Kelly Behlmann
Contributor | 2021
Hometown: Saint Peters, MO
School Name: Disabled Athletes Sports Association
It is very rare to find a person who sees a need in the
community and will take dynamic action to fill that
need. That is the type of person that Kelly Behlmann
is; one who doesn’t hesitate to jump in headfirst
to meet critical needs within her community. As a
Physical Therapist, she understood the need to stay
fit. Being involved in sports was a great way to build
strength and self-confidence. As a mother, Kelly
understood the instinct to help children be the best
they can be at all they do in life. And these opportunities
did not exist for young people with disabilities in the
greater St. Louis metropolitan area in the 90’s.
Kelly jumped into the effort headfirst by founding
the Disabled Athletes Sports Association in May of
1997 after dreaming of starting an organization
that would provide athletic opportunities to
children with physical and visual disabilities.
Kelly started DASA working with five kids in her driveway and watched as her dream of helping
others find achieve their dreams through sports and recreation became a reality.
DASA became a flagship organization within the disabled sports community, hosting workshops,
conferences, Junior Nationals in 2009, and other events. The impact that the organization had
on the St. Louis metropolitan area was tremendous, producing multiple Junior National
champions and Paralympic athletes.
It was important to Kelly that all DASA athletes realized their greatest potential and that they acted
to achieve that potential. It was important that they became advocates for themselves in a world
that might not initially accept them for their differences. They needed the emotional and spiritual
strength and support as well as the physical strength to achieve their goals as an athlete, as
a community member, and as a person.
