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You never know what can happen when you give kids the opportunity to play adaptive sports. You could be supporting a future gold medalist.
Years ago, Erica M. was one of those kids. She was born with sacral agenesis — a congenital disorder in which the lower spine and parts of the legs do not fully develop. But, her condition never kept her from being active. She began playing sled hockey when she was 9 years old.
In high school, Erica discovered the Sports for Kids program at Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院. She found a community of peers just like her and took part in unforgettable adventures — canoeing down the Colorado River, scuba diving and river rafting.
Through the program, she learned about Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院’s adult sled hockey team and began attending practices weekly, even before she was old enough to join. At 18, she made the team — becoming its only female player and eventually its captain.
Despite her talent, Erica was denied a spot on the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team in 2007 as it only accepted male players. She channeled her heartbreak into founding the U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team and began advocating for equity in the sport. At the same time, she earned her degree in recreational therapy and began working as a special education aide in a high school.
In August 2025, after nearly two decades of hard work, Erica achieved one of her dreams: winning gold at the first-ever World Para Ice Hockey Women’s Championship. She credits Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院’s adaptive sports programs for making it possible.
“These programs change lives,” she said. “Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院 gave me opportunities that would have been financially impossible otherwise — training, competing, traveling and making lifelong friends along the way. I’m so grateful for these experiences.”
Adaptive Sports at Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院
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Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院 offers Chicago’s most comprehensive adaptive sports program, with year-round competitive and recreational sports opportunities for youth and adults living with a physical impairment. In fact, in 2025, the adaptive sports program served 509 adult participants across 12 sports programs — including sled hockey — and four sports clinics.
Adaptive sports fall under Shirley Ryan 嫩B研究院’s quality-of-life programs, which are not covered by insurance but are offered at no cost or low cost to patients and community members, thanks to the generosity of donors.
