TIRR Memorial Hermann Adapted Sports and Recreation program’s core value is to support independence and inclusion.
Our mission is to be a leader in providing and supporting meaningful opportunities for people living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions, allowing full participation in their community through accessible sports, recreational, fitness and wellness activities.
The program goals include:
- Reducing the risk of readmission to a medical or health care facility due to knowledge gaps or lack of accessible physical activity resulting in unhealthy lifestyle.
- Bridging the gap from rehabilitation facility to community involvement by aggressively and purposefully reducing time between being a patient of TIRR Memorial Hermann or other rehabilitation facility and re-entering community physical activity.
- Promoting and providing organized and accessible sports, recreation, fitness and wellness opportunities for youth and adults with physical disability.
- Partnering, collaborating and fostering relationships (with local, regional and national service providers, individuals and organizations, and other accessible adapted sports, recreation and fitness providers) to provide people with disability the opportunity to be fully included in community sports, recreation and wellness activities.
Kaitlyn Eaton: Team USA Paralympian
Support from TIRR Memorial Hermann's Adapted Sports Program introduced Kaitlyn to adaptive sports and other females with disabilities. Learn how basketball opened up college opportunities and beyond.
TIRR Memorial Hermann Adapted Sports and Recreation offers both youth and adults with physical disabilities an outlet to continue playing sports both competitively and recreationally through programs, including: wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, handcycling, wheelchair softball, wheelchair racing, seated throw/field events, powerlifting, fitness programs, tennis and more.
For more information or to participate, please contact peggy.turner@memorialhermann.org or call (832) 567-4832.
Adapted Sports Programs
TIRR Memorial Hermann Junior Hotwheels Basketball
TIRR Memorial Hermann Junior Hotwheels Wheelchair Basketball team was founded in 1997, first competing in the 1997-98 basketball season with only five players. As the seasons have continued, we have had over 75 wheelchair athletes participate on the Hotwheels basketball teams.
Our competitive youth wheelchair basketball teams are open to youth, ages 6 to 19 and with a permanent physical disability that limits participation in nondisabled sports. Interested participants will be evaluated by a team coordinator or coach to determine their performance level. All of our participants must be alert, oriented and able to follow directions.
In order to participate in our wheelchair basketball program, you must have a physical impairment and meet the following criteria:
- Require modification of a sport or equipment, due to a physical disability, in order to participate in athletic activities.
- Be able to benefit from participation in group activities.
- Be free of disruptive behavioral issues that would create a danger to self or others.
- Be cognitively able to participate in the program at an appropriate developmental level.
- Be able to use upper extremities to independently propel a sports wheelchair.
Find out more about the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.
The Hotwheels are proud of the success in college that many of our players have achieved over the years. Multiple former Hotwheels players have received full athletic scholarships to universities that have collegiate wheelchair basketball programs. In addition, some of our athletes have gone on to play at the national team and Paralympic level.
TIRR Memorial Hermann Texans Adult Wheelchair Rugby Teams
TIRR Memorial Hermann also sponsors two wheelchair rugby teams that compete in the US Wheelchair Rugby Association league. The Traditional Wheelchair rugby season runs October through April, and the Low Point Wheelchair rugby season is May through September. Both teams are for adults, ages 18 and up, with physical disabilities.
To be eligible to play wheelchair rugby, individuals must have a disability which affects all four limbs. Most players have spinal cord injuries with full or partial paralysis of the legs and partial paralysis of the arms. Players are assigned a sport classification based on their level of disability. All teams must field players with a mix of classification values, which allows players with different functional abilities to compete together.
TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels Adult Wheelchair Softball Team
In collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Department in the City of Pasadena, Texas, TIRR Memorial Hermann sponsors an adult wheelchair softball team that competes in the National Wheelchair Softball Association league. The Wheelchair Softball season runs April through August, culminating with a national tournament. The team is for adults with physical disabilities, ages 18 and up.
Adaptive Recreation, Leisure, Sports and Arts Guide
- Abilities Expo: An annual community event featuring various venders, new technologies, adapted recreation equipment and more.
- Achilles: Achilles Houston is dedicated to helping disabled persons participate in mainstream sports and remain active. We pair challenged athletes with abled-bodied athletes during weekly workouts. We encourage our members to stay motivated in reaching their goals and through participation in races and other activities.
- Camp For All: Camp For All transforms the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs. Camp For All intentionally delivers unique, truly barrier-free experiences throughout the year by collaborating with multiple not-for-profit organizations to enable thousands of campers and their families to discover life.
- City of Pearland Adaptive Recreation: Pearland Parks and Recreation is proud to offer an Adapted Recreation program that provides social and recreational services to youth and adults with physical or developmental disabilities. Adapted programming to include: bowling, yoga, wheelchair sports and art classes.
- City of Pasadena Parks & Recreation Department Verne Cox Center: The Verne Cox Multipurpose Recreation Center is a facility specifically dedicated to recreational activities, programs, and events for youth and adults with disabilities. Programs for youth and adults with disabilities to include: Wheelchair Softball, Wheelchair Football and Summer Youth Camps.
- Dive Pirates Foundation: Dive Pirates combines resources and communities with physically disabled people to celebrate life after injury through adaptive scuba diving.
