Louisiana GUMBO Inc.

Louisiana GUMBO Inc. hosts 2 regional adaptive sport (track and field) competitions, and 2 state competitions (track and field and boccia) in north Louisiana.  These competitions are open to youth and adults, including Veterans. The organization also provides adaptive sport clinics, as well as workshops for coaches and officials. Louisiana GUMBO Inc. provides an adaptive sport equipment loaner program and on-going technical assistance to athletes, parents, coaches, and school systems. GUMBO athletes are never charged a fee for participating in clinics, competitions, or workshops. Many of our athletes have disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury (paraplegia, quadriplegia), spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, limb amputation (amputee), achondroplasia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, or general orthopedic impairments. There are also competition opportunities for those with visual, hearing, and intellectual impairment. Louisiana GUMBO has enjoyed partnering with a number of local schools and agencies to provide programming that benefits people with disabilities. These organizations include: Shriners Children's Shreveport, Shreveport Public Assembly & Recreation (SPAR), Northwestern State University, University of Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Christian University, Bossier Parish Schools, and Caddo Parish Schools. Caddo, Bossier, Webster, Morehouse, and Ouachita Parishes have very active teams that participate in GUMBO events.  GUMBO is nationally recognized and has been awarded for its outstanding contributions to children and youth with disabilities by the American Association for Leisure and Recreation. Louisiana GUMBO Inc is recognized as a Move United Adaptive Club.

Testimonials

"My son became a below knee amputee when he was 8. We found out about GUMBO a few years later. The change was dramatic. He became physically fit and gained self-confidence. He was selected to be on Junior Team U.S.A. at 16 and competed in the Jr International Track and Field meet in Switzerland. GUMBO also helped me as a parent by giving the privilege to help coach these wonderful kids. They taught me more than anyone can imagine."

"The best part of these games are the children's smiles after they did it, themselves!"

"If it weren't for the GUMBO Program, I would have never gone to college."

"The GUMBO Games are the only place that we are treated normal, and not special!"
"I look forward to competing in the GUMBO Games every year."

"GUMBO gives us the opportunity to show our abilities instead of our disabilities."

"I have more friends now that I am in adaptive sports."

"I credit wheelchair track and field for the improvement in my son's grades."

"GUMBO helped me learn that I can be independent even though I am in a wheelchair."

"GUMBO opened the world of adaptive sports to me and helped me see what I CAN do...before that the focus was on what I couldn't do."

"Getting in a racing wheelchair allowed me to go fast for the first time in my life."

"With the help of people from GUMBO Games I was able to be on my high school track team and go to the State meet."

"Boccia is a great sport for my son! There aren't many sports he can participate in and this gives him a great opportunity to be competitive and learn sportsmanship which are both great life skills."

"I am an athlete, even though I am in a wheelchair."