The Observer-Dispatch in Utica, New York recently ran a piece about Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Warner's work with the STARS -- take a look:

Taking their best shot

The Sitrin STARS are shooting for success.

STARS, which stands for Success Through Adaptive Recreation and Sports, is expanding to include competitive shooting. The program is run by Sitrin Health Care in New Hartford, which offers rehabilitation and long-term care among other health services.

The STARS recently hosts a shooting workshop led by Vanessa Warner, manager of disabled shooting services for the National Rifle Association of America.

Warner covered the basics of safety, as well as the positions and adaptations participants could use in order to shoot competitively.

Marc DePerno, director of the Sitrin STARS, said there was “great energy (and) great enthusiasm” at the workshop. Participants said that they enjoyed shooting, and would like to participate in future workshops.

Read the rest of the story here.

Here is a great article about Jamie Cap, a quadriplegic who won the right to use a shotgun with the aid of a special device and fire a gun for the first time in three decades.

Quadriplegic Hunter Takes Aim After 30 Years And Court Case

CLINTON, N.J. — In a wooded area up a dirt road off an interstate highway, Jamie Cap peers down the sight of his new shotgun at a target about 40 yards away. He adjusts the angle by nudging a toggle switch, then fires.

An ear-shattering report echoes off the trees and nearby cars, and Cap is pushed back a few inches by the force of the blast.

He turns and nods his head – the only part of his body he can completely control.

It has been three decades since Cap last fired a gun – on Nov. 3, 1979 – and he remembers it as if it were yesterday, mainly because of what happened the next day: a high school football game, a head-on tackle and a neck injury that left him a quadriplegic and robbed him of hunting, one of his lifelong passions.

Or so he thought.

Cap, 46, recently won a 2 1/2-year legal battle to allow him to use, with the help of a partner, a 12-gauge shotgun fitted with a battery-powered machine that is operated by a breathing tube.

 Continue reading the rest of the article here.

Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Warner brings us the following from the state of New York:

The Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center was created in 1951, when Hymen Sitrin, his wife Clara, and his sister-in-law Florence purchased a stone house on a quiet wooded hillside. There they established a home for the elderly and infirmed. [The center was] named in honor of Charles T. Sitrin (Hymen's brother and Florence's husband) who had passed away at an early age.

Today Sitrin Health Care is one of the nation's most innovative regional providers of health and rehabilitative services. Located in New Hartford, NY, a small community in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, Sitrin provides a remarkable range of services, including long-term care, medical rehabilitation (inpatient and outpatient), independent living residences, assisted living, special needs residences, adult day health care, adaptive sports, child care, wellness services and summer day camp.

In 2001 Sitrin implemented STARS (Success Through Adaptive Recreation and Sports) program, offering individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports, including wheelchair road racing, wheelchair curling, wheelchair basketball, adaptive golf, mono-skiing, and adaptive paddling. Thanks to the dedication of Director of Occupational Therapy Marc DePerno, Sitrin will now include air rifle shooting in their adaptive sports program.

In addition to serving as the Director of Occupational Therapy, Marc is also the Director of the STARS program and the Manager of the US Wheelchair Curling Team. The team has competed around the world and under Marc’s tutelage – they have become a force to be reckoned with.

Marc arranged for a number of curling team members to participate in the shooting clinic. Curling and shooting Paralympics occur on opposing years, making it possible for curling members to be part of the Paralympic shooting team too – a thought that is very exciting to these men and women.

As with all clinics we began with the safety rules:

ALWAYS KEEP THE GUN POINTED IN A SAFE DIRECTION.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL READY TO SHOOT.
ALWAYS KEEP THE GUN UNLOADED UNTIL READY TO USE.

After the safety briefing, we reviewed the equipment, the anatomy of an air rifle, and the different types of pellets. From there we progressed to adaptive shooting positions and execution of the perfect shot. Then I moved behind the firing line to help the class find their natural point of aim. For some this was easy, but for others it took a lot of work.

Once the natural point of aim was achieved, I had the class shooting and working to make minor adjustments with their sights. I am always amazed at the skill level of the people in thees clinics. One shooter, Tammy, quickly showed her natural ability to shoot and soon established herself as one to watch in competition. Another, Jimmy, promptly rose to the challenge. The two took things so far as to have me score their practice targets to see who would have come out on top! It was Jimmy by three points but I think that Tammy was headed out to by an air rifle!

