Snow sports for people with a disability - DSUK

Disability Snowsport UK (DSUK) is a national charity that has been running for around 30 years with the goal of making skiing and snowboarding accessible to everyone.

It has enabled thousands of individuals of all ages and with a variety of disabilities, including learning difficulties, strokes, head injuries, spinal injuries, amputation and cerebral palsy, to enjoy the excitement and freedom of participating in skiing and snowboarding.

DSUK has two very clear goals set out in the organisation's vision statement and mission statement:

Vision statement - Skiers & snowboarders with a disability should be able to ski alongside the able bodied as equals at all ski facilities and resorts.
Mission statement - To promote equality and opportunity for people with disabilities to take part in snowsports and to help improve their enjoyment and standard of performance at the level of their choice.

Overseas Activity Weeks
Adaptive ski equipment and specialist help from instructors and volunteers means that any adult or child with some degree of mobility can take part in the organisation's Overseas Activity Weeks, whatever their disability.

Overseas Activities Weeks take place in some of Europe's and North America's top resorts.

For the 2008/2009 season the organisation's activity programme include trips to Villars and Verbier in Switzerland, Niederau and Bavaria in Austria, Soldeu in Andorra, and Breckenridge and Big Bear in USA.

UK Operations
Disability Snowsport UK also has its own purpose built adaptive snowsports centre in Scotland providing group and individual lessons 7 days a week from January to April.

It runs lessons for schools and youth groups year round and has 13 regional groups throughout the UK.

Coaching, development and support is also provided to the British Disabled Ski Team and 2010 Winter Paralympics squad.

The work of Disability Snowsport UK would not be possible without the help of more than 400 volunteers who accompany its members on activity weeks or during activities at local slopes in the UK.

Helpers assist members with travelling to and from resort, on slope activities and general help in the hotels. Volunteer helpers are not asked to assist with personal care.

To find out more about Disability Snowsport UK please visit their website www.disabilitysnowsport.org.uk or telephone the Cairngorm Head Office on 01479 861272.