Paralympic Training
This is your chance to wear red, white, and blue for Team USA and go for the gold! DASA is part of the nationwide athlete identification and development strategy that introduces Americans with Paralympic-eligible impairments to Paralympic sport and leads them into the athlete pipeline for the U.S. Paralympic Team. Our training programs will help you reach peak performance and take your first step toward the podium.
Paralympic Training & Sports at DASA
Who is Eligible to Become a Paralympian?
DASA works with cognitively age-appropriate individuals with Paralympic-eligible impairments to gain strength, endurance, and skills for their chosen Paralympic sport. Our adaptive programs have sent many athletes into the pipeline for the U.S. Paralympic Team and several have won gold!
DASA and the USPSC empower people of all ages who have:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Spina Bifida
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Amputation
- Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- Visual Impairment
- Neuromuscular/Orthopedic Conditions
DASA celebrates 3 Paralympic gold medalists in the sport of sled hockey, a Team USA Assistant Coach and athlete in Wheelchair Rugby, and a 3-time Paralympic medalist in the sport of track.
What is Classification?
If you’re interested in the U.S. Paralympic Team, it’s helpful to understand Classification. Classification systems, defined and implemented by the International Federation for each sport, provide structure for Paralympic competition by:
- Defining who is eligible to compete in Para sport.
- Grouping eligible athletes into sport classes according to their activity limitations.
Sport class criteria and parameters are defined and put in place by each sport IF with the aim of minimizing the impact of impairment and to ensure that winning is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability, mental focus, etc., the same factors that account for success in sport for able-bodied athletes.
For the most current Classification information, go to The U.S. Paralympics National Classification Policies and Procedures link on the U.S. Paralympics website or contact us today.
Go for the Gold with DASA
Through motivational and rehabilitative therapies, adaptive training, and athletics, many of our athletes go on to compete in regional and national competitions and the Paralympics and reach physical and emotional heights many never thought possible. You can too! Join us at DASA St. Louis, St. Charles, or COMO, and make your Paralympic dreams come true.
We would love to learn more about your fitness needs and how DASA can help, please do not hesitate to reach out!
