Summit Adaptive Sports presents programs, volunteer model and local funding to Simsbury commission

At the June 16 meeting of the Simsbury Aging and Disability Commission, guests Susan Murphy and Matt Kulik presented an overview of Summit Adaptive Sports, including program offerings, volunteer training, and local fundraising.

Murphy and Kulik said Summit Adaptive Sports operates a Ski Sundown winter program that has run for about 20 years and that the organization has been an independent nonprofit for five years. They described programs for athletes aged roughly 4 to 82, including adaptive skiing, hiking at varied difficulty levels, paddling and mountain biking, and said an equipment overview and handouts were provided to the commission.

The presenters told commissioners the program maintains a 1:1 coach-to-athlete ratio and relies on more than 75 volunteers, all of whom receive training and certification. Funding sources they named included grants, individual donations, the Birdies for Charity campaign, Greater Hartford Gives, and Simsbury Greater Together; those funds are used to purchase equipment and reduce costs to athletes. They also noted an affiliation with Move United (The Hartford).

Why it matters: Local adaptive-sports programs can expand recreation and independence for people with disabilities while lowering participation costs through volunteer support and targeted fundraising. The commission received the presentation as informational and did not take formal action on the program.

Clarifying details: the presenters described the volunteer base as “more than 75,” the coach-to-athlete staffing model as 1:1, and the organization’s age range for athletes as 4–82; these figures were provided by Summit Adaptive Sports during the presentation and were not independently verified by the commission.

The commission did not vote on funding or endorsements during the meeting; commissioners asked for background information and accepted the handouts provided by the presenters.