BART Center for Adaptive Sports

Our mission is to provide people with disabilities and their families the opportunity to enjoy outdoor sports with a special focus on snow sports.

WINTER SEASON VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 2013-2014:

Our PSIA-E certified staff offer training and ski pass incentives to volunteers. BART Center volunteers instruct and/or assist with adaptive alpine skiing and snowboarding lessons. We cater to students of all ages with disabilities and offer both AM and afternoon lessons throughout the season at Bromley Mountain Ski Resort located just 6 miles from Manchester, VT. There are other incentives for winter volunteers, including additional lift ticket vouchers for friends and family - depending on the extent of the volunteer's commitment.

HISTORY

The adaptive ski program that is now the Bart Center was originally established in 1999 under the auspices of the Bromley Ski School. The program had a core of four volunteers that received their certifications in teaching skiing to people with disabilities. In 2002, the adaptive program moved its operations to the Bromley Outing Club and became the Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center. In 2005, the Center became its own entity, became a chapter member of Disabled Sports USA, and separated from the B.O.C. To this day, three of the four original volunteers still teach or work at Bromley including one that is now the Center’s Director, Joe Hurley.

In 1999, the adaptive program helped 4-6 students per year and operated only on weekends and holidays. At that time, most of the program’s clients had cognitive disabilities. In 2002, the program had grown to 75 lessons per year and still operated only on weekends and holidays. Today, the Bart Center programs deliver 375+ winter lessons and 75+ summer experiences to people with cognitive and/or physical disabilities. The Center has one full time and one seasonal part time staff member and relies heavily on its trained volunteers to make the Bart Center the desired destination for people with disabilities to participate in outdoor sports in New England.

The Bart Center was named after Bart J. Ruggiere, a young man whose life was taken from us on September 11^th during the World Trade Center attacks. Bart loved to ski at Bromley with his family and friends for nearly 20 years. His family and friends formed a foundation in Bart’s name to help support people with special needs through an adaptive sports program at Bromley Mountain and their initial generosity has been one of the main catalysts for our success.

BART Center

P.O. Box 2232

Manchester Ctr. VT 05255

802-824-5522 x 430 (Office)

Joe Hurley, Executive Director

Chapter Member of DSUSA & The Paralympic Sport Club

The only limits anyone has Are the limits they set for themselves