While Tammy and Jimmy where holding their impromptu competition, I worked with Lou. He has both upper body weakness and atrophy making lifting a rifle nearly impossible. Because he was only able to control the gun with his right hand, he had trouble keeping the gun in his shoulder. I found a piece of clothesline that I fastened to the gun and then to the headrest to provide the additional support that was needed. Before long Lou was showing his prowess with the air gun as well.

The event was a huge success and I definitely saw a number of the participants making serious runs for the 2012 Paralympic team. I wish them all the best and look forward to working with them in the near future.

Vanessa Warner, Manager of Disabled Shooting Services, recently met a group of disabled sportsmen in the state of New York:

Greetings from the very chilly north. I met with a couple members of the US Wheelchair Curling Team a couple of months ago. They were very excited about the possibility of competing with air guns and made arrangements for me to come to New York for an adaptive shooting clinic at the Sitrin Medical Rehabilitation Center in New Hartford, NY. New Hartford is approximately 50 miles east of Syracuse, NY.

I arrived at the rehab center Friday afternoon where I was greeted by Occupational Therapist and Adaptive Sports Program Director Marc Deperno. Marc and I quickly unloaded my vehicle. Not only was it terribly cold but the wind was blowing at 23 mph with gusts into the 30's. I ended up taking the scarf from around my neck and tying it around my head to cover my ears! While unloading the, car Dan from the Delta Divers in Rome, NY arrived to drop of the scuba tank of compressed air. Not only did they drop it off but Dan will be back on Monday (today) to pick them up! Big thanks to Dave (NRA Life Member) and son Dan of Delta!

Once the car was unloaded, we set up the Creedmoor Range Systems. Just shy of two hours later the ranges were assembled and the lighting and tables for the firing line were in place. Marc and I headed out for dinner.

A side note: If you are ever in New Hartford, I strongly recommend Georgio's Village Cafe! The wait staff was very professional, thorough, and the meal was one of the best I've had in a long, long time. 

The rest of Vanessa's story will run later this week - stay tuned!

Vanessa Warner, Manager of NRA's Disabled Shooting Services, was recently in Texas for Turning Point’s 14th Annual Youth Hunt for Disabled Kids. Here's her report:

For those who know me they would agree that I am rarely ever rendered speechless. That was not the case however when I traveled to Kerrville, TX for Turning Point’s 14th Annual Youth Hunt for disabled kids. Turning Point sponsors the event but the logistics are run by Texas Wildlife Association’s Youth Hunting Program.

Most of my time was spent observing the operation in an effort to learn about running a disabled hunt. I spoke with the event organizers and coordinators about their trials and tribulations over the past 14 years. The Texas Wildlife Association was brought in seven years ago to oversee hunter education and safety. In years past each of the participants was given the class upon arrival. This year each of the 16 participant was required to attend a hunter education course prior to arriving at the YO Ranch Resort in Kerrville. This allowed for two days of hunting rather than just one.

All of the hunters had some form of physical disability and there were a variety of wheelchairs and walkers and canes. Although a person with a disability is usually the exception in a social situation, these kids were the norm, the rest of us were the exception. Having so many kids with disabilities in one location quickly helped the new kids overcome their usual shyness and allowed them to form bonds that would usually take weeks or months to build.

Each morning after a wonderful buffet breakfast, we circled up at the local Walmart and headed to the ranch for the festivities and the hunting. Each hunter was required to shoot from one of two sample blinds. This achieved two things: 1. Demonstrated to the huntmasters that each individual was capable of safely operating a gun and 2. Each huntmaster was able to adjust the platform under the shooter for height so that the hunters could see through the windows in the blinds. More...

Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Warner was on the road again for a shooting clinic in Statesville, North Carolina. As always, she shares a little taste of her experience with you on NRAblog:

Statesville, NC Welcomes NRA Disabled Shooting Clinic

One facet of my job involves introducing competitive air rifle shooting to people with disabilities through shooting clinics. Shooting clinics include an overview of air rifles, equipment, shooting positions, sight alignment and trigger control. At the conclusion of each clinic, a participant has a good understanding of competitive shooting and may even be able to compete in an air rifle match.

