Ability First Sports

Ability First Sports offers sports, recreation, and leisure activities, including basketball, rugby, water skiing, tennis, hand-cycling, swimming, WCMX, kayaking, and archery. The program includes monthly virtual interactive sessions, monthly in-person activities and workshops, and a week long adapted sports summer camp. Ability First Sports provides adaptive equipment and instruction to ensure access for all participants.

• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Year-round activities with monthly virtual interactive sessions, monthly in-person activities and workshops, and a week long adapted sports summer camp

Ability First Sports began in 1985 at California State University, Chico and has over 35 years of sports training, lifestyle coaching, and impact. The program’s mission is to empower youth and adults with physical disabilities to engage in a healthy and active lifestyle. All sports, recreation, and leisure activities are provided by world-class coaches with disabilities who have had successful careers in competitive athletics at the collegiate, national, and international level. Ability First Sports conducts low or no cost programs and is positioned as a regional leader for adapted sports experiences, offering year-round instructional and recreational sports opportunities to youth and adults with physical disabilities.

Ability First Sports works closely with teacher preparation programs at California State University, Chico, Butte Community College, Butte County Office of Education, and Chico Unified School District. The program recruits and educates youth without disabilities to take part in the program and works with local and state-wide programs to support their efforts to offer inclusive and adapted sports and recreation opportunities.

“Camp taught me that anything is possible. I may need special equipment or to adapt, but there are no limits on what I can do.” - Alicia Milano, 2017 Camper

Last updated April 1, 2026.