My name is Gabe Trujillo and I have been an athlete of Arizona Disabled Sports since 2005. A native of Arizona, my experience with AZDS began by chance. I was doing a story on adaptive sports for the State Press for Arizona State University. I was originally going to highlight the sport of quad rugby, but was directed to check out the sport of power soccer at AZDS. So I stopped by the Broadway Recreation Center to see the sport in action and the rest was history. It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with this incredible sport for people with disabilities. Before I became a quadriplegic ..read more

AzDS is excited to announce our 2022 Holiday Bowling Party. This event will take place at AMF Mesa Lanes located at 2115 E. Southern Ave., Mesa, AZ 85204 on Saturday December 17th at 4pm. Help us celebrate the holidays by sporting your favorite ugly sweater! Food, drinks, and holiday treats will be provided. The cost to register is $10 per person, all family and friends are welcome to register. We hope to see you there! (In an ugly sweater) Registration closes December 10th! Register Here ..read more

Arizona Disabled Sports is pleased to announce Carol Leicht as the next Executive Director! Carol developed non-profit experience as the Events & Marketing Manager for the 100 Club of Arizona. Carol comes to AZDS with an extensive background in financial responsibility as Controller in the golf industry for sixteen years. Her organization and attention to detail have made her the go-to event person in the golf industry, organizing many golf tournaments over the years. Her twenty years of experience working numerous special events and competitions in the special needs community include dire ..read more

Dear Supporters of Arizona Disabled Sports, With a heavy heart we are announcing the cancellation of our 2022 Annual Fundraiser due to the exit of our Executive Director and staffing changes within the organization. The planning committee has secured a date to host our 34th Annual Ability Ball Fundraiser on Saturday, September 30, 2023 – PLEASE SAVE THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR! We would like to remind you that we are always accepting your generous donations through our website to help fund the adaptive programs and special events offered by our organization.  We appreciate any assistance y ..read more

The 2022 Desert Challenge Games presented by The Hartford was a hit. May 18-22 we hosted 340 athletes representing 12 different countries who competed in 6 different sports throughout the Mesa, AZ area. Thank you to all athletes, coaches, officials, guides, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and fans who came to the games this year! 2022 Desert Challenge Games presented by The Hartford Video Recap ..read more

Arizona Disabled Sports will host the 2021 Desert Challenge Games May 26 – 30, 2021 at Westwood High School, Kino Aquatic Center, and the Broadway Recreation Center in Mesa, Arizona. The Desert Challenge Games provide the opportunity for local, national, and international athletes with physical, visual, or intellectual disabilities to compete in Air Pistol & Rifle, Archery, Swimming, and Track & Field events with the hope of qualifying for Junior Nationals, Adult National Championships, US Veteran Games or the Tokyo Paralympic Games. It is expected that over 400 athletes from 15 countr ..read more

Arizona Disabled Sports is excited to announce they have earned the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). The designation indicates that staff have received evidence-based training through IBCCES to enhance their understanding and mindfulness when working with individuals with autism or other cognitive disorders. “At Arizona Disabled Sports we are dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation. This means ensuring our staff is properly trained ..read more

Mark Grant, former City of Mesa Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities employee of 30 years is still giving back to support people with disabilities. He is now the President of the Board of Directors for Arizona Disabled Sports. He was integral in starting the non-profit organization nearly 30 years ago and stays active as a coach, volunteer, fundraiser, and activist. The Arizona Cardinals Community Quarterback Award recognizes outstanding volunteers in the state of Arizona ages 13 and up. A panel of community leaders determine the award recipients and award a total of $20,000 to the char ..read more

AzDS hosts SportsFest Day annually to introduce individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments to track, field, and archery. It is a fun day where individuals can come out and try these sports in a relaxed atmosphere!  SportsFest 2018 will be on Saturday, January 27th, 2018 from 9:00am-12:00pm at Mesa High School, 1630 E. Southern Ave, Mesa 85204 ..read more