- Fishing Has No Boundaries: Provides recreational fishing opportunities, resource education, and rental equipment to fishermen with disabilities.
- Heroes on the Water: Kayak fishing trips for wounded warriors and their families.
- Life Waters: Adapted scuba diving for disabled veterans and others.
- Redefined Fitness : Crossfit gym in Spring with adaptive programming.
- Riva Boat House: Kayak, Paddle Boat, and Water Bikers in the Woodlands.
- Sea Star Base-Galveston Aquatic & Maritime: SSBG is outfitted with a fleet of 39-boats; a seagoing classroom equipped with the latest technology; a fully handicapped accessible LEED Platinum certified state of the art building; swimming pool; and modern-day marina. SSBG offers programs for disability and all ages.
- SIRE: Therapeutic Horsemanship classes for individuals with disabilities at varying levels.
- Team River Runners: An adapted paddling program that holds regular pool and open water sessions, hosts quarterly trips, and encourages participation in competitive paddling.
- Texas Adaptive Aquatics: T.A.A. features an outstanding adaptive water skiing program that allows people with physical and/or mental disabilities the opportunity to discover the thrill and excitement of water skiing, sailing, and kayaking.
- YMCA Greater Houston Area: Adapted programs provide children and adults with disabilities the chance to play sports and participate in learning opportunities in a safe, fun atmosphere.
- Bay Area Park and Armand Bayou
7500 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058 - City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department-West Gray Adapted Recreation and Wellness
1475 West Gray
Houston, TX 77019 - James Driver All Inclusive Park
10918 Bentley Street
Houston, TX 77093
Park in Precinct 2 with adapted fitness area, playground, trails and community center.
- Dance for Parkinson's - HAPS in Houston: An innovative and collaborative dance program for people with Parkinson's in the Houston community.
- The Healing Art Program at Texas Art League of Houston: This program provides students with all abilities an extensive support structure in a safe and creative enviroment.
- Opening Arts and Minds: An inclusive arts experience sponsored by United Spinal of Houston.
- The River Performing and Visual Arts: Inclusive youth summer camps and Saturday programming.
- Wheelchair Lacrosse: Wheelchair lacrosse is played coast-to-coast from San Diego to New York. Learn more about the Apollos, our Houston-area team.
- CATAPULT Houston: Founded by a group of like-minded, Houston-area triathletes and runners, CATAPULT aims to become the lead organization in the Gulf Coast assisting individuals with physical disabilities via coaching, funding, training, education, and full access to the endurance sports community and competitions.
- Lonestar Adaptive Soccer Association: An organization established to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages with a variety of limb differences to play soccer both in recreational and competitive settings.
- Texas Archery: Offers accessible and adapted archery.
- Texas Regional Para Sport: Youth and adult track, field and other adapted sports trainings and competitions.
- TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels Wheelchair Basketball: Adapted wheelchair basketball team, Juniors division available.
- TIRR Memorial Hermann Texans Wheelchair Rugby: Adapted wheelchair rugby team located at West Gray Recreation Center.
- TIRR Memorial Hermann Strength Unlimited Sports Training: Adapted health and wellness program offering sport specific personal training.
- North Houston Skate Park: WCMX adaptive skating.
- University of Houston: Adaptive Tennis: The University of Houston’s Adapted Tennis Program provides students with disabilities the opportunity to develop their tennis skills and to play competitive tennis.
- Spring Rollers: provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports and recreation, to change negative stereotypes and to help develop confidence, social integration and community development in The Woodlands.
- Able Outdoors: Web resources for adapted fishing, hunting, and outdoors.
- Adaptive Training Foundation: Located in Dallas, TX - Providing modified methods of training to restore hope to all those with physical impairment.
- Blaze Sports: Offers online tools and resources for adapted sports and physical activity.
- IM Able Foundation: Grants are awarded to disabled individuals and supporting organizations and provide hand-cycles, adapted skis and instructional training programs for those in need.
- Turning Point: Adapted outdoors experiences: scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, archery, hunting, sailing, hand-cycling, air rifles and camping.
- Warfighter Engaged: A charitable non-profit with the mission to improve the lives of wounded and disabled warfighters with custom adapted gaming devices.
- Art Spark Texas: Located in Austin, TX - Offers programs, services and events based in education, cultural access, inclusive arts, and performances.
- Sage Studio: Located in Austin, TX - A gallery space that provides artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities the materials, space and support to produce, exhibit and sell their artwork.
- VSA: The Kennedy Center: The International Organization on Arts and Disability – a hub for learning and international networking and idea-sharing.
- Challenge Athletes Foundation: Offers adapted camps & clinics throughout California and North America.
- NCHPAD (National Center on Health, Physical Activity & Disability)
- National Ability Center: Snow Skiing and Winter Sports
- National Veterans Wheelchair Games
- NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association)
- National Wheelchair Softball Association
- USOPC (US Olympic and Paralympic Committee)
- USWRA (US Wheelchair Rugby Association)
Nationally Ranked Rehabilitation
For the 35th consecutive year, TIRR Memorial Hermann is recognized as the best rehabilitation hospital in Texas and No. 2 in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report's "Best Rehabilitation Hospitals" in America.
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