By
Hank Huber
The Skating Association
for the Blind and Handicapped showed off its accomplishments
during its Buffalo Appearance for the 26th year
as the skaters performed to music and backdrops representing
the individual and diverse states that make up the United
States.
The schedule this year includes shows for
April 6 in Findlay, Ohio, and April 12 in Saratoga Springs,
N.Y., and Erie, Pa.
People spanning an age range from 16 months
to senior citizens showed that it is possible for those
with disabilities to overcome adversity and actively participate
in physical sporting events, working together as choreographed
team.
The theme this year is the United
States. The skaters presented different parts of
the show representing one of the 50 U.S. states complete
with costumes, suitable state music, and the appropriate
setting pushed on the ice.
The Alaska segment had the
skaters dressed in penguin costumes gliding around an igloo
to the tune of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,”
while Maine presented participants in bright
yellow hooded rain coats like 20 Gorton’s Fishermen
executing pinwheel patterns to an instrumental version of
Frank Sinatra’s “Sailing.”
Eighteen states are featured in all during
the three-hour performance, including Illinois,
with a gangster and flapper costumed cast paying tribute
to the Oscar winning picture “Chicago”,
while “My Kind of Town” sets the mood.
Entertainment is only half the goal of the
shows. Boosting confidence in the performers and showcasing
improvements made through physical therapy is another key
objective.
Important benefits of SABAH participation
include increased muscle strength, endurance, balance and
coordination, according to event organizers.
At the March 22 performance at HSBC Arena,
Association founder Elizabeth M. O’Donnell
pointed out some of the progress made by SABAH and the Physical
Therapists.
“Doctors said Julie would never walk,”
she said as the young girl skated up to her dressed like
a ripe tomato for the Iowa segment. “Steve
couldn’t walk a year ago, now he can skate.”
Steve was a 3 foot tall carrot.
Celebrity skaters inserted
performances throughout the event. World Championship team
member Jennifer Kirk, and longtime Special
Olympics coach Parker Pennington showed
their world-class figure skating form, and O’Donnell
performed as well.
The skaters, in addition to the blind, are
comprised of people with many categories of disability,
including:
- cerebral palsy
- mental retardation
- Down syndrome
- hearing impairments
- multiple sclerosis
- spina bifida
- cancer
- autism
- amputation
- hemophilia
- epilepsy
- scoliosis
- congenital myopathy
- William’s syndrome
- emotional/behavioral disabilities
- neurological impairments.
O’Donnell started SABAH in 1976 when
the professional skating instructor, coach and former Ice
Capades performer decided to teach blind people how to ice
skate. The venture, expanded to include people with other
disabilities, was formally incorporated as a not-for-profit
educational corporation in 1977.
Attendance at individual shows has grown from
800 at the first show in 1978 to over 11,000 last year,
according to a SABAH information packet, and at one time
reached 13,000.
Information about attending or volunteering
for programs can be found at www.sabahinc.org.
SABAH programs take place seven days
a week at six rinks in Buffalo, North Buffalo, Hamburg,
Amherst, Wheatfield, and Lewiston.
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