National Junior Disability Championships
Encyclopedia
The National Junior Disability Championships are held every year (usually in July) in the United States
. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including (but not limited to) those with spina bifida
, cerebral palsy
, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical disabilities that impede movement/the ability to participate in non-adapted sports.
Typically, competitions are held in track, field events (javelin, shotput, discus, club, softball throw), weightlifting, table tennis, archery, swimming, and sometimes boccia and 3-on-3 basketball.
Athletes can be from 7 – 21 years of age. Several Paralympic athletes started their career as competitors at the NJDC.
2011 - (to be held) Saginaw, Michigan
2010 - Deerfield and Lake Forest, Illinois (hosted by GLASA - Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association)
2009 - St. Louis, Missouri
2008 - Piscataway, New Jersey
2007 - Spokane, Washington
2006 – Tampa, Florida (New Tampa YMCA, Freedom HS, Shriners Hospital)
2005 – Tampa, Florida (University of South Florida, New Tampa YMCA)
2004 – Mesa, Arizona (Mesa High School)
2003 – New London, Connecticut (Connecticut College)
2002 – New London, Connecticut (Connecticut College)
2001 – Piscataway, New Jersey (Rutgers University)
2000 – San Jose, California
1999 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
1998 – Bellevue, Washington
1997 – Mesa, Arizona (Mesa High School)
1996 – Birmingham, Alabama
1995 – Ft. Collins, Colorado (Colorado State University)
1994 – Edmond, Oklahoma (University of Central Oklahoma)
1993 – Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State University)
1992 – Orlando, Florida (Walt Disney World)
1991 – Princeton, New Jersey (Princeton University)
1990 – Ft. Collins, Colorado (Colorado State University)
1989 – Cupertino, California (De Anza College)
1988 – Johnson City, Tennessee (East Tennessee State University)
1987 – Lawrenceville, New Jersey (Rider College)
1986 – Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
1985 – Fisherville, Virginia
1984 – Delaware
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including (but not limited to) those with spina bifida
Spina bifida
Spina bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through...
, cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical disabilities that impede movement/the ability to participate in non-adapted sports.
Typically, competitions are held in track, field events (javelin, shotput, discus, club, softball throw), weightlifting, table tennis, archery, swimming, and sometimes boccia and 3-on-3 basketball.
Athletes can be from 7 – 21 years of age. Several Paralympic athletes started their career as competitors at the NJDC.
Mission
It is the intent of Wheelchair Sports USA to work with the Local Organizing Committee to provide junior athletes with physical disabilities ages 7-21, their coaches, parents and other participants of the Junior Championships with an unforgettable experience. We endeavor to solicit funding, identify resources and coordinate the community effort to provide an optimal experience in competition, social interaction and education for each participant. In doing so, we hope to highlight and showcase the beauty of the host state, the civic pride of the community and the goodness of the people.History
The National Junior Disability Championships were first held in July, 1984 with only 3 events. Since then, the NJDC has been held in various states.2011 - (to be held) Saginaw, Michigan
2010 - Deerfield and Lake Forest, Illinois (hosted by GLASA - Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association)
2009 - St. Louis, Missouri
2008 - Piscataway, New Jersey
2007 - Spokane, Washington
2006 – Tampa, Florida (New Tampa YMCA, Freedom HS, Shriners Hospital)
2005 – Tampa, Florida (University of South Florida, New Tampa YMCA)
2004 – Mesa, Arizona (Mesa High School)
2003 – New London, Connecticut (Connecticut College)
2002 – New London, Connecticut (Connecticut College)
2001 – Piscataway, New Jersey (Rutgers University)
2000 – San Jose, California
1999 – Albuquerque, New Mexico
1998 – Bellevue, Washington
1997 – Mesa, Arizona (Mesa High School)
1996 – Birmingham, Alabama
1995 – Ft. Collins, Colorado (Colorado State University)
1994 – Edmond, Oklahoma (University of Central Oklahoma)
1993 – Columbus, Ohio (Ohio State University)
1992 – Orlando, Florida (Walt Disney World)
1991 – Princeton, New Jersey (Princeton University)
1990 – Ft. Collins, Colorado (Colorado State University)
1989 – Cupertino, California (De Anza College)
1988 – Johnson City, Tennessee (East Tennessee State University)
1987 – Lawrenceville, New Jersey (Rider College)
1986 – Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
1985 – Fisherville, Virginia
1984 – Delaware