Therapeutic Skating Program Taking Off in Clubs Around the Country

by Joanne Vassallo Jamrosz, special to U.S. Figure Skating Online

Coach Cynthia Elliott (L) and Tammy Jimenez (R) with one of their skaters, Amanda Trassler. (Photo by Tammy Jimenez)

B.L. Wylie feels it is one of the most "rewarding" jobs of her life.

Wylie, along with Julie Holmes and rink manager Jamie Feltus, coordinates U.S. Figure Skating's Therapeutic Skating curriculum through Basic Skills classes at the Sugar Land Ice and Sports Center in Sugar Land, Texas. The program began under the ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) of Sugar Land and the "Star Skaters" program.

Wylie, the chair of the Basic Skills Subcommittee, assembles teachers and assistants, helps with rental skates and parental instruction, and acts as part of the encouragement team for the program.

"I cannot seem to get away without tears flowing because we have such interesting people skating and working hard to achieve their badge status," Wylie said.

The difference between Special Olympics participants and those involved in Therapeutic Skating is the nature of one's disability. Special Olympics athletes must have a mental handicap, with an IQ of 70 or below; Therapeutic Skating requires the disability be physical. If a skater qualifies for both, he or she can participate in either Special Olympics or therapeutic classes.

Tammy Jimenez, a coach at Polar Ice in Chandler and Gilbert, Ariz., wrote the new Therapeutic Badge Curriculum and worked with therapeutic skaters for a number of years.

"There are 14 badges developed to create an enjoyable skating experience for people with physical limitations," Jimenez said.

The Therapeutic Program has two tracks, assisted and unassisted. Assisted is for a skater using assistance from another skater or coach. A skater is considered unassisted if he or she uses a walker or another device but can perform skills without the help of another person.

Jimenez's suggestion to clubs interested in starting a program is to build slowly.

"To start a program, skating clubs should find an instructor that is patient, adaptive in their instruction, willing to learn and interested in working alongside physical therapists to determine the training for the skaters. Volunteers are the only way a program such as this can work," Jimenez said. "Starting a Therapeutic program is a fantastic experience for a club and its members. Making a difference in even one person's life by sharing the love of skating can be so rewarding."

Therapeutic skaters from Sugar Land, Texas (Photo by B.L. Wylie)

The Sugar Land program addresses physical and mental abilities in its badges. The disabilities of its participants include lack of cognitive skills, hearing loss and autism. "The Therapeutic curriculum is more appropriate because of the physical challenges," Wylie said. "The badge program is being used for those who have the cognitive ability because [the challenges] are inspiring and exciting. Some who do not have the cognitive ability will earn badges anyway, and the parents will handle the explanation."

Support, so far, has been amazing.

"Obviously, the parents need to be educated so they understand what this specialized skating program is all about," Wylie said.

Safety is a primary consideration in the program. In the class setting, instructors talk to parents about the importance of proper skate lacing, the choices of instructors assigned to the child, the proper way to wear a helmet and what to expect when students sign up for registered sessions.

"The payoff is the pride and enthusiasm that prevails at the rink when one of the skaters accomplishes something new and exciting," Wylie said. "There is an atmosphere of constant encouragement and cheers are plentiful for everyone."

Franchesca Forsythe, a 24-year-old woman born without eyes, is one of the program's skaters. Her mother, Angela, praises Sugar Land's Therapeutic Skating program and the difference it has made in Franchesca's life.

"When she was born, I was told she would never walk, talk or function in society," Angela said. "Never in my wildest dreams would she be ice skating. However, she is, and is doing beautifully. The natural teaching she has received has not only been therapeutic but added benefits such as socialization skills, communication skills and independence skills she can do by herself without mom.

"The program is so valuable to the total health and well-being of the students; they are smiling, laughing and just plain having fun."

The Skating Club of Boston's Frog Pond Skating School will introduce its special program "Warrior Frogs" in December, a concept co-developed by Shiboomi Business Accelerators, the Boston Parks Department and the SC of Boston.

"It is easy to focus on the excitement of the sport at the competitive level, where most attention has traditionally been," said Morgan Rowe, Shiboomi executive and program director of the Skating Club of Boston at Frog Pond. "However, only a very few can participate at this level. With our Boston Common Frog Pond location, we are in the privileged position to be able to reach out and better the lives of greater Boston residents."

According to Rowe, to have the most impact on the therapeutic skaters, it was important to integrate the "Warrior Frogs" program with other aspects of their Basic Skills program. The group developed an event series at the Frog Pond called the "Mayor's Winter Ice Carnival Challenge," a team competition series which will integrate individual skaters, synchronized skating teams, Theatre On Ice groups, Basic Skills skaters, national and sectional competitors and "Warrior Frogs" into teams.

Teams will not be judged on technical merit but on audience appreciation and approval. Skaters who are charismatic and entertaining, and who connect with the audience, will be the strongest assets to their team.

"In this format, we believe our 'Warrior Frogs' will be some of our strongest competitors," Rowe said. "We believe this program is novel because it not only integrates the various skating worlds but breaks down the traditional system of how skating is evaluated. This provides an opportunity to create team dynamics and peer appreciation across all skill levels and abilities.

"The Boston community has embraced the program, and it has gained tremendous support."

For these clubs, the ultimate goal is to bring skating to those who never thought they would step on ice.

"It is a new program, and we are growing both in understanding and enthusiasm," Wylie said. "Each Saturday brings a new joy and challenge. This program serves such a need, and I can only imagine if clubs adopted it as a community outreach, how much it would be appreciated."