TIRR Memorial Hermann Adapted Sports and Recreation program’s core value is to support independence and inclusion.
Our mission is to be a leader in providing and supporting meaningful opportunities for people living with physical disabilities and chronic health conditions to participate fully in their community in accessible sports, recreation, fitness and wellness activities.
The program goals include:
- To reduce the risk of readmission to a medical or healthcare facility due to lack of knowledge or access to accessible physical activity resulting in unhealthy lifestyle.
- To aggressively and purposefully seek to bridge the gap, reducing time between being a patient of TIRR Memorial Hermann or other rehabilitation facility and re-entering community physical activity.
- To promote and provide organized and accessible sports, recreation, fitness and wellness opportunities for youth and adults with physical disability.
- To partner, collaborate and or foster relationships with service providers, individuals, organizations and other accessible adapted sports, recreation and fitness providers, to ensure people with disability have the opportunity to be fully included in community sports recreation and wellness activities.
Kaitlyn Eaton: Team USA Paralympian
Support from TIRR Memorial Hermann's Adaptive Sports Program introduced Kaitlyn to adaptive sports and other females with disabilities. Learn how basketball opened up college opportunities and beyond.
TIRR Memorial Hermann Adapted Sports and Recreation offers both youth and adults with physical disabilities an outlet to continue playing sports both competitively and recreationally through programs including: wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, handcycling, wheelchair softball, wheelchair racing, seated throw/field events, powerlifting, fitness programs, tennis and more.
For more information or to participate, please contact peggy.turner@memorialhermann.org or call (832) 567-4832.
Adaptive Sports Programs
TIRR Memorial Hermann Junior Hotwheels Basketball
TIRR Memorial Hermann Junior Hotwheels Wheelchair Basketball team was founded in 1997, first competing in the 1997-98 basketball season with only five players. As the seasons have continued we have had over 75 wheelchair athletes participate on the Hotwheels basketball team.
The Junior Hotwheels accept any school-aged players with physical disabilities that are interested in wheelchair basketball, either competitively or recreationally.
The Hotwheels are proud of the college success that many of our players have achieved over the years. Multiple past Hotwheels players have received full athletic scholarships to universities that have collegiate wheelchair basketball programs. In fact, a member of the 2014-2015 Junior Hotwheels team accepted a full athletic scholarship to the University of Texas in Arlington.
TIRR Memorial Hermann Adult Hotwheels Basketball
TIRR Memorial Hermann also sponsors two TIRR Memorial Hermann Adult Hotwheels teams. We have an NWBA Division 1 team, as well as an NWBA Division 3 team. Both are for adults with physical disabilities ages 18 and up.
Find out more about the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.
Quad Rugby
TIRR Memorial Hermann Sports is proud to sponsor Houston’s only Quad Rugby team for the past six years. The TIRR Texans team consists of 12 athletes ranging from 19 - 45 years of age.
Quad rugby is a full contact wheelchair sport that is a mix of football and soccer. The game is played on a basketball court with four players from each team on the court at one time. For more information on the game and how it is played please visit the quad rugby website at www.usqra.org.
Wheelchair Ultimate Frisbee
In collaboration with the Houston Ultimate Community, TIRR Memorial Hermann sponsors a wheelchair ultimate Frisbee league in the Houston area. Anyone is welcome to join our league and participate in this growing new sport!
Handcycling
TIRR Memorial Hermann owns various handcycles that can be loaned out by community members for trial. If you are interested in borrowing a handcycle, please contact TIRR TR at TIRRTR@memorialhermann.org or call (713) 797-5928.
Paralympic Sport - TIRR Memorial Hermann
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee and TIRR Memorial Hermann have partnered to create Paralympic Sport – Houston / TIRR Memorial Hermann.
Paralympic Sport – Houston / TIRR Memorial Hermann is a community-based sports club developed to involve youth and adults with physical and visual disabilities in ongoing sports and physical activity, regardless of skill level. All programs and activities will be based in Houston and run by TIRR Memorial Hermann.
Collaborating Organizations
TIRR Memorial Hermann Sports emphasizes community awareness and participation. We have had the opportunity to collaborate with the following organizations:
- U.S. Paralympics
- City of Houston Metropolitan Multi-Service Center
- City of Pasadena Verne Cox Center
- City of Pearland Adaptive Sports Program
- Houston Ultimate Community (HUC)
Adaptive Recreation, Leisure, Sports and Arts Guide
- Abilities Expo: An annual community event featuring various venders, new technologies, adaptive recreation equipment and more.
- Achilles: Achilles Houston is dedicated to helping disabled persons participate in mainstream sports and remain active. We pair challenged athletes with abled-bodied athletes during weekly workouts. We encourage our members to stay motivated in reaching their goals and through participation in races and other activities.
- Camp For All: Camp For All transforms the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs. Camp For All intentionally delivers unique, truly barrier-free experiences throughout the year by collaborating with multiple not-for-profit organizations to enable thousands of campers and their families to discover life.
- City of Pearland Adaptive Recreation: Pearland Parks and Recreation is proud to offer an Adaptive Recreation program that provides social and recreational services to youth and adults with physical or developmental disabilities. Adaptive programming to include: bowling, yoga, wheelchair sports and art classes.
- City of Pasadena Parks & Recreation Department Verne Cox Center: The Verne Cox Multipurpose Recreation Center is a facility specifically dedicated to recreational activities, programs, and events for youth and adults with disabilities. Programs for youth and adults with disabilities to include: Wheelchair Softball, Wheelchair Football and Summer Youth Camps.
- Dive Pirates Foundation: Dive Pirates combines resources and communities with physically disabled people to celebrate life after injury through adaptive scuba diving.
