When Greg Callen suffered a fall a little over four years ago, he told a family friend he would never advocate for people with paralysis."I was offended he would even suggest it," Callen said, but when a friend asked him to try Go-Kart racing, Callen realized he felt freer and more independent than he had since his accident.
This was the inspiration behind his organization, Move Along, Inc. The organization seeks to bring together people with physical disabilities through athletics.
Every Friday night, the Boys and Girls Club in Syracuse allows Move Along to use the space to hold youth basketball clinics.
GETTING EXERCISE
Elizabeth Wagner's son, Jaden, counts down the days after he leaves the gym each Friday night. Before he began to participate in activities through Move Along, his mother said he got "little to no exercise."
The group of children, both able-bodied and physically disabled, stretch before each clinic and do drills to build muscle strength.
"When [the children] first come, they could hardly put their hands up. Now you look at them--they're all over the place," said Jerry O'Connell, who has worked for the Boys and Girls Club for over 20 years.
BUILDING A BOND
Wagner said until Jaden met his friend, Caleb, at a Spina Bifida family support meeting over a year ago, he had never met anyone who is confined to a wheelchair and is around the same age. The two now guard each other on opposing teams during scrimmages.
"I got lucky with my son. He thinks not in terms of what he can't do, but what he can," said Wagner.
"The biggest reward for me is seeing the smiles on their faces," said O'Connell.
Family participation is a key factor for the youth clinic. Most of the players are able bodied, but choose to play in wheelchairs.
"I think it allows their siblings to see what it's like to be in a chair and some of the challenges," said Wagner.
FACING BIG CHALLENGES
Callen said the biggest obstacle he faces are finances. Move Along, Inc. relies heavily on the community. Callen has also been applying for different grants and has tried to work out deals with several wheelchair companies. He relies entirely on volunteers, including some from SU.
Specialized athletics come at a price. Callen's newest sports chair costs $2020, which is a heavy price to pay, especially when growing children are involved. The cheapest activity is kayaking, which runs at about $80 per piece of equipment.
Some of the challenges are in learning about how to cater to people with all different types of disabilities. Callen pointed out that cerebral palsy and nervous system disorders sometimes make it difficult to maintain control over the upper body and sometimes communicate.
Callen is trying to extend his knowledge through going to seminars about different disorders. He admitted he's "still got a lot of learning to do."
Planning for the Future
Several fundraisers have already been put into place to help Move Along, Inc., including a portion of the proceeds from a Syracuse Crunch game.
One plan that has already been put into action has ties to SU. While volunteers come to help off campus, Callen wants to build an intramural wheelchair basketball league that includes both able-bodied and disabled individuals.
"I've always been tied to people's emotions, especially children, so I'd like to continue to try to give them the resources they need," he said.
Callen hopes to eventually build trails in the woods near Camp Hollis in Oswego that would accommodate wheelchairs. He explained that he wants the children to be able to feel the freedom of wandering in the woods.
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