, held at the ArizonAbility Adult Day program, was made possible through a partnership with the Phoenix Suns/Phoenix Mercury Foundation, which contributed coaching staff and resources to the initiative.
Over seven weeks, participants learned to dribble, pass and shoot, gaining not only physical skills but also confidence, as Camille Ridley, vice president of marketing and development at UCP, observed.
The clinic’s last day featured a surprise appearance by Go the Gorilla, the Suns’ mascot, adding excitement and a sense of celebration for the attendees.
More than 40 members took part in rotation, each week showing enthusiasm and measurable progress in their motor abilities.
Looking Ahead
The program will reconvene in the fall for another seven‑session series, and a community clinic is slated for early fall at Ability360, expanding the reach of adaptive sports in the Phoenix area.
Camille Ridley emphasized that while the initiative marks a significant step, there remains a long road to full accessibility in sports for people with disabilities.