Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- This weekend, people from all over Central New York will head to Syracuse University for “Orange Ability 2013.” The event is a time for people of all abilities to experience sports like wheelchair basketball and power soccer.
Playing basketball in a wheelchair is no easy feat. Greg Callen has been doing it for almost a decade.
“We have a restriction of not having our legs for mobility and our arms are our mobility source in wheelchair basketball,” Callen told NewsChannel 9.
Imagine just using your arms to get down the court, dribble, pass and shoot the ball – all while still moving the wheelchair. It’s a challenge that Callen took on a few years back to help him overcome a tragic accident that resulted in depression and anxiety.
“In 2005, I was injured after a fall off of a balcony and as a result of that fall I became a paraplegic,” Callen explained.
After struggling to find ways to reintegrate himself back into his community, Callen found an organization called “Move Along.” It’s an organization that helps people with physical limitations engage in sports. He’s joined forces with students at Syracuse University to host Orange Ability on Sunday.
“It’s not only fun, it’s celebrating disability, identities and cultures, and that disabilities and cultures can be connected just as easily to anyone’s identity and the culture they celebrate,” said disabled student Eddie Zaremba.
Orange Ability is this Sunday at the Flanagan Gymnasium on the SU campus from 1-4 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.
