FSU Art Therapy Association Represents at SportsAbility Expo
Event Poster
On April 11th and 12th, FSU Art Therapy Association (FSU ATA) assisted with The SportsAbility Expo at Tallahassee Community College and Ochlockonee River State Park. SportsAbility is an event held by the Florida Disabled Outdoor Association (FDOA). The goal of the SportsAbility event is to enhance the lives of people living with disabilities and promoting participation in events and active listening. The SportsAbility event offers attendee’s information on the benefits of recreation and leisure activities for all people. This event also provides a way for people with disabilities to network with others. The event is free of charge for all people who attend thanks to the FDOA sponsors.
From left to right: Laurie LoRe-Gussak; Florida Disabled Outdoors Association Executive Director, Ashley Jones; FSU ATA Treasurer, Rachel Mims; ’13-’14 FSU ATA President, Chelsea Harris; FSU ATA President, Erin Huntley; FSU ATA Vice President, Dave Gussak; FSU Department of Art Education Chair
On Friday April 11th, Tallahassee Community College hosted the Sports Ability Resource Expo and Indoor activities. All attendees were encouraged to interact with new products and activities. The event held various information booths as well as hands on leisure activities. Some of these activities included adaptive golf, tennis, martial arts, and basketball. FSU Art Therapy provided 2 tables for attendee’s to participate in the creation for a mural. Participants were informed the title of the mural was “Help our Garden Grow”. Many participants enjoyed the art making process.
Friday, April 11th the TCC center for workforce development hosted the SportsAbility Active Leisure for Life Banquet. This event was a sit down dinner followed by a silent auction as well as music. FSU Art Therapy Association students used this banquet as a way to promote the art therapy program and field to those who attended.
Saturday, April 12th, the fun of SportsAbility continued with an Outdoor Day at Ochlockonee River State Park. This event provided various outdoor activities for those with disabilities including pontoon boat rides, waterskiing, water skiing, SCUBA diving, sailing, canoeing and kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, hand-pedaled biking, archery, target shooting, nature trail rides, golf, horseback riding, and music.
FSU Department of Art Education Chair Dave Gussak stated, “The event was incredible! More people attended the SportsAbility event this year than the previous year. The ongoing relationship between FSU art therapy and the FDOA continues to get stronger.” He went on to say, “We learn as much from them as we hope that they learn from us.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw-df1gYPBs]