Arizona Disabled Sports

Move United / Locations /

Arizona Disabled Sports | AZDS

Chapter

The Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled, also doing business as Arizona Disabled Sports (AzDS), is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing sports and recreation opportunities for individuals with all types of disabilities. This can include but is not limited to developmental disabilities, orthopedic impairment, sensory deficit and/or neurological involvement.

The Association provides year round sports training and competition through our Team Mesa adaptive programs for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. In addition, sports and recreation opportunities are provided for individuals with physical disabilities through our Arizona Heat physically challenged programs.

The Association coordinates various resources in a cooperative effort with Mesa Public Schools and the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Commercial Facilities to provide a comprehensive program of sports and recreation to individuals with disabilities of all ages.

Because of the unique nature of the programs offered by the organization, participation is not limited to residents of Mesa, Arizona. Many participants in the adaptive programs reside throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area and the entire state of Arizona. For this reason, among others, the organization began doing business as Arizona Disabled Sports in 2007.

Approximately 1000 local athletes participate in seasonal training sessions and competitions and an additional 500 athletes from across the country compete in various Association sponsored events.

The Mesa Association of Sports for the Disabled is incorporated as a non-profit organization through the Arizona Corporation Commission, recognized as a 501c3 corporation by the Internal Revenue Service. The Association is a chapter of Adaptive Sports USA, Disabled Sports USA and is a Paralympic Gold Level Sport Club. The organization serves as Team Mesa in competitions hosted by Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) but is a separate non-profit organization providing programs to athletes with intellectual disabilities in Mesa.

Activities

See All

Shooting/Adaptive Shooting

Since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960, swimming has been one of the Games’ main sports. The thrill of competition aside, swimming offers many benefits including strengthening the cardiovascular systems and the major muscle groups of both the upper and lower body. It also develops flexibility in the muscles and joints as…

Track and Field is the largest Olympic and Paralympic sport in terms of the number of athletes and number of classifications and categories. In addition to the races that take place on the track, there are a number of competitions that take place on the field inside the track. In particular, there are throwing and…