About
About SkaterSense
Mission
SkaterSense will make evidence-based wellness information more accessible and actionable for adaptive skaters by combining research, adaptive-specific considerations, and community input into a free digital toolkit.
Why SkaterSense
I started SkaterSense after skating alongside adaptive skaters in my local rink’s Special Skaters program.
They had far fewer resources than other figure skaters — in nutrition, physical well-being, and mental health — and I wanted to change that.
What SkaterSense will do
Everything SkaterSense offers is free and works from one link:
- Toolkits — checklists, resources, tips, videos, and guidance for nutrition, physical health, and mental health.
- Coaches Corner — strategies and resources shared by coaches who work with adaptive skaters.
- An interactive map of adaptive skating programs and equipment stores, starting in New Jersey and growing to more states.
- A feedback form — skaters and coaches tell us what to add next.
My hope is that SkaterSense inspires other programs, skaters, and coaches to advocate for more adaptive skating resources.
Research areas for skaters with special needs
- Navigating crowded sessions, loud music, and bright lights
- Finding adaptive figure skating programs
- Building confidence on the ice
- Staying focused and engaged during practice
- Finding balance
Future goals
SkaterSense is just getting started. Here is what is next:
- A SkaterSense stand at the New Jersey Special Olympics Competition in February — come say hello and pick up resources in person.
- The Adaptive Skater-Skater Buddy Program — pairing adaptive skaters with volunteer skating buddies so every skater can enjoy the ice with the support they need. It will pilot in Essex County first.
- Sign-up forms so adaptive skaters and volunteers can join the Buddy Program.
- More toolkits and resources, expanding beyond nutrition, physical health, and mental health.
- Growing the rink map to more states across the U.S.
Read Audrey’s full note
When researching resources for adaptive figure skaters, I was surprised by how few existed. For figure skaters, topics related to nutrition, physical well-being, and mental health were most prevalent in existing resources, and I wanted to replicate that level of support and guidance for adaptive athletes. As a result, I founded the initiative SkaterSense to raise awareness of the lack of resources for adaptive figure skaters and to provide skaters, families, and coaches with toolkits, checklists, and interactive resources to make skating more inclusive.
I was motivated to start this initiative after working with and interacting with skaters with intellectual disabilities in my local rink’s Special Skaters program, and I wanted to provide a resource to aid them in their skating journey.
SkaterSense will provide adaptive skaters, families, and coaches with an interactive online resource hub and a free downloadable toolkit with checklists, resources, tips, videos, and guidance. On the website, there will also be a Coaches Corner where coaches can share strategies and resources that have worked for them. Additionally, SkaterSense will have an interactive map showing the locations of adaptive skating programs and equipment stores in New Jersey, and we are looking to expand it to other states as well.
This approach is effective because it is easily accessible and interactive for adaptive athletes; as long as they have the website link, they can use all the resources and toolkits. By creating SkaterSense, I hope to inspire others (adaptive skating programs, figure skaters, coaches, etc.) to advocate for more resources for adaptive figure skating. While my project mainly addresses nutrition, physical health, and mental health, I hope that future resources can expand on the research I have done and include other important aspects.