Jessica Rogers
Encyclopedia
Jessica Rogers is an accomplished athlete participating in Wheelchair basketball
, wheelchair racing
and numerous swimming events. She is also the founder of the Caudal Regression Syndrome Association, an organization for information sharing, support, and networking.
and bilateral leg amputations. Her spine ends at approximately T 7-10. She has resulting paralysis and very small lower anatomy. She has one kidney.
into a single parent household by Phyllis Rogers, as one of eight children, all of whom have disabilities. Three of her brothers and sisters are hearing-impaired, whilst Jessica uses a wheelchair. Rogers overcame her initial delays and proved to be a determined and bright young lady.
(NJDC) in Tampa, Florida. She was there to participate in the 25-meter breast stroke event. Rogers and her family took a side trip to Busch Gardens
. While at the park Rogers was denied access to three Busch Gardens rides, including the 6-inch-deep kiddy water rapids. Ride attendants at Busch Gardens called their managers and turned her away, not wanting to be responsible if she were hurt.
When Rogers returned to the NJDC games the next day, her wheelchair carried a sign asking fellow athletes to boycott Busch Gardens because of this incident. After going to the news media about the Busch Gardens incident, Busch Gardens later on allowed Jessica on some of the park's rides.
.
, field, Ice sledge hockey, swimming, wheelchair basketball
, and hand cycling. In spite of the fact Jessica has to coordinate both the schedule and the expense of her many activities with the demands of 7 other siblings in her family, she has demonstrated her abilities in many areas. On the basketball court Jessica is fearless and fast and can read the court well.
Her hook shot under pressure has resulted in team wins on numerous occasions. She always has an encouraging word for other players and has worked with younger players to help them develop their skills. A frequent participant in the National Junior Disability Championships
with her team, the Bennett Blazers, she had to stop competing when she outgrew her racing wheelchair.
2010 the IM Able Foundation a organization whose goal is to help disabled individuals find the physical fitness modality that meets their needs, put Rogers back on track, literally, with a new racing wheechair. The same year she returned to wheelchair racing Rogers went on to gold in the 100, 200, 400 and 800-meter events at the 2010 NJDC.
team and USA Swimming
Club member. Rogers was an unknown to the Potomac Valley Swim leagues, but had already made her mark on the junior national scene as a record holder in 7 swimming events. The resion Jessica says she joined FISH looking was she was looking for some training closer to home to help her bridge the gap between junior championships and Paralympics
level swimming.Jessica trains at the new FISH location, Audrey Moore RECenter at Wakefield Park, under the direction of Coach Julie and Coach Megan.
Paralympic athletes are classed according to the impact their level of disability has on their swimming. Jessica swims in an S-4 classification, meaning that she is using only her arms for swimming. In 2009, Jessica Rogers competed in the Eastern Regional Junior Disability Meet in New Jersey
. She swam in 8 events, placing first in all, and easily qualifying for junior nationals. Most importantly, Jessica's times have dropped significantly, so that she now meets the official cut off times in all of these events for the Paralympic
Trials.
Roger's current goal is to make the 2012 USA Paralympics team, swimming in 50M and 100M events at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
, in London, England.
Awards and Achievements include:
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
, wheelchair racing
Wheelchair racing
Wheelchair racing is the racing of wheelchairs in track and road races. Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability, amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted . Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their...
and numerous swimming events. She is also the founder of the Caudal Regression Syndrome Association, an organization for information sharing, support, and networking.
Biography
Rogers has lumbo sacral agenesis/caudal regression syndromeCaudal regression syndrome
Caudal regression syndrome or sacral agenesis is a little-known and rare congenital disorder in which there is abnormal fetal development of the lower spine—the caudal partition of the spine....
and bilateral leg amputations. Her spine ends at approximately T 7-10. She has resulting paralysis and very small lower anatomy. She has one kidney.
Early life
Rogers spent the first part of her life in an isolated crib in a care facility for adults with severe cognitive limitations. She was adopted from BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
into a single parent household by Phyllis Rogers, as one of eight children, all of whom have disabilities. Three of her brothers and sisters are hearing-impaired, whilst Jessica uses a wheelchair. Rogers overcame her initial delays and proved to be a determined and bright young lady.
In the news
In July 2005, Rogers made national headlines while attending the National Junior Disability ChampionshipsNational Junior Disability Championships
The National Junior Disability Championships are held every year in the United States. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including those with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical...
(NJDC) in Tampa, Florida. She was there to participate in the 25-meter breast stroke event. Rogers and her family took a side trip to Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens is the name of two amusement parks in the United States, owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of Blackstone Group. One of the parks is in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the other is in Tampa, Florida...
. While at the park Rogers was denied access to three Busch Gardens rides, including the 6-inch-deep kiddy water rapids. Ride attendants at Busch Gardens called their managers and turned her away, not wanting to be responsible if she were hurt.
When Rogers returned to the NJDC games the next day, her wheelchair carried a sign asking fellow athletes to boycott Busch Gardens because of this incident. After going to the news media about the Busch Gardens incident, Busch Gardens later on allowed Jessica on some of the park's rides.