- Fishing Has No Boundaries: Provides recreational fishing opportunities, resource education, and rental equipment to fishermen with disabilities.
- Heroes on the Water: Kayak fishing trips for wounded warriors and their families.
- Life Waters: Adaptive scuba diving for disabled veterans and others.
- Redefined Fitness : Crossfit gym in Spring with adaptive programming.
- Riva Boat House: Kayak, Paddle Boat, and Water Bikers in the Woodlands.
- Sea Star Base-Galveston Aquatic & Maritime: SSBG is outfitted with a fleet of 39-boats; a seagoing classroom equipped with the latest technology; a fully handicapped accessible LEED Platinum certified state of the art building; swimming pool; and modern-day marina. SSBG offers programs for disability and all ages.
- SIRE: Therapeutic Horsemanship classes for individuals with disabilities at varying levels.
- Team River Runners: An adaptive paddling program that holds regular pool and open water sessions, hosts quarterly trips, and encourages participation in competitive paddling.
- Texas Adaptive Aquatics: T.A.A. features an outstanding adaptive water skiing program that allows people with physical and/or mental disabilities the opportunity to discover the thrill and excitement of water skiing, sailing, and kayaking.
- YMCA Greater Houston Area: Adaptive programs provide children and adults with disabilities the chance to play sports and participate in learning opportunities in a safe, fun atmosphere.
- Bay Area Park and Armand Bayou
7500 Bay Area Blvd.
Houston, TX 77058 - City of Houston Parks & Recreation Department-West Gray Adaptive Recreation and Wellness
1475 West Gray
Houston, TX 77019 - James Driver All Inclusive Park
10918 Bentley Street
Houston, TX 77093
Park in Precinct 2 with adaptive fitness area, playground, trails and community center.
- Dance for Parkinson's - HAPS in Houston: An innovative and collaborative dance program for people with Parkinson's in the Houston community.
- The Healing Art Program at Texas Art League of Houston: This program provides students with all abilities an extensive support structure in a safe and creative enviroment.
- Opening Arts and Minds: An inclusive arts experience sponsored by United Spinal of Houston.
- The River Performing and Visual Arts: Inclusive youth summer camps and Saturday programming.
- Wheelchair Lacrosse: Wheelchair lacrosse is played coast-to-coast from San Diego to New York. Learn more about the Apollos, our Houston-area team.
- CATAPULT Houston: Founded by a group of like-minded, Houston-area triathletes and runners, CATAPULT aims to become the lead organization in the Gulf Coast assisting individuals with physical disabilities via coaching, funding, training, education, and full access to the endurance sports community and competitions.
- Lonestar Adaptive Soccer Association: An organization established to provide opportunities for athletes of all ages with a variety of limb differences to play soccer both in recreational and competitive settings.
- STAR Skaters: Skating for Therapy and Recreation: This volunteer organization provides on-ice experience for individuals with disabilities through Sled Hockey and SkateTherapy programs.
- Texas Archery: Offers accessible and adapted archery.
- Texas Regional Para Sport: Youth and adult track, field and other adapted sports trainings and competitions.
- TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels Wheelchair Basketball: Adaptive wheelchair basketball team, Juniors division available.
- TIRR Memorial Hermann Texans Wheelchair Rugby: Adaptive wheelchair rugby team located at West Gray Recreation Center.
- TIRR Memorial Hermann Strength Unlimited Sports Training: Adaptive health and wellness program offering sport specific personal training.
- North Houston Skate Park: WCMX adaptive skating.
- University of Houston: Adaptive Tennis: The University of Houston’s Adaptive Tennis Program provides students with disabilities the opportunity to develop their tennis skills and to play competitive tennis.
- Spring Rollers: provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports and recreation, to change negative stereotypes and to help develop confidence, social integration and community development in The Woodlands.
- Able Outdoors: Web resources for adaptive fishing, hunting, and outdoors.
- Adaptive Training Foundation: Located in Dallas, TX - Providing modified methods of training to restore hope to all those with physical impairment.
- Blaze Sports: Offers online tools and resources for adaptive sports and physical activity.
- IM Able Foundation: Grants are awarded to disabled individuals and supporting organizations and provide hand-cycles, adaptive skis and instructional training programs for those in need.
- Turning Point: Adaptive outdoors experiences: scuba diving, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, archery, hunting, sailing, hand-cycling, air rifles and camping.
- Warfighter Engaged: A charitable non-profit with the mission to improve the lives of wounded and disabled warfighters with custom adaptive gaming devices.
- Artability at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas, TX: A program providing free studio opportunities and arts instructions to young and older adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
- Art Spark Texas: Located in Austin, TX - Offers programs, services and events based in education, cultural access, inclusive arts, and performances.
- Sage Studio: Located in Austin, TX - A gallery space that provides artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities the materials, space and support to produce, exhibit and sell their artwork.
- VSA: The Kennedy Center: The International Organization on Arts and Disability – a hub for learning and international networking and idea-sharing.
- Challenge Athletes Foundation: Offers adaptive camps & clinics throughout California and North America.
- NCHPAD (National Center on Health, Physical Activity & Disability)
- National Ability Center: Snow Skiing and Winter Sports
- National Veterans Wheelchair Games
- NWBA (National Wheelchair Basketball Association)
- National Wheelchair Softball Association
- USOPC (US Olympic and Paralympic Committee)
- USWRA (US Wheelchair Rugby Association)
Nationally Ranked Rehabilitation
For the 33rd consecutive year, TIRR Memorial Hermann is recognized as the best rehabilitation hospital in Texas and No. 2 in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report's "Best Rehabilitation Hospitals" in America.
Learn More