“If you’re on the fence about applying, just apply!” Lauren Van Loo, a past participant at Adaptive, encourages others to take a step towards reclaiming their independence. Lauren is challenged by a spinal cord injury. Participating with the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) helped Lauren realize that just because of her new challenge, she is still a human being who deserves to have fun and independence in her life. “When I started skiing last winter,” Lauren said, reflecting on her first time in a mono-ski, “even when I was falling every 100 feet, it still felt liberating because I was doing something that everybody goes through. I remember learning snowboarding and the first few days you fall and fall and then by the third day something starts to click and the same was true for mono-skiing.” After only fourteen days on the slopes with the ASC, Lauren was inspired to apply for a Kelly Brush Foundation (KBF) adaptive equipment grant. When asked what inspired Lauren to apply for the grant, Lauren said she was encouraged by ASC instructors, Maura Roche and Rob Grant. KBF specifically focuses on individuals with spinal cord injuries, which is why Lauren chose to apply for their grant. However, there are many other grant opportunities for individuals with other disabilities. “One of my goals that I set for the winter was to get some of my independence back,” Lauren said, and part of that process included applying for a grant to purchase her own equipment. Having only skied with a sit-ski for fourteen days, Lauren is inspiration, that anyone at any stage of adaptive sports can apply for a grant. “I had to prove to them that I was excelling in this sport and getting to a place where I needed my own equipment,” Lauren said. Although the application process mostly included written essay questions, Lauren added her own twist and included videos of her skiing. For her, the videos helped show her personality and prove to KBF that she was really ready for and really wanted her own equipment. Lauren said she included videos not only of good skiing, but also of the falls. “I’m the kind of person that laughs when I fall, and I felt like that showed a lot of my personality,” she said. Grant funders want to award people who are really passionate and committed to their sport to ensure the equipment will be regularly used. Lauren believes that including videos in the application can help show how impactful receiving the grant would be. She recommends first recording the answers to the questions or even talking through them with a friend or family member. She says, “personality is everything.” When asked how getting an adaptive equipment grant has impacted and changed Lauren’s life, she reflected on how the equipment has helped her gain her independence back. “Mono-skiing married together the life I had before and the life that I have now and gave me my peace back by being outside and being able to play in the snow,” Lauren said. Getting her own equipment helped elevate feelings of liberation and independence. In addition to getting the equipment, the sense of community that came with the grant became the most life-changing part of the experience. The director of KBF checks in on Lauren, and she said it feels like talking to a friend. “They are a family,” Lauren said, and becoming a part of it “breaks up feelings of isolation and makes you feel more at peace in a world where people sometimes don’t think about people with challenges.” Applying for an adaptive equipment grant is a valuable opportunity, offering access to essential equipment and connection with a supportive and uplifting community. Direct Funding Grant Options Active Fund | Kelly Brush Foundation The Kelly Brush Foundation provides grant and scholarship opportunities for individuals with spinal cord injuries. The Active Fund provides grants for individuals with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury to purchase adaptive sports equipment. The Spring Active Fund grant application opens February 3rd with applications due April 30th. Grant Program | Challenged Athletes Foundation The Challenged Athletes Foundation provides multiple grant programs. To apply for a CAF grant, an individual must have a permanent physical disability that impairs mobility, affects the neuromuscular system, or impairs balance or motor control. The annual grant is the flagship grant that offers multiple avenues for individuals to apply for specific needs. Grant Application | High Fives Foundation The High Fives Foundation offers two grant cycles per year, focused on supporting individuals with life altering injuries pursue goals related to outdoor adventures. The first grant period is January-March, with applications due January 31st. The second grant period is July-September, with applications due July 31st. Adaptive Equipment Grant Application | IM ABLE Foundation The IM ABLE Foundation provides an adaptive equipment grant for individuals with physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral challenges residing in the Mid-Atlantic region. This grant helps those interested in purchasing their own adaptive equipment but are unable to afford the cost of doing so. The application form can be found on their website. Semper Fi & America's Fund | Support for Service Members, Veterans, and Military Families Semper Fi & America’s Fund provides an abundance of services and assistance for veterans or individuals and families with a military background. Ranging from housing assistance and care to specialized and adaptive equipment. The application form can be accessed on their website.
