Sled hockey scores for GLASA players
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com February 17, 2012 9:14PM
Nina Nissly of Lake Forest, a GLASA Falcon, scores a goal Sunday at Lake Forest Academy. | Joe Shuman~for Sun-Times Media
About GLASA
The non profit was created in 1999 to meet the need for recreational and competitive sports for children and adults with physical or visual disabilities. Based in Lake Forest, GLASA offers year-round programming with 32 sports designed for both a casual beginner to more serious athletes.
More information: www.glasa.org
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Updated: April 18, 2012 1:52AM
When he’s on the ice, 10-year-old Ethan Burkhart plays right wing on his sled ice hockey team. He’s an integral member of the team, skillfully working to score goals against the opposition.
The fourth-grade Libertyville student plays sled hockey because he would have difficulty skating on ice. He was born with spinabifida, a neural defect that limits his movement from the waist down. Ethan uses crutches to get around when he’s not on the ice.
He plays sled hockey through Great Lakes Adaptive Sports (GLASA), a nonprofit organization offering 32 sports to people with physical disabilities.
“The program is fantastic. They are all-inclusive. They figure out how to include people of all ages and levels — it’s just amazing that everything is run on donations...I really applaud the program,” said Ethan’s mother, Jennifer Burkhart of Libertyville.
Hockey is one of the most expensive sports, not to mention how costly the sleds are, she said. Her husband and other two children play hockey. Ethan has played sled hockey for about two years.
“I think probably my favorite part about it is I like the practices and the games because I get to move round a lot more,” Ethan said.
He was on the ice playing in a special demonstration the other day at Lake Forest College. He said he wasn’t nervous to play in front of packed grandstands.
This was the second year the event “The Sleds Are Coming” was held, according to Cindy Housner, GLASA founder and president.
“It’s a fund-raiser and a way to educate the community as to what GLASA is about,” Housner said. “It’s a great opportunity to have fun.”
Proceeds from the event help keep the nonprofit running. No one is turned away from GLASA due to financial hardship.
“We hope to do this on an annual basis,” Housner said. “We are always looking for supporters.”
GLASA serves about 500 people from southern Wisconsin to the South Side of Chicago, estimated Dave Olson of Lake Forest, GLASA board president.
The main difference between GLASA and the Special Olympics is that the Special Olympics includes participants with cognitive disabilities while GLASA is for people with physical or visual disabilities, Olson said.
GLASA is open to children age 3 and up. The oldest participant was 80, Olson said.
“People who are not disabled take the opportunity to be in sports for granted. People who have a physical disability don’t have the opportunity to play,” Olson said.
Playing GLASA sports gives people health benefits, like staying fit, and psychological benefits, like boosting self-esteem and learning teamwork, Olson said.
GLASA is always looking for not only donations but also volunteers to help keep the place going, he said. The issue is getting word out to the public.
“Unfortunately, we’re a very well-kept secret,” Olson said.
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