I have traveled from New Hampshire to Memphis and a number of states in between teaching my course and plan to travel as far as California in 2010. Recently I journeyed to North Carolina to teach at a clinic co-sponsored by Bridge II Sports and Turning Point Nation. The event was originally scheduled to be held in Mooresville, NC, but an ordinance in Mooresville that prohibits the discharge of airguns within city limits made the use of their civic center out of the question.

We immediately began to scramble for an alternative location outside of town. I called VFW Post 2031 in Statesville, NC and explained the situation to Post Commander Gerry Bancroft. Without hesitation he offered his post for use. At the Commander’s request, Colin Chura of Bridge II Sports and Dave Kiley of Turning Point Nation quickly made a trip to the post to make sure the facility was suitable for our needs. On their way back they called to say the facility was perfect and we were good to go. Emails were sent out to notify participants and volunteers about the change of venue and we were back in business.

Friday evening my boyfriend Glenn and I dined with Colin and Mindy Chura and Dave and Sandy Kiley. It was a great way to relax after a long drive and get to know the people that I had been in contact with for months. Once dinner was over we said our good nights and arrangemented to meet at 8:00 a.m. at the VFW. More...

Check out this Statesville.com story, which focuses on the progress of the NRA's Disabled Shooting Program:

NRA helps disabled shooters find their mark

Chuck Badger stared down the sight of his air rifle, taking aim at the target placed about 30 feet in front of him inside Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2031.

The rifle let out a small "pop" as the pellet flew toward across the room, leaving a clean hole in the paper.

Like many of the wheelchair-bound shooters at the Fundamentals of Air Rifle shooting class taught by the National Rifle Association's office of Disabled Shooting Services, it was Badger's first time shooting the pellet gun.

"I loved it," he said. "It's so small and hard to hit that thing."

Badger and many others are involved with other sustainable adapted sports, such as basketball, tennis and track. Many participants Saturday at the VFW Post on Jordan Lane were shooting an air rifle for the first time.

Badger said being able to play sports gives people with a physical impairment self confidence and a chance to compete.

The sessions at the VFW Post were the first of many organizers from Bridge II Sports hope to offer people across the state.

Bridge II Sports is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for children and adults who are physically challenged to play team and individual sports.

Read the entire story here.

Did you catch NRANews.com last night? There were a couple of guests from NRA General Operations with some great information on the programs of the NRA.

Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Warner was on to talk about her trip to Albany, rule 13 for disabled shooters, and the application process.

National Volunteer Fund-Raising Manager John DaSilva praised the efforts of Friends of NRA workers and volunteers who have raised over $17 million in total revenue so far this year.

This is just a taste of what NRANews has to offer. Make a point to tune in! And if you can't catch it live, 9:00 p.m. weeknights on NRANews.com or Sirius Patriot 144, check out their archives for any segment from the past five days.

Along with all the ghosties and goblins sure to be about come Halloween, NRA's own Vanessa Warner, Manager of Disabled Shooting Services, will materialize at the Statesville, North Carolina VFW Post for a Disabled Shooting Clinic.

The clinic includes classroom instructions, hands-on training, and a live fire match.

"We're truly excited about this event," said Warner. "It promises to be our largest clinic so far and I'm looking forward working with BridgeIISports as we introduce these wonderful athletes to the shooting sports."

For more information about the event, or BridgeIISports, contact Vanessa Warner at disabled-shooting@nrahq.org.

From Manager of NRA Disabled Shooting Services Vanessa Warner:

NRA's Disabled Shooting Services announces the 2010 National Disabled Indoor Air Gun Sectional Championships.

The NRA National Disabled Indoor Air Gun Championships give competitors with physical disabilities a chance tocompete in a national event by comparing their scores with those fired in clubs all over the country. Scores arecomparable because of the similar conditions existing in indoor ranges. It was created with the hopethat it can someday be combined with the National Open Indoor Air RifleChampionship that already exists.

The NRA will conduct National Disabled Indoor Air Gun Sectionals in International Air Rifle, NRA Precision 3-Position Air Rifle and International Air Pistol beginning January 15, 2010 and concluding March 31, 2010. Allresults must be at the NRA no later than April 15, 2010. Any results received after the closing date will not beincluded in the 2010 National Disabled Indoor Championship Bulletin.

