Adaptive Sports Community Gives New Confidence to Wheelchair User
On a Thursday Night in Hartford, Connecticut, John Paul Jones was found in his 2013 Infiniti with multiple gunshot wounds that would paralyze him from the waist down.
Despite the effects it has had on his mental and physical strength, it opened the door to compete at the highest level of wheelchair sports.
Jones fell victim to a drive-by shooting that reshaped his life drastically. It also left him with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder which still affects him to this day. However, through the rough, he’d find comfort and success in the world of adaptive sports.
During the first two months of rehabilitation at Gaylord Specialty Hospital, nurses attempted to find out an inpatient’s interest. In Jones’ case, he was naturally attracted to wheelchair basketball as he played it when he was able-bodied. Originally an effort to be active, the sport provided him with a supportive community.
“Having adaptive sports as an outlet to engage with other guys in wheelchairs has been remarkable,” Jones said. “To be amongst our community, which is such a small percentage of our society enabled me to gain confidence as a wheelchair user.”
Jones’ became committed to the sport quickly, dedicating four to five days a week in the gym to better himself and avoid severe atrophy. He continued to participate in adaptive sports and is looking to play on a competitive basketball team soon. But his first organized sport would be Wheelchair Football with the New England Patriots.
He discovered the team through a couple of locals embedded in the adaptive sports landscape and over the next couple of months the Hartford native drove an hour and a half to each practice.
“Once they told me that I was elected to be a part of the team, I had to make that commitment,” he said.
The dedication from all members of the team radiated towards all players in their efforts to improve. With all competitors being inexperienced, the team navigated the sport for the first time as a team, keeping each other motivated as they progressed through the season.
“As they say practice makes perfect and how you play in practice is how you would play on the field,” Jones explained. “We all gave 110% in practice and we were all open-minded to play different positions as well.”
During his time with the Patriots, it has only improved his self-assurance and better his quality of life.
“It has been such a stress reliever in many different aspects and helps me accept my disability,” he said. “It’s outstanding to be with a group all reaping the rewards of winning and accomplishing goals.
Adaptability has proven to be an important characteristic of Jones’ especially when it came to transitioning from able-bodied sports. The difficulty it presents drives Jones to believe the sport deserves more attention.
“Not a lot of people understand just how hard it is to get in the chair a do well in our sports,” he said. “Pro guys shoot standing up while we are in a chair and it is just astonishing once you master it.”
On the topic of better coverage, he is optimistic if people gave it more coverage, it would be a staple in the sports media.
“If you’re going to play the Olympic Team National TV, why wouldn't they play the national Wheelchair Basketball Association Olympic team on national TV as well,” Jones said. “I think that we need to bridge that gap where the quality is looked at more than disability. We're such a small population amongst a broad population that we are overlooked.”