My Nonprofit Reviews

I want to share my history as a blind athlete/participant and more recently as a volunteer member on OAS’ Board of Directors. For 7 years I participated in OAS’ amazing programs.  These experiences provided me the adaptive techniques, training and opportunities to resume the outdoor activities that I love and yet had mostly abandoned: Hiking, Bicycling and Nordic skiing.  These helped me regain my confidence, rebuilt my self-esteem and independence, making an immeasurable improvement in the quality of my life.  This is the mission of OAS.  In pursuit of this mission, OAS also strives to break down physical and economic barriers to the outdoors.   As a friend of mine said, OAS makes the difference between just surviving and thriving. So, I agreed, without hesitation, to join the Board of Directors when the opportunity came up in early 2020. 
 
For more than two decades OAS has changed the lives of thousands of individuals with disabilities by providing low- or no-cost access to empowering experiences in Oregon’s mountains, lakes and trails.  Pre-COVID, OAS annually provided over 1500 outdoor recreational experiences to over 450 individuals with disabilities.  OAS participants range in ages and a full spectrum of disabilities, and many of the programs are customized accordingly.   
 
A sample of OAS’ programs that I am particularly proud of include:
 
1. A partnership with the Wounded Warriors Project (WWP).  OAS provides training in mountain biking, rock climbing, and paddling for veterans during three week-long mental health workshops facilitated by WWP.  These workshops serve veterans with PTSD and other service-related disabilities throughout the country.  
2. A partnership with Craig Hospital-Denver.  OAS provides training in mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking to individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries. This program is offered to patients from Craig Hospital-Denver, the foremost spinal injury rehab facility in the US.
 
The robust year-round activities can be seen by visiting the OAS website at:
 
https://www.oregonadaptivesports.org/