Active Living & Recreation

New York-Based Organizations 

Outdoor Activities & Recreation 

  • Accessibility in NYC Parks: NYC Parks aims to make sure that all New Yorkers get the most out of the great outdoors. While many of our events are accessible, these parks events and programs are geared specifically towards people with physical disabilities. 
  • Central Park Access Map: Central Park Conservancy has created a map featuring information on how to get around in Central Park, with a particular emphasis on access for people with disabilities and/or limited mobility. 
  • Fishing Has No Boundaries: (Fort Ann, NY) Fishing Has No Boundaries provides recreational fishing opportunities for all anglers with disabilities regardless of their age, race, gender, or disability. 
  • Hudson River Community Sailing’s Adaptive Sailing: (NYC) This program provides individuals with disabilities with the opportunity to experience sailing in an inclusive and supportive environment. The program offers specialized equipment, trained instructors, and tailored instruction to ensure accessibility and participation for all skill levels. 
  • Row New York: (NYC) A non-profit organization focused on empowering youth, adult, and adaptive athletes through the sport of rowing. The programs are free and low-cost, depending on household income and needs. The organization and its staff have won several awards and recognition for their positive impact on local youth and the sport of rowing. 
  • Trails Without Limits Hiking: (Westchester County) This program allows individuals who may be living with spinal cord injury, amputation, paraplegia, or have other mobility concerns the opportunity to immerse themselves in Westchester County Parks. Our All-Terrain Track chair program is offered at no cost to the user. The program rotates throughout Westchester County Parks March-November. 
  • SOAR Experiences: (Ellenville, NY) offering low-cost, adaptive outdoor recreation such as hiking with Action Trackchairs, off-road ride-alongs, and air-gun marksmanship—for individuals with mobility impairments through partnerships with rehabilitation centers, parks, and veteran organizations. 
  • Y-Knot Sailing: (Kattskill Bay, NY) Y-Knot offers accessible sailing for all on Lake George. Y-Knot Sailing strives to make all aspects of sailing accessible to individuals with disabilities by creating opportunities, providing education, and promoting disabled sailing within the greater sailing community. 

Adaptive Climbing 

  • Adaptive Climbing Group: (NYC) Adaptive Climbing Group is a community for people with disabilities to have opportunities to inclusively participate in the sport of climbing. They host several sessions each week and also host monthly ACG Kids sessions at MetroRock Bushwick. 
  • ParaCliffHangers: (NYC) Runs monthly indoor adaptive rock climbing meetups in New York at Movement,  Movement LIC, Long Island City ), and at Central Rock Gym, Manhattan plus Buffalo at Central Rock Gym. These inclusive sessions welcome climbers with and without disabilities to build skills, community, and confidence through accessible indoor climbing. 

Adaptive Recreational Driving  

  • Just Hands: (Lakeville, CT) Just Hands Foundation, an organization dedicated to getting people who use hand controls to experience racing and performance driving. Through the foundation, performance vehicles with retrofitted hand controls are now available in select locations nationwide. 
  • Northeast Off‑Road Adventures (NORA): (Ellenville, NY) offers inclusive off‑road driving classes, tours, and adaptive “SOAR” adventures for individuals with mobility impairments. Participants can take part in group or private training using adaptive controls, ride-alongs, and all-terrain wheelchair experiences across rugged trails and wooded terrain. 
  • Ride Again Foundation (RAF): (Tallman, NY) A nonprofit that empowers individuals who have survived life-altering motorcycle-related injuries to reclaim their passion for riding. Through specialized track-day events—including riding simulator training, community support, and one-on-one “Track Day Companions”—participants rebuild confidence, access adaptive gear, and reconnect with the thrill of motorcycling in a safe, supportive environment. 

Adaptive Horse Riding 

  • GallupNYC: (NYC) Offers therapeutic horsemanship programs to children and adults with disabilities, including Veterans and at-risk youth. At the height of our season, we provide lessons to 686 riders a week and operate our riding program at four locations. We are committed to serving low-to-middle income families. Schedules at each location vary seasonally. 
  • HorseAbility: (Westbury, NY) A nonprofit offering year-round therapeutic equine programs, including adaptive riding, hippotherapy, summer camps, life-skills training, and volunteer opportunities all aimed at enhancing physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being for children, adults, and veterans with special needs. 
  • Long Island Horse Show Series for Riders with Disabilities (LIHSSRD): Offers competition-based equestrian classes ranging from walk/trot to canter for junior and adult riders with documented disabilities at USEF-recognized Long Island shows. 
  • Pal‑O‑Mine Equestrian: (Islandia, NY) A nonprofit therapeutic riding center that offers adaptive horseback riding, hippotherapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning, speech and occupational therapy, summer camps, and military/veteran wellness programs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. 

Accessible SCUBA Classes 

  • Stay-Focused, Inc.: (NYC) They offer adaptive scuba diving lessons tailored to individuals with disabilities and offers the opportunity to become certified SCUBA divers and through that experience to learn lasting lessons about life and achievement. 
  • Scuba Network Long Island: (Carle Place, NY) is a PADI 5‑Star Instructor Development Center with over 35 years of experience, offering adaptive  scuba certification. Their program includes accessible classroom instruction, private or small group pool sessions, and open water dives, enabling individuals with disabilities to earn full scuba qualifications under the guidance of specially trained instructors. 

