Inch by inch, participants pull themselves to the top of 麻豆原创鈥檚 adaptive-climbing rock tower, ascending high above their wheelchairs and achieving new heights that others sometimes think they can鈥檛 reach.
鈥淚t feels like a bit of freedom,鈥� said Katherine Torres, a student majoring in health services administration who has a muscle weakness that doesn鈥檛 allow her to stand or walk. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been one to challenge myself. And when a lot of people say I can鈥檛 do something 鈥� just watch. I didn鈥檛 know what to expect, but when I got half way there I thought to myself 鈥業鈥檓 going to keep on going. I can do this.鈥欌��
Some other universities in Florida offer rock climbing to their students, but 麻豆原创 is the only one to have an adaptive climbing wall, giving students with limited mobility a chance to climb, said Nathan Vink, assistant director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Outdoor Adventure program.
This summer the Recreation and Wellness Center provided special training to eight staffers to jump-start its new adaptive-climbing program.
鈥淭his is a growing focus in recreation 鈥� to look beyond the able-bodied student and offer opportunities to all students, whether with physical or mental disabilities,鈥� Vink said about the campus Student Assisted Workout program. 鈥淥ur goals are also to try to reach the students who aren鈥檛 here yet, to open up opportunities. We have students who don鈥檛 have the same abilities, but they do have abilities.鈥�
The adaptive-climbing program empowers students, whether beginners or experienced, to reach their potential on the 41-foot tower.
鈥淭hey challenge themselves. They set their own goals,鈥� Vink said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 tell them they have to reach the top. We鈥檙e supportive of what they want to achieve.鈥�
The center trained staffers in the techniques of harnessing climbers in the equipment and controlling the safety ropes as the participants ascend. The climbers use a handlebar-style device that grips a rope and slowly ratchets them upwards as they repeatedly pull downward on the bar.
The ratchet system requires a quarter of the strength that other climbers would need to ascend the rope. There are different seat harnesses with various strapping and padding to help with pressure issues, and participants with prosthetic limbs can use the equipment in a way to help propel them up the rock face.
Torres, who also works in the Recreation and Wellness Center, said she heard about the campus climbing tower two years ago when she was a freshman, and has long wished she could somehow try to scale it 鈥� even if the prospect of ascending the tower was a little intimidating. And now with the staffers on duty to help, she has made the trip up twice.
Kristen Cioce, who uses a wheelchair because of a spinal cord injury, was hesitant at first to try the tower, but said she went up to fulfill a promise to one of her physical trainers 鈥� and it was an exhilarating experience that she鈥檇 do again if the opportunity came up.
鈥淚t was not something I was looking forward to doing. At first it was something I was trying to get out of,鈥� said Cioce, who graduated last month with a master’s degree in social work. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 an amazing opportunity that 麻豆原创 offers.”
Vink said the staffers also talk with the climbers to allay any fears about heights or falling. And as the climbers ascend, staffers 鈥渂elay鈥� the safety ropes 鈥� or take up the slack to prevent slips.
鈥淓very student is unique,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e just try to see how we can help them.鈥�
Three students used the system during the summer, and now that the fall semester has started, Vink expects others to check out the adaptive-climbing experience.
What advice do the veteran climbers have for others?
鈥淚 highly recommend it to any student who has inabilities,鈥� Cioce said. 鈥淛ust follow your gut if you鈥檙e being led to do it. You don鈥檛 have to get to the top.鈥�
And while聽people in wheelchairs usually feel smaller than others, Torres said, “This is a time to feel bigger than everyone. You can have a different perspective.鈥�
For more information about the climbing program or to schedule a climb, visit http://rwc.sdes.ucf.edu/facilities/climbing-tower.