Filmography
Documentaries and other television appearances include:| First aired | Title | Episode | Distributor | Produced by | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 18, 2006 | REBUILT: The Human Body Shop | A Child's Courage | Discovery Health Channel Discovery Health Channel Discovery Health Channel is a website owned by Discovery Communications, created for people interested in health and wellness. Until December 31, 2010, it was a U.S. cable television specialty channel dedicated to television programming that highlights various aspects of health and wellness... |
D.T. Slouffman | Freddie Award-winning Discovery Channel series |
| October 2006 | News Report: Kicking For Kids Who Can't | None | WUSA9 News WUSA (TV) WUSA is a television station broadcasting on channel 9 in Washington, D.C.. Owned by the Gannett Company, WUSA is an affiliate of the CBS television network, and the longest-tenured affiliate of that network... - Washington D.C. area |
Emily Smitt | 2006 Emmy Winner |
Charity work
Jessica Rogers is the founding member of The Caudal Regression Syndrome (CRS) Association, the only known active association offering information, support, and networking for persons with CRS and their families- anywhere in the world. Jessica started the association as a way to bring together these resources after years of finding it hard to find others who have CSR and even information on her condition of lumbo sacral agenesis/caudal regression syndromeCaudal regression syndrome
Caudal regression syndrome or sacral agenesis is a little-known and rare congenital disorder in which there is abnormal fetal development of the lower spine—the caudal partition of the spine....
.
Early sports involvement
Jessica Rogers started participating in her first organized sport activity at the age five years. Since that time Jessica has taken part in numerous sporting events which have included wheelchair racingWheelchair racing
Wheelchair racing is the racing of wheelchairs in track and road races. Wheelchair racing is open to athletes with any qualifying type of disability, amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted . Athletes are classified in accordance with the nature and severity of their...
, field, Ice sledge hockey, swimming, wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
, and hand cycling. In spite of the fact Jessica has to coordinate both the schedule and the expense of her many activities with the demands of 7 other siblings in her family, she has demonstrated her abilities in many areas. On the basketball court Jessica is fearless and fast and can read the court well.
Her hook shot under pressure has resulted in team wins on numerous occasions. She always has an encouraging word for other players and has worked with younger players to help them develop their skills. A frequent participant in the National Junior Disability Championships
National Junior Disability Championships
The National Junior Disability Championships are held every year in the United States. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including those with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical...
with her team, the Bennett Blazers, she had to stop competing when she outgrew her racing wheelchair.
2010 the IM Able Foundation a organization whose goal is to help disabled individuals find the physical fitness modality that meets their needs, put Rogers back on track, literally, with a new racing wheechair. The same year she returned to wheelchair racing Rogers went on to gold in the 100, 200, 400 and 800-meter events at the 2010 NJDC.
Swimming
In 2009 aged 12 Rogers joined FISH, a local Potomac Valley SwimmingPotomac Valley Swimming
Potomac Valley Swimming is the Local Swimming Committee for competitive swimming in the National Capitol Area, also known as the Washington Metropolitan Area. They are a member of USA Swimming and the Eastern Zone. Most of the athletes who compete in PVS-sponsored swim meets are youths under...
team and USA Swimming
USA Swimming
USA Swimming is the national governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. It is charged with selecting the United States Olympic Swimming team and any other teams which officially represent the United States, as well as the overall organization and operation of the sport within the...
Club member. Rogers was an unknown to the Potomac Valley Swim leagues, but had already made her mark on the junior national scene as a record holder in 7 swimming events. The resion Jessica says she joined FISH looking was she was looking for some training closer to home to help her bridge the gap between junior championships and Paralympics
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
level swimming.Jessica trains at the new FISH location, Audrey Moore RECenter at Wakefield Park, under the direction of Coach Julie and Coach Megan.
Paralympic athletes are classed according to the impact their level of disability has on their swimming. Jessica swims in an S-4 classification, meaning that she is using only her arms for swimming. In 2009, Jessica Rogers competed in the Eastern Regional Junior Disability Meet in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She swam in 8 events, placing first in all, and easily qualifying for junior nationals. Most importantly, Jessica's times have dropped significantly, so that she now meets the official cut off times in all of these events for the Paralympic
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
Trials.
Roger's current goal is to make the 2012 USA Paralympics team, swimming in 50M and 100M events at the 2012 Summer Paralympics
2012 Summer Paralympics
The 2012 Summer Paralympic Games will be the fourteenth Paralympics and will take place between 29 August and 9 September 2012. The Games will be held in London, United Kingdom after the city was successful with its bid for the Paralympics and Summer Olympic Games.Even though 2012 will be London's...
, in London, England.
Major Achievements
In 2011 Jessica Rogers was selected by SPORTS 'N SPOKES Magazine as their Junior Athlete of the Year. As Prt of her winnings for being selected Junior Althete of the Year, Jessica received a beautifully engraved plaque, a year's subscription to SPORTS 'N SPOKES, and a brand new custom fitted wheelchair courtesy of TiLite Wheelchairs.Awards and Achievements include:
- 2011: Parapan American GamesParapan American GamesThe Parapan American Games is a multi-sport event held every four years after every Pan American Games for athletes with physical disabilities. The first Games was held in 1999 in Mexico City, Mexico...
, Guadalajara, Mexico, silver medal 100 M breastroke - 2011: SPORTS 'N SPOKES Magazine's Junior Athlete of the Year
- 2010: Junior National Champion, 100, 200, 400, 800 M wheelchair track
- 2010: Im Able Foundation's Racing Wheelchair Recipient
- 2010: American Paralympic record holder, women's 100 SCY breaststroke
- 2010: American Paralympic record holder, women's 200 SCY IM
- 2010: Canadian American Paralympic National Champion women's 100 M breastroke
- 2009: Canadian American Paralympic National Champion women's 100 M breastroke
- 2009: Canadian American Paralympic National Champion women's 200 M breastroke
- 2008: National Junior Disability ChampionshipsNational Junior Disability ChampionshipsThe National Junior Disability Championships are held every year in the United States. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including those with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical...
, First place 100Meter, 200Meter, 400Meter wheelchair track
External links
- Caudal Regression Syndrome Association- Organization founded by Jessica Rogers
- A Child's Courage - The REBUILT: The Human Body Shop segment featuring Jessica Rogers