Disability insurance provider The Hartford announces its new Ability Equipped program to help provide youth and adults with disabilities across the country access to sports programs and essential adaptive sports equipment.

“We’ve seen firsthand the power of adaptive sports as a catalyst for improved health and inclusion and we are honored to provide local sports clubs with the resources and equipment they need,” said Mike Concannon, head of Group Benefits at The Hartford, in a media release.

Through the Ability Equipped program, The Hartford is partnering with Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA) to provide adaptive sports equipment and grants to more than 20 of its local chapters across the country. The donations will be based on the individual needs of each chapter that is selected and will include equipment such as sports wheelchairs, hockey sleds, kayaks, mono skis, and hand cycles.

The program will also assist individual members of DSUSA’s Elite Team—youth athletes with disabilities who are a pipeline for U.S. Paralympics—by providing adaptive equipment and scholarships through The Hartford’s Ability Equipped Youth in Excellence award.

“Adaptive sports equipment is an important investment that grows and sustains an athlete’s active sports lifestyle as well as their competitive opportunities. Unfortunately, this specialized equipment is expensive and with prolonged use it often needs to be repaired or replaced,” states Glenn Merry, executive director of DSUSA, the release continues. “We are excited that The Hartford has partnered with us to help our local chapters purchase the equipment they need to outfit everyday athletes in our local communities.”

In addition, The Hartford is partnering with Angel City Sports and has been named presenting sponsor of the Angel City Games, an annual adaptive sports festival in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area that focuses on summer sports. As part of this partnership, The Hartford will also provide adaptive equipment to enhance the programs offered by Angel City Sports and scholarships to support individual athletes across the country who attend the Angel City Games, per the release.

The Hartford is also a founding partner and official disability insurance sponsor of US Paralympics.

[Source(s): The Hartford, Business Wire]