On the week of March 4th, 2025, Sahauro had the privilege of hosting some representatives from the Southern Arizona Adaptive Sports (SAAS) organization, who came to spread their passion and inspire students by showcasing the incredible possibilities of adaptive sports. Sahuaro students had the chance to play basketball in wheelchairs, experiencing it first-hand.

Karl Yares, one of the members from the SAAS, described the lesson as a, “…joint effort between our organization and the University of Arizona Athletics Program.” He explained how the SAAS works to serve and teach the community and the athletes involved, while the University of Arizona focuses specifically on serving student-athletes. Together, they strive to support athletes of all kinds in the area.

The program’s primary goal is to expand the outreach of adaptive sports and teach people about what it entails. Yares left off with another poignant piece of insight: “Almost everybody at some point in their life will be touched by disability, so we want it to be more normalized and that when you see someone with a disability, maybe using a wheelchair, they’re more than just a person with wheels and that includes being an athlete.”

Ms. Rothenberg’s PE class had the opportunity to try out wheelchair basketball. She said, “This is an incredible opportunity for our able-bodied students to understand what it means to be able to play sports in a different way.” It truly offers an opportunity for the participants to see the world in a new light. She emphasized that this is a PE class, and opportunities like this don’t happen often, so it’s great to have the chance to try something new. “It shows these kids that just because someone has a disability, doesn’t mean they can’t do what able-bodied people can.”

Ms. Rothenberg also mentioned how she’s seen a whole new level of student participation, even from those who don’t usually engage. By the start of the game, every wheelchair was in use, and all the students who were able to, were actively playing. She said that what she’s seeing is, that “all students, for the most part all, participate.” She thinks that “this gives everyone an even playing field because everyone is at the same skill level.” Similar to Ms. Rothenberg’s statement, Mr. Kruszewski, another PE teacher, says that he is, “finding the kids really are enjoying the opportunity and the experience.”

The room was filled with laughs and excitement as the students got to try out something new while simultaneously gaining a deeper understanding of people with disabilities who don’t have access to things that many people take for granted every day.