Newhouse and CNY Adaptive Sports Host Wheelchair Basketball Evening

The Newhouse School marked Disability Pride Month with a spirited wheelchair basketball night at the Barnes Center open to all students, faculty and staff.

The April 15 event organized by the school’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity and Accessibility Office in partnership with CNY Adaptive Sports was a part of Syracuse University’s larger Disability Pride Month initiative, which includes other activities like sled hockey nights and a wheelchair lacrosse tournament.

“Everyone asks how they can help, and it’s been great,” said Newhouse associate professor Seth Gitner, a member of both the University’s Disability Pride Committee and CNY Adaptive Sports’ board of directors. He also plays for the CNY Flyers, a local sled hockey team.

“It’s because of everyone’s support that we can put together sled hockey leagues, host basketball nights, and even bring in professional wheelchair athletes to teach us about different inclusive sports,” said Gitner, who teaches in the magazine, news and digital journalism and visual communications departments.

Wheelchair basketball features different adaptations to basketball rules, the biggest of which is the dribbling rule. In wheelchair basketball, players can push the wheelchair once or twice with the ball in their lap before having to dribble one time. This allows for action to be fast-paced, while keeping dribbling technique in place.

The night “was not just for people who spend their time in wheelchairs or with amputated limbs,” said CNY Adaptive Sports treasurer Jaime Favata. “Anybody can play in these sports and look silly doing it. It’s just an incredible opportunity to bring light to what we are doing.”

Favata first got involved in adaptive sports after his son, Myles, expressed an interest in participating in 2018. Myles was born with myelomeningocele, a severe form of spina bifida. Favata said adaptive sports give children like Miles a chance to stay active.

“We are trying to provide access for people in similar situations [to] Myles, who love sports but don’t necessarily have the opportunities to play,” Favata said.

Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato was one of about 20 players who took part in the fun, with 20 spectators cheering them on.

“All of it was a learning experience, top to bottom. I was probably better back [in middle school] than I was today,” Lodato said. “Thinking about everything from moving the chair to making sure you dribble at the right time, trying to find someone to pass to, it’s a whole new set of challenges.”

Playing was also an important “part of who we are as communicators,” he added. “Getting to experience different things and relay different stories, and part of that is participatory.”

Gitner and Favata hope such events continue past Disability Pride Month and become a regular part of the Syracuse University calendar.

“This university means everything to the people that grow up here,” Favata said. “Having the support of the university that is so close to you is unbelievable, but also the help with facilities and the amazing student body that is so willing to support these events brings awareness to what we are doing.”