Paralympics Sport Club gatherings give kids chance to test their abilities

It really is the small things in life that stand out for Jennifer Karbowski and other parents of children with disabilities.

Karbowski saw her 7-year-old son ride a bicycle for the first time recently. It was a special moment because her son, Rylan, is lucky to be able to walk.

Rylan has cerebral palsy and attends Neal Elementary School, 6651 W. Azure Drive. He got to ride a modified bike thanks to the Las Vegas program of the U.S. Paralympics Sport Club, sponsored by the Clark County School District and the city of Las Vegas' Adaptive Recreation Division.

At the program's most recent gathering, Nov. 16 at Rancho High School, 1900 Searles Ave., Rylan was engaged in battle with one of his peers. Using specially designed foils and masks, Rylan was fencing with another boy with cerebral palsy.

His adversary, 4-year-old Camron, weighed 1 pound at birth and is relegated to a wheelchair, at least for the time being.

Seeing Camron engaged in swordplay is inspiring for parents Gary and Michelle Vaughn.

"You can literally watch them grow here," Michelle Vaughn said. "We just love it so much. He loves it. He gets involved with peers that are similar. It's been amazing."

Camron also played basketball that night and had wheelchair races with Rylan in the gym.

Adapted physical education teachers in the school district volunteer their time to chaperone the events.

Billy Eddins is in his 19th year as an adapted P.E. teacher and helped start the program in 2006. He and other volunteers put on a monthly night of activities, usually at Rancho High School.

"These kids are going through some obstacles," Eddins said. "They get to realize they're not the only kid out there."

There were about 12 students with disabilities at the event, many of them with siblings.

Daniel Cheshier, 16, a student at Western High School, 4601 W. Bonanza Road, attended with his sister, Courtney Colton, 14, a student at O'Callaghan Middle School, 1450 Radwick Drive.

Cheshier was born blind and his sister partially blind. Thanks to a beeping device attached to his sister's waist, Cheshier could judge the distance and location of his opponent.

"Did you see that, Mom?" a proud Cheshier asked after removing his mask.

Micheal Miller, 11, is a student at Swainston Middle School, 3500 W. Gilmore Ave. in North Las Vegas. His body was burned in a house fire when he was 3. He has been coming to these events for two years.

"I like all the activities here," Micheal said, but named swimming and ice skating as his favorites. "There are a lot of people here to play with. I hope we can keep doing it."

His sister, 10-year-old Marissa, squared off against him in some heated fencing matches throughout the night.

"I like coming because they're fun and active, and I have something to do with my brother," Marissa said.

It can be just as rewarding for the parents.

"It means being around people that understand these things you're going through," Michelle Vaughn said. "It gives the parent the freedom to observe their child interact with others. We just love it so much. It's an unsaid bond you have with the other parents."

The next program is scheduled from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Las Vegas Ice Center, 9295 W. Flamingo Road. The program is open to all Clark County School District students with physical disabilities or visual impairments. Activities are free, and parents and siblings are welcome to attend.

For more information or to RSVP, call the adapted P.E. office at 799-0104.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.