Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association Empowers Disabled Athletes

Our mission is to promote and support the optimal development and well being of youth and adults, who have a primary physical or visual disabilities through the provision of inclusive recreational fitness and competitive sports activities and to offer opportunities for empowerment through education, leadership and training in collaboration with community-based organizations. 

Founded in 1999 as a non –profit 501 (c) (3) organization, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) was born to address the need for adaptive recreational and competitive sports programs for children and adults with physical or visual disabilities.

There were few adaptive sports programs available for people living in northern Illinois, and programs such as the Special Olympics were not appropriate for GLASA’s target population because these athletes did not have primary cognitive disabilities. GLASA offers more than 30 different sports to choose from, as well as camps, clinics and tournaments. 

In 2011 GLASA conducted programs 322 days of the year at 53 different locations stretching from Twin Lakes, Wis., to the far south side of Chicago. All GLASA programs are run by qualified coaches, are inclusive and are designed for everyone from the casual beginner to the more serious, accomplished athlete.

As we say, “Let No One Sit on the Sidelines.”