Vancouver, BC, July 31, 2024 – Steve Deakin Pickleball (SDP) is excited to announce the successful launch of its adaptive pickleball program for children, held at Shawnigan Lake in collaboration with Easter Seals, a champion for individuals with diverse abilities since 1952.
The program was designed to accommodate the specific needs of participants, with wheelchair-accessible courts and modified rules and games to ensure inclusivity. Thanks to the substantial support from HEAD Pickleball and Pickleball Depot, SDP was able to provide balls and equipment that allowed dozens of campers to try the sport for the first time. It’s the hope of SDP that pickleball will help to foster self-esteem, confidence, and independence among its younger participants.
Neil Parker, Director of Pickleball at SDP, led the camp and expressed his enthusiasm for introducing the sport to young athletes. “Adaptive sports like pickleball are instrumental in improving confidence and social skills. At SDP, we are dedicated to making sports universally accessible, and this event is a testament to that commitment,” Parker said.
The event was further supported by Nature’s Path, which supplied a range of healthy snacks, significantly contributing to the overall success of the camp.
SDP is excited to further its commitment to inclusivity in sports and plans to organize additional events to establish pickleball as a platform for community engagement for all.
