Bits & Pieces.

American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association (AHiHA) Celebrates

Chicago businessman, Irv Tiahnybik and NHL Hall of Famer Stan Mikita, former player for the Chicago Blackhawks--founders of the American Hearing Impaired Hockey Association and the annual Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Hearing-Impaired--joined in the festivities to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of AHiHA and the School last summer. Under the leadership of Tiahnybik and Vice President Cheryl Hager, AHiHA has become one of the best athletic programs for youths who are deaf or hearing-impaired in the United States. More than 1,500 players have gone through at least one year in the program. It has become a catalyst in developing fine ice hockey players and fine young people. It is the only sports organization for deaf athletes that gives complete funding to its players to attend the Winter World Games for the Deaf (WWGD). Mikita sees individuals come back year after year to the School to become better hockey players and strive to make the WWGD team.

Lincoln Center's Programs for People with Disabilities

Over three hundred and fifty residents with disabilities of the Coler/Goldwater Memorial Hospital on Roosevelt Island attended on-site performances by Flamenco Vivo and Ahn Piano Trio as pan of Lincoln Center's Programs and Services for people with disabilities (PSPD) newly-created community outreach program. This initiative was designed to enrich the lives of institutionalized adults with disabilities and to instill a sense of self-worth and well-being through exposure to performing arts events which they otherwise might not be able to enjoy.

One patient remarked, "In spite of all the disabilities, music can bring people together ... it's the best thing in my life."

National Forum on Careers in the Arts

The first-ever National Forum on Careers in the Arts for People with Disabilities was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Keynote speakers, panel discussions, and concept papers explored such topics as Development Obstacles for Careers in the Arts for Disabled Youth, Financial Support for Disability and Arts, What Can We Learn from Varied Training Models? and What Does it Take, What are the Obstacles, and How Can the Obstacles be Overcome in Order to Pursue a Career in the Arts.

Sports History--Deaf Football

A new British sports history research project has been launched by the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, England. The project is a joint venture between the University's Deaf Studies Group and the Institute of Football Studies, looking at the history of Deaf football (soccer) and Deaf footballers in Britain.

There are approximately eight million people (one in seven of the population) in Britain with some degree of deafness. The history of Deaf football clubs in Britain can be traced back to at least 1871, when Glasgow Deaf Football Club was founded. By the 1960s there was the establishment of international club tournaments for deaf football clubs with teams from Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Italy, and Austria participating.

Therapeutic Riding

St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, North Carolina, is the first college in the country to offer a four-year degree in therapeutic riding, which can help people with a variety of physical and mental disabilities, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, learning disabilities, autism, and mental retardation. Based at Singing Wood Farm, the equestrian program is certainly successful, as demonstrated by back-to-back ARNC National Championships in 1996 and 1997 and the Reserve Championship in 1998. Riders experience intercollegiate competition in both the IHSA and ANRC, but also are offered competitive opportunities at AHSA "A" Rated shows and regional circuit shows. As varsity athletes at an NCAA Division II school, riders are eligible for athletic scholarships.

The director of the therapeutic program, Lorrie Renker, states: The horse is a non-judgmental animal who gives direct input to the person riding ... If the child needs affection, the horse gives unconditional love. It listens. It lets you cry on its neck." The therapeutic riding program is supported by a $146,000 three-year FIPSE grant. We have initiated a consortium of other colleges and universities which want to develop similar programs, and are working closely with NARHA to make sure our curriculum meets industry standards." Check out St. Andrews via the web site: www.sapc.edu/equest.html.

Positive Movie

A movie opened to strongly positive reviews in September, 1998, called "Simon Birch," based on John Irving's novel "A Prayer for Owen Meany." While it features major stars such as Ashley Judd and Jim Carrey, the character role of Simon Birch is played by 11-year-old Ian Michael Smith.

This is Smith's very first acting role. Because he has Morquio syndrome (one of 135 syndromes that cause dwarfism) Smith will have to receive regular surgeries to strengthen his bones and may never be taller than he is now. Smith has observed:

"I think that if the movie doesn't do anything else, it will show people that little people are not different ... I'm a normal person. We're not munchkins, running around happy all the time. We're just people who happen to be short."

Boston Marathon

Three-time Boston Marathon wheelchair division winner Franz Nietlispach (40) of Switzerland finished first in the 1998 Boston marathon. His time--1:34:22. His age and country serve as powerful reminders of the age open-ness and internationalism of sport.

Bits and Pieces is a regular department of PALAESTRA. Information relating to physical education, recreation, and sport for individuals with disabilities is requested. Send information to: Scott A.G.M. Crawford, Department of Physical Education, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920; [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].