2023 Recap - Adaptive Program

This year, we focused to better integrate riders with adaptive needs into our existing family program, and it was a huge success as we made all of the Family Overnight Rides accessible to families with a youth with an adaptive need. There were 3 such families on each of the 4 rides! 

Our Adaptive Program Director, Bradley Fisher, continued to work his magic and established an incredible partnership with KEEN Chicago who is all about empowering youth with disabilities through fun physical activities. Our friends at the Chicago Park District helped provide the camping gear and space. And Bradley secured grant funding to make it all happen! ​

We rode with 7 families, each with a child with an adaptive need (19 total participants) up the lakefront from The South Shore Cultural Center and ended at Northerly Island with a campout! Such a special event that really nailed our value of radical inclusivity as youth with a variety of adaptive needs and their families were able to participate thanks to the OOFD fleet of awesome adaptive bikes and a ton of OOFD and KEEN volunteers showing up to make the event happen!

This all set the stage for us winning our biggest grant ever - $50,000 to help build up our Adaptive Program and fleet of adaptive bikes next year! So stay tuned as this program will continue to grow and help us stay true to our value of being radically inclusive and welcoming on our rides and in our community.