Adaptive Swimming 

  • Adaptive Swim Program for People with Disabilities: The NYC Parks Adaptive Swim program offer children and adults aquatic exercise therapy that ranges from gentle water walking to aerobic-type exercise, as well as swim instruction that focuses on becoming comfortable in the water and learning basic swimming and safety skills. Participation is free with NYC Parks Recreation Center Membership. 
  • Asphalt Green Adaptive Swim Instruction: (NYC) Offers adaptive swimming programs to ensure that people of all abilities can participate in and benefit from aquatics. They have a dedicated Adaptive Programming department that focuses on inclusivity and accessibility in their swim instruction. 

Other Unique Experiences 

  • Freedoms Wings: (Bedminster, NJ) A non-profit organization run by and for people with physical disabilities. They provide the opportunity for those who are physically challenged to fly in specially adapted sailplanes, either as a passenger or as a member of the flight training program. 
  • Skydive the Ranch: (Gardiner, NY) Skydive First Project offers tandem skydives for individuals with physical disabilities including paraplegics, quadriplegics, and amputees using specially designed adaptive harnesses and instructor techniques to ensure a safe, customized experience. 
  • iFLY All Abilities Program: (Queens NY) iFLY welcomes individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities to experience indoor skydiving using adaptive support such as full-face masks, ear protection, and one-on-one guidance from certified instructors who may physically assist inside the wind tunnel. These sessions are available at locations nationwide, with accommodation tailored to various needs (e.g., paraplegia, blindness) and offer discounted flight packages. 

National Organizations

Outdoor Adventure 

  • Able Flight: A non-profit organization which offers flight and aviation career training to people with disabilities. Their Able Flight Training Scholarship is designed for people who wish to earn a Sport Pilot certificate. It covers ground and flight training, testing, travel and lodging expenses as required. Able Flight encourages people with a variety of physical disabilities to apply for a scholarship. Applicants for a full scholarship must be available for travel training for a six-to-eight-week period without a break. 
  • Disabled Hikers: A cross-disability-led nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting outdoor accessibility and inclusion for disabled individuals. They provide resources such as trail guides, group hikes, and advocacy initiatives, utilizing their unique Spoon Rating System to assess trail accessibility and difficulty. 
  • Life Rolls On: Founded by world champion quadriplegic surfer Jesse Billauer, Life Rolls On is dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury. The organization hosts national adaptive surfing and skating events throughout the year. 
  • Outdoors for Everyone: The Reeve Foundation has created ‘Outdoors for Everyone,’ an initiative to ensure the great outdoors is accessible and inclusive for all people – including those living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. Reeve Foundation has also created an Accessible Outdoor Checklist for parks, recreation centers, and partners to ensure people living with paralysis and other disabilities are able to enjoy the outdoors, because public lands are for everyone regardless of ability. 
  • No Barriers: A national non-profit that uses sports and adventure to break through barriers and tap into participants’ full potential. Their flagship is the Annual No Barriers summit, a 4-day event held with over 40 adaptive activities. 
  • The Impossible Dream: A fully accessible, wheelchair-friendly catamaran that provides people with disabilities with the opportunity to experience sailing. The organization offers inclusive sailing adventures, fostering independence, confidence, and a sense of freedom on the water. Through its programs and partnerships, The Impossible Dream aims to inspire and empower individuals of all abilities. 

SCI Retreats 

  • Camp With A Ramp: An annual, three-day retreat held in Arizona, typically in September, for approximately 70 campers with spinal cord injuries along with their caregivers and family members.  Participants of all abilities choose from a range of adaptive outdoor activities and sports and enjoy inclusive evening events like campfires, live music, dancing, and community discussions. 
  • Empower Spinal Cord Injury: Offers immersive national retreats and programs for individuals with spinal cord injuries, including intensive adult residential programs in Rhode Island and Montana focused on therapy, recreation, and peer support. Scholarships are available for all programs. 
  • PossAbility Unlimited: Provides support for individuals affected by spinal cord injuries and their caregivers through bi-annual retreats, educational resources, and community care, focusing on adaptation, respite, and education. 
  • Wheel Together Retreat: Wheel With Me Foundation, The Adaptive Outdoor Education Center, and Wheel Sisters Organization collaborated together to offer an annual Wheel Together Retreat. This Retreat is geared towards adults living with spinal cord injuries and will focus on whole-body health. The Retreat is located in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, and includes recreation, empowerment, emotional well-being, and in an inclusive and welcoming environment. 

Other National Unique Experiences 

  • The Bike Experience USA (TBEXUSA): A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities return to motorcycling. They offer adapted and modified motorcycles for training in safe environments, aiming to empower disabled riders to get back on two wheels. 
  • The Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA): A leading global nonprofit that provides specialized scuba diving training, certification, and adaptive equipment for individuals with disabilities making diving accessible and empowering through multilevel programs like Open Water courses, Dive Buddy certification, and professional instructor training.  
  • Wheelchair Body Building: Wheelchair Bodybuilding, Inc. (WCBB) was founded in May 2006 as a non-profit organization by Nick Scott dedicated to raising funds to expand and improve opportunities for wheelchair athletes and adaptive athletes. 

For more resources visit our Adaptive Exercise and Adaptive Sports pages.

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