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Aimee Vlachose, M.S., ABD, assistant lecturer of sport and recreation management and assistant chair of the Department of Business, helped to organize and market a Veterans’ Day climbing event on November 9 for disabled veterans. The event was the result of a collaboration of Salt Pump Climbing Company and Maine Adaptive Sports and Recreation (MASR), an organization that provides free opportunities to participate in sport for anyone in Maine with a disability.

UNE’s relationship with Maine Adaptive Sports extends beyond Vlachose’s involvement with the organization. For the past two winters, 51С�Ƴ�physical therapy students have volunteered at MASR’s annual Ski-A-Thon. In addition, Shannon Bergeland, B.S., Emily Gall, B.S., Kristina Jamo, B.S., and Chelsea Paul, B.S., all students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, partnered with MASR to develop a series of online learning modules for new volunteers to work with participants in the organization’s winter programs, including alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snow shoeing.

The modules provide basic information to lay individuals about health conditions common to MASR participants, such as cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and vision and hearing impairments.

According to Jim Cavanaugh, PT, Ph.D., associate professor and interim program director in the Department of Physical Therapy, UNE’s relationship with MASR is “an excellent example of an academic-community partnership, in which all stakeholders benefit.”

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