![The Power of Ability The Power of Ability](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/power-of-ability.png)
![Amanda Young Amanda Young](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/amanda_young-circle-d56ef3a8352252f4a273293aa937bb14-5b32c51249882.jpg)
Amanda Young,
born with spina bifida, is both a participant and certified kayak and ski instructor.
![Boundless Determination Boundless Determination](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/boundless-determination.gif)
Here I get to be myself. Imperfections and all.
I get to push the boundaries of what the world says I can and can't do.
I am so fortunate to get the opportunity to share the laughter, the challenge and the mountaintop moments. Sports and adventure bring me ridiculous amounts of joy and perseverance. As an instructor, I hope to impart that joy into the lives of individuals and families.
![Boundless Independence Boundless Independence](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/boundless-independence.png)
Growing up I always liked playing sports.
I played on many school sports teams, but never considered myself an athlete. When I found TAASC and adaptive sports, the specialized equipment and training leveled the playing field. I learned I was just as much an athlete as any of my able-bodied friends. I'm now an avid rower, kayaker, and skier - all things I never thought I could do before finding TAASC.
![Maddie Mattey Maddie Mattey](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/maddie_mattey-circle-5222d83d4ab30b11776dcf0a0cad0fbe-5b32ce40dcc34.jpg)
Maddie Mattey,
who has worn a prosthetic since birth, is both a participant and kayak, water ski, and snow ski instructor.
![Adam Greathouse Adam Greathouse](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/adam_greathouse-circle-4f1ae248d303c128da93d73b6c7fc974-5b32d074cc0d5.jpg)
Adam Greathouse,
was serving in the U.S. Army. He was deployed in Kosovo when exposure to toxic chemicals caused a bacterial infection in his lungs that sent him into acute respiratory distress and led to a traumatic brain injury from lack of oxygen.
![Boundless Hope Boundless Hope](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/boundless-hope.gif)
I am building confidence through adaptive sports.
It has helped me build my self-esteem. I am now motivated and setting goals for my life instead of waiting to see if I am going to wake up tomorrow - I now feel like I have hope for a future.
![Boundless Possibilities Boundless Possibilities](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/boundless-possibilities.png)
If I can kayak and snow ski -
maybe I can - then who knows; maybe I can get a degree, make friends, be a productive member of society. It really builds your self-confidence and self-esteem when you can do some kind of sports; it affects you in all areas of your life, and that's what is so great about TAASC.
![Stacy James Stacy James](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/stacy-james-circle-07181c1f8a6aa2a48e3c8ea371602fe9-5b32d22844488.jpg)
Stacy James,
suffered a spinal cord injury in a diving accident when she was 19, rendering her an incomplete quadriplegic.
![Dave Shida Dave Shida](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/dave-shida-circle-df4e4ee9ec49eece3d97bd94e4318b7a-5b32d22c712fe.jpg)
Dave Shida,
found adaptive sports after suffering from a stroke. He is 75 years young.
![Boundless Resilience Boundless Resilience](https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/boundless-resilience.gif)
I was really active in sports before my stroke.
After my stroke, I was eager to get back to sports but I knew I had to get stronger first. I committed myself to kayak therapy after my insurance would no longer cover rehabilitation. I knew I had to gain enough strength on my left side to start really living my new life after the stroke. Because of the adaptive sports program, I am now snow skiing, biking, rock climbing and traveling again. My overall health and wellbeing have tremendously improved.