Historically, ABC Medical has celebrated National Adaptive Sports Month during the month of April. This is usually a time where we can share with you the biggest events going on and highlight triumphs in each adaptive sport we are honored to support and attend. The NASM campaign means the world to us and so do you!
2020 is not what anyone expected it to be. A global pandemic put the world in a shocking standstill. The ABC Medical family sincerely hopes that all of our customers, amazing athletes, and your loved ones are doing well and in good health.
This year ABC Medical dedicates National Adaptive Sports Month to all the essential workers bravely working in the face of this pandemic. From the extraordinary medical workers fighting to save lives to the essential businesses that keep us fed and that ensure vital operations like mail delivery and trash pickup continue. To the adaptive athletes who are missing their long distance friends and who missed their national competitions, many of them high school and college seniors. To all the fans who cannot cheer from the sidelines.
Everyone has been effected in some way by COVID-19. And it goes without saying that some losses are far more serious than sports. While we wait for this to pass we also want to celebrate what we have achieved and had the privilege of experiencing together not too long ago. Adaptive sports will be there for all of us when this is over!
In the meantime, please share with us how you are getting through this time on social media by using #nasm2020 #nationaladaptivesportsmonth2020 and tagging @myabcmedical. You can thank your heroes, share your at-home work outs, your favorite sports moments, team shout outs, and more! Tell us how you adapt.believe.compete.
ABC Nation,
2020 had a crazy start and my 20 years plus as Charlotte Jr. Head Coach's job comes to a crazy ending as well. Let me explain.
When your time comes to let go or say goodbye as a coach, I think you just know that time. This season I decided, after talking with my wife, that I would roll away from a program that I loved and served for over 20 years. It was bittersweet no matter how I carved it up. I could reallocate time toward my family and other pursuits that made sense to me. As the season wound down the reality of my decision became more real and emotional. I was going to hang up my whistle!
Lakeshore was my last conference tournament of coaching the Charlotte Rollin' Hornets Varsity team and my longtime friend Lisa Hilborn, Director of Athletics gave me a moment of recognition at center court. As I said goodbye to this critical chapter of my life in the game of giving back to our youth in the NWBA it became surreal. An era was nearing the end but Nationals was just around the corner in Wichita!!
I had an early morning flight into Wichita on the day the Corona Virus put a stranglehold on our country and all sporting events. I woke up at approximately 4am, checked my phone to see that indeed our Jr. National Tournament was canceled. I went back to bed and woke to what felt like a bad dream! What about the seniors not getting to play their final games? What about me not being able to coach the kids who I could call my very own? Just one more time? Not to be...! Our best laid human plans changed by a world-changing virus.
After a week had passed, I get a huge surprise that lifted my spirits. I was told I was awarded by the NWBA Jr. Division the ‘Ed Owen’ Coach of the Year’. Wow! Most people don’t know it, but Ed Owen was my first coach. He changed my life by introducing to and teaching me the ‘Game’! The comments on Facebook were sobering coming from junior players, former junior players and parents. Through such an outpouring of love and testimonial, I was given a new reality that what I did for kids mattered. DK tears are going on now! If you know me, you know it doesn’t take much for me to cry.
I do none of this without the help of others i.e. all my assistant coaches along the way, parents who trusted me, the NWBA, and sponsors. My wife, Sandy, and my family let me say thank you as my greatest-of-all-time teammates!
Dare to Have a Voice. Your Voice Matters to Plant the Seeds of Hope in this World!
Politics and sports.
These two words have always represented two separate and divergent worlds to me.
That is no longer the case anymore.
When Jason Barker set up at the PVA Wheelchair Bowling tournament in Shawnee, OK earlier this month he didn't know what to expect other than watching some wheelchair bowling and meeting the athletes, as usual. Jason Barker, a traveling regional sales manager for ABC Medical since November 2018, had been traveling since the NWBA Junior and Women's Championships in New Lenox, IL and Quad Rugby Championships in Rockford, IL the previous weekend. On day one of the PVA Midewestern Wheelchair Bowling Tournament, one of the bowlers rolled up to the ABC Medical table. We'll call him Nick in this article to protect his privacy. The thing about Nick is that he had not packed enough catheters with him for the 4 day trip in Shawnee, OK. He said he was from Colorado Springs. Jason looked at our table display and the catheter boxes underneath the table, searching through the different fr. sizes. He was able to find a few samples of 14 fr. size which is what Nick said he uses and gave them all to him. However, that was not going to be enough for Nick to get through the end of the tournament.
Below is the transcription of a keynote speech ABC Medical's former CEO, current Chairman of the Board of Directors, Keith Jones gave at the Philadelphia Accessibility Conference in April 2016. We are pleased to share the full speech with you, titled “The Powerful Impact of Adaptive Sports” on the anniversary of that inspiring speech. We're grateful for the legacy Keith Jones helped build for ABC Medical with our commitment to adaptive sports as a company. We will continue to support organizations and sports events as long as our mission says "Do Well by Doing Good." Hope you enjoy reading it. Happy National Adaptive Sports Month! #NASM2019
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For the past 5 years in April, ABC Medical celebrates National Adaptive Sports Month. The goal of this social media awareness campaign is to promote adaptive sports. Whether it’s spreading new information throughout the adaptive sports community or reaching brand new people who have never heard of adaptive sports before, this campaign is a vital resource we can all utilize.
ABC Medical is excited and honored to announce our partnership with the United States Quad Rugby Association. We will sponsor and have presence at several USQRA tournaments in 2019, including the National Championship in Rockford, IL at the end of March.
Michelle Cross is the first student-athlete to represent San Diego State University in adaptive track and field. SDSU continues to take steps to broaden its adapted athletic program vison, beginning with Michelle. This is the first part in a series that will follow Cross’ journey as SDSU’s first official adaptive student athlete. The college freshman shares her experiences leading up to her admittance to SDSU as well as her advice for other adaptive athletes seeking to compete at the college level.
ABC Home Medical, Inc. has been honored with a 2018 When Work Works Award for exemplary workplace practices.
The prestigious When Work Works Award is part of the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) When Work Works project, a national initiative that helps employers become more successful by transforming the way they view and adopt effective and flexible workplaces.
