We believe the challenge, confidence, and joy of sports should be available to everyone.

Adapted sports (sometimes called para sports or adaptive sports) create sport and recreation opportunities for people with physical disabilities by using specialized equipment, modifications, and classifications to make participation possible and fair.

Adapted sports are just as skill-based, competitive, and athletic as 'traditional' sports.

Sports shouldn't be 'easy'.

They stretch your expectations and push your abilities.

People with disabilities want and need mental, physical, and social stimulation just like their able-bodied peers. They don't want their experience to be 'watered down' or made easier; they want to challenge their abilities with determination and a sense of personal fulfillment. 

At NC Adapted Sports, we work with the community to make those challenges possible by creating accessible spaces, providing equipment that allows people with disabilities to participate, and educating the community about the power and importance of equal access to sport opportunities. 

You are in the right place! 

Check out our programs page and register for a program in a sport that interests you. Absolutely no experience is necessary. 

We are beginner-friendly year-round, and we will help you find your path.

If you have questions about North Carolina Adapted Sports or any of our programs, please feel free to contact us.

At NC Adapted Sports, we believe everyone deserves to live an active lifestyle, and everyone who gets out and gets moving is an athlete.

For those reasons, we call everyone who participates at NCAS an 'athlete'.

You do not have to have any skill or experience to participate in NCAS programs. 

Yes - they can play!

You DO NOT have to use a wheelchair in everyday life to be eligible to play wheelchair basketball.  

In fact, more than half of wheelchair basketball players are not daily wheelchair users. They have challenges affecting their ability to play able-bodied basketball successfully. Sport wheelchairs equalize the playing field and allow everyone to move quickly and play hard. 

NC Adapted Sports has sport wheelchairs in various sizes for players to use at practice.

NCAS Wolves wheelchair basketball is open to youth ages 5 through high school. 

NC Adapted Sports programs are open to individuals with physical disabilities from age 5 through adult.

The only exception is NCAS Wolves Wheelchair Basketball, which is a youth program open to ages 5 through high school. 

We work to make sure everyone feels included, engaaged and challenged at programs.  

We are primarily focused on physical disabilities, though accommodating athletes living with neurodivergence is not outside our scope. 

1. Visit the Programs Page

2. Click on the program you want to register for 

3. Fill out the registration form

4. Look for a confirmation email in your inbox

5. Get ready to have fun at an NC Adapted Sports program!

Tip: Registration is easier if you create a NCAS Athlete account

No.

Currently, due to grants, partnerships and donors, all programs at NC Adapted Sports are free of charge to registered NC Adapted Sports athletes with disabilities - this includes use of adapted equipment during programs.

NC Adapted Sports programs happen out in the community where everybody recreates.

Programs take place across the Triangle are of North Carolina  in public places and spaces including:

Bond Park, Cary

Harris Lake, Raleigh

Taylor YMCA, Cary

Greenways throughout the Triangle

...and more

Check specific program listings for exact locations.

Yes!

Whether riding their bike on the trail next to you, paddling in a kayak with you, or playing on your team in a boccia match, we encourage family participation to create a shared experience.

We take athlete and family safety very seriously at NC Adapted Sports.

Program Leads go through background checks, U.S. Center for SafeSport Training, plus NCAS training for specific sports (For example, Cycling Leads ride the same trails we do in programs on adapted cycles, so they have a greater understanding of how the cycle interacts with the trails).

We evaluate all athletes prior to and throughout programs to make sure their abilities match the challenge and they are using the most appropriate equipment. 

NC Adapted Sports provides adapted sports equipment for use by NCAS athletes during the programs they are registered for under the supervision of staff, coaches, and volunteers. 

We do accept adapted equipment if we believe it can be useful in our programming or we can grant it to another athlete to use.

If you have equipment you would like for us to consider, please contact us. 

THANK YOU! 

We are so proud to be building a strong adapted sports community in the Triangle and honored to have you join our mission.

There are several ways to support NCAS:

VOLUNTEER

We are a volunteer-fueled organization and are always looking for individuals to share their time and talents. We couldn't do it without them!

Program and sport volunteer opportunities can be found on our volunteer page.

DONATE

NC Adapted Sports strives to break down barriers that prevent people with disabilities from being active.

One of the major barriers is the cost of adapted sports equipment. Sport wheelchairs and adapted cycles start around $4,000 and go up in cost with adaptations and specialization. 

Your financial contributions allow us to provide the equipment and  programs that create life-changing opportunities.

Ways to Give

SPREAD THE WORD

We need your help to let more and more people know about adapted sports and the opportunities available right here in the Triangle. 

If you know of an organization or individual that would benefit from NC Adapted Sports please connect us - we'd love to meet. 

Contact Us