History
Gliding Stars was formed in April of 2004. The founder, Elizabeth O’Donnell, started skating at the age of three and was a competitive skater and toured with the Ice Capades into adulthood. Through her formation of the Gliding Stars program she discovered the need for specialized equipment. She developed our own line of adaptive ice skates, walkers, and harnesses to allow anyone to get on the ice. Over the last 20 years the Gliding Stars organization created programs in other communities in Erie Pennsylvania, Toledo Ohio, Findlay Ohio, Northeast Ohio, Central Florida, Rochester New York, and Western New York. Each of these programs are now independent organizations who manage their own programs. Gliding Stars Inc is able to share the ability to get others on the ice with the sale of the specially designed essential equipment.
“My family blessed me with the gift of ice skating. Being able to share that gift with thousands of students over the years has been the greatest blessing. Watching them grow in health, fitness and confidence all while having fun and making friends has made my life extremely worthwhile. I could not have dreamed up a better 48-year career in service to people with disabilities.” – Elizabeth
How We Help
Skaters are paired with a volunteer that will engage in assisting them on ice each week as well as at the ice show.Through ice skating, people can achieve the physical benefits of improved posture and balance, fine and gross motor skills, strengthened muscles, and coordination. The program is inclusive in terms of age, race, gender, and ability. The ages of skaters range from 18 months to senior citizen. Types of disabilities include, but are not limited to: cerebral palsy, spina bifida, sensory impairments including blindness and deafness, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, heart transplant, congenital myopathy, speech impairments, hemophilia, amputation, Williams’ Syndrome, cancer, scoliosis, down syndrome, autism, neurological disorders, emotional disabilities, and multiple disabilities We are open to the public and do not require a diagnosis to fully participate in our program.
Programs
• Serves individuals ages 18 months through Adults with disabilities
• Each skater is fitted with customized skates and other adaptive skating equipment, including helmets, harnesses, and walkers; all specially designed by Gliding Stars, Inc.
• Season runs from October through March
• Skaters participate in lessons each week during the season – paired with trained volunteers and directed by skilled skating instructors.
• Lessons include fun activities as well as ice skating techniques to create an integrated community to help overcome limitations.
• Skaters demonstrate their skills in a spectacular end-of-the-season Gliding Star Ice Show.
Benefits
Physiological
One can achieve the physical benefits of improved posture and balance, fine and gross motor skills, strengthened muscles, coordination, and socialization through our program.
Inclusivity
The program is inclusive in terms of age, race, gender, and ability. We also welcome neurotypical siblings, family, or close friends to learn to skate alongside our skaters with challenges. We are open to the public and do not require a diagnosis to fully participate in our program. This allows everyone to experience the feelings and challenges that come with learning to do something difficult; ice- skate.
Social
An opportunity to participate in a recreational activity in your own community alongside individuals with all levels of abilities; a very rare thing to find. Along with these accomplishments come motivation, teamwork, increased self-esteem, confidence, independence, self-reliance, satisfaction, pride and enjoyment!
Participant stories
“My son Jacob is 13 years old and he is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and apraxia of speech, with limited language skills. He started skating at the Hyde Park arena when he was 8. Initially apprehensive and unsure about being on the ice he used a harness and walker and moved very slowly. After 2 years he is started skating on his own with no devices. He was buddied up with a fantastic volunteer who was supportive, gentle and very accepting. He anticipated Jacob’s needs, kept him safe and helped him develop his skating. We are so grateful to Gliding Stars – it is a community that supports not only their skaters but their families also. It has helped Jacob become more social, develop his muscle strength and coordination, build his confidence and develop his language skills.”
“My son Tom has developmental disabilities which have created ongoing cognitive, physical, and behavioral issues since young. He has been skating since he was 6 and has progressed on the ice from a youngster who needed physical and verbal prompting simply to stand erect on skates, to now skating unassisted in his early adulthood. The program gives Tom the opportunity to meet people in a safe setting, develop new relationships, and increase his general level of independence while learning valuable social skills in the process. He is not the world’s best skater, but he can skate on his own and takes great pride in that. Gliding Stars has done wonders for his self-esteem and he cherishes his relationships with many of the non-disabled skaters and volunteers he has met through the program. Simply put, he looks forward to seeing his favorite people at the rink!”
My kids volunteered this past year leading to them becoming more humble and accepting of those around them. We like that Gliding Stars allows individuals with challenges to participate in something they typically are told they can’t or shouldn’t do. As a family, we look forward to seeing the stars smiles every week as they learn new skills.”
Adaptive Products
→ Our specialized equipment, developed over 48 years of experiences, enables skaters with different, multiple, and challenging disabilities to take safely to the ice.
→ Our adaptive ice-skating equipment includes our own line of Learn-To-Skate Standard Walkers in three sizes, a Bar Seat Walker designed for those with weight bearing and mobility limitations, and a Sling Seat Walker for a non-weight bearing model for children or smaller adults.
→ Our specially-made ice skates include models for AFO, RGO, SMO Orthotics, a Pronated model, and our Standard model featuring extra padding and superior structural support.
Funding
Gliding Stars is primarily funded from public donations, foundations, granting organizations, businesses, fundraisers, and a small portion from participation fees. We are seeking more groups and businesses to join us in this incredibly fulfilling program. Gliding Stars is designated a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization.