vision
1970 - Families in the Puget Sound with children born with Spina Bifida found a support organization called the Spina Bifida Association of Puget Sound.
1991 – Jim Martinson - local wounded warrior and advocate for disabled sports- meets the Spina Bifida Association and introduces track racing & field, followed by an adaptive swimming team.
1999 – The Seattle Jr Sonics wheelchair basketball team is founded and featured on a Team Cheerios cereal box.
2003 – To better serve the purpose of the organization, the name is changed to Northwest Wheelchair Sports.
2005 – The organization is renamed to Northwest Adaptive Sports. The Seattle Jr Sonics attend their first NWBA National Championship Tournament.
2007 - Washington State is the first state to accept high school wheelchair athletes to team scoring in track and field. Seattle hosts the NWBA Prep National Championships to 9 teams from across the country.
2008 – The organization changes name to Seattle Adaptive Sports and adds adult teams. SAS hosts NWBA Varsity National Championships for the top 16 junior teams in the country.
2009 – SAS founds The CREW Youth Social Mentoring program to provide a youth social outlet.
2011 – SAS forms the Seattle Storm women’s basketball team and joins the NWBA Women’s Division.
2012 – A USA Hockey clinic attended by over 30 athletes and guest USA Paralympic Team members leads to the formation of the Seattle Thunderbirds Sled Hockey team.
2013 – SAS forms the Seattle Power Soccer team, 2014 - SAS holds its 1st Annual Paralympic Sports Day to over 100 individuals with physical disabilities
2015 - For the first time, SAS sends 4 basketball teams to NWBA National Championships.
2016 - The Seattle Storm host NWBA Women's National Championships. The Sno-King Thunderbird Sled Hockey team hosts their first ever sled hockey game at the Showare Center. SAS initiates a wheelchair tennis program for Seattle.
Our History
Meet our board
Our Board of Directors are the senior leaders of our organization - they set our strategic direction and are among our greatest advocates.
Jennifer Waggoner | President
Cheryl Kerfeld | Vice President
Ben Chao
Corrie Frasier
Sam Rodriguez
Sawyer Coleman
John Liston
Antonio Rosier
If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors, please send a message to info@seattleadaptivesports.org
Who we ARE
Seattle Adaptive Sports (SAS) is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the US Olympic/Paralympic Committee as a Paralympic Sports Club.
We believe that team sports are a powerful vehicle for personal growth & development for people with disabilities. As Western Washington's leading adaptive sports organization, we build and support recreational and nationally competitive teams, including wheelchair basketball, sled hockey, power soccer, and goalball.
To enable people with physical disabilities to push beyond their limits and reach their full potential.
Seattle Adaptive Sports will be a regional hub that connects athletes and the community with opportunities to compete, learn, and grow.
Excellence
Sustainability
Integrity
Community