One of the activities growing in popularity at the clinic is the rock-climbing wall, which nearly 300 veterans attempted to scale this year. photo by Robert Turtil

A Lesson in Living

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Most people usually think of the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic as a "ski clinic." What they may not realize is that skiing is only one part of this diversified annual event, hosted by the Grand Junction, Colo., VA Medical Center and sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

This year again proved the point, as the largest group of disabled veteran participants to date—330—converged on the mountain town of Crested Butte, Colo., March 26-31.

Fourteen years ago, the clinic began as an event where veterans with spinal-cord injuries, amputations, and other disabilities could learn to ski. Who would have guessed that in 2000, people who have paraplegia, quadriplegia, visual impairments, or other serious disabilities could also go to the mountain and learn how to scuba dive and kayak? Even well-seasoned staff marvel at the scope of today's clinic.

Sandy Trombetta, the Grand Junction VA Medical Center recreation therapist who originated the program, had a simple vision: to give disabled veterans the experience of skiing as a way of challenging themselves and giving them a totally different perception of life with a disability. Through skiing, they could build self-confidence that could then be applied to everyday life.

If the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic has developed a life of its own, its message is clear for people who are able-bodied as well as those with disabilities: This is truly a lesson in living.

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