Adaptive Rowing
Adaptive rowing provides athletes with a intellectual impairment the opportunity to be active on or off the water, get involved in a fun and friendly club environment, and participate in a variety of competitions.
Adaptive rowing is suitable for a wide range of persons with an intellectual impairment, including but not limited to autism, fragile X syndrome, and Down syndrome.
Adaptive implies that the equipment is adapted to the user to practice the sport, rather than the sport being adapted to the user. The equipment used is essentially the same as for able-bodied rowers, with adaptations made to the equipment as required.
Adaptive rowing is growing in popularity particularly in the indoor rowing space as indoor rowing is a genuinely inclusive sport. The indoor rower can be modified to help meet the needs of adaptive athletes, making rowing accessible to a community of people with many varied gifts and abilities.
World Rowing are offering more and more chances for adaptive rowers to compete internationally including offering separate adaptive categories at the World Rowing Indoor Championships and at the International Para Rowing Regatta.