The championships are determined by scores fired at local SectionalTournaments, which are compiled at NRA Headquarters. For the purpose of the National Championships, theNational Match Director requires that the top three individual’s targets and the top team’s targets be sent to NRAHeadquarters for verification.

For more information, read the Sectional Program Guidelines or contact Vanessa Warner, Manager of Disabled Shooting Services, at 703-267-1495 or disabled-shooting@nrahq.org.

Disabled Shooting Services Manager Vanessa Warner brings us the following:

As many of you may recall, I recently visited the STRIDE Adaptive Sports Organization in Albany, NY. During that visit I attended the kick off celebration for their U.S. Paralympic affiliation and announced the launch of the STRIDE Air Rifle program.

STRIDE Adaptive Sports was created in 1986 by adaptive physical education teacher Mary Ellen Whitney in an effort to increase self-esteem in children with disabilities. They offer instruction and competition in cycling, bowling, sailing, swimming, skiing and now air rifle. Last year, STRIDE taught more than 4,600 free sports lessons to children with disabilities.

October 17 was the launch of STRIDE’s shooting program at North Albany's American Legion Post 1610. Mary Ellen and I arrived just after 8am to set up the target frames and get the hall ready. We were just about ready to go when the day manager informed us that because of accessibility issues we had oriented the room the wrong direction. Parents and participants quickly took to the task of moving the equipment. Unfortunately, the room was longer than it was wide and we lost a few feet of space, but hey -- this was a learning experience anyway.

We had six participants who shot right away. Some needed minor one-on-one instructions but there were four young adults who needed hardly a word. Kyle, John, Nick and Yelena were quickly blowing the center out of the practice target we hung for them. In no time I had them shooting as if they were in competition. More...

Manager of NRA's Disabled Shooting ServicesVanessa Warner sent along an update Saturday morning before once again hitting the road.

I am off to Albany, NY to teach a new shooter clinic for the STRIDE Adaptive Sports organization. STRIDE was founded nearly 25 years ago to give children with disabilities an athletic outlet that would help them increase their self esteem. This weekend will be the first air rifle clinic for the STRIDE organization.

The North Albany American Legion was gracious enough to offer to host the event this Saturday, October 17 and the members and families of STRIDE will be on hand to offer assistance if needed.

Stay tuned for an event update as soon as possible.

 

NRA’s Disabled Shooting Manager Vanessa Warner recently made the trip back up to her old stomping grounds for the New England Disabled Sports Paralympic Biathlon. Here's her report:

There are cool competitive shooting experiences and then there was the New England Disabled Sports Paralympic Biathlon Academy! About a month ago I received a call from NEDS Managing Director, Rob Mueller asking if I would come to NH to teach the shooting part of the clinic on October 4. Although I am not a biathlete, I am a competitive shooter and former NH resident so I jumped at the opportunity.

The event was hosted by the Pemigewasset Fish & Game Club in Holderness, NH. Despite the pouring rain and miserably chilly conditions we endured on Saturday, Sunday’s weather was as beautiful as New England gets in the fall. The air was clear and crisp as the morning fog burned off to reveal a cloudless, sun-filled sky.

I gave individual instruction on shooting offhand from a wheelchair to each participant once they arrived. At 10am we moved from the covered firing range practice area to the starting line. There, Club member and event organizer Fred Allen gave a briefing on the course. More...

NRA’s Disabled Shooting Manager Vanessa Warner sent us an update on her recent activity in Tennessee.

Comparatively speaking, September was a quiet month. My travel was limited to Memphis, TN, for the Paralyzed Veterans of America’s 13th Trapshooting Circuit Season finale on September 18 and 19. While there, I also conducted PVA’s first Air Rifle Shooting Clinic and Match on September 20. The clinic and match were sponsored by U.S. Paralympics.

Although most competitors managed to stay dry, there were a number who ended up on the line during the worst of Friday's storms. The shoot was delayed due to lightning, but as soon as the electrical activity stopped, they headed back out to the line.

The trap matches were held at the Memphis Sport Shooting Association. Each competitor shot 100 singles plus 100 doubles on Friday. Competitors shot their handicap on Saturday, which as I explained to a spectator, had nothing to do with their disability. A shooter’s handicap is based on their shooting ability. The better a competitor, the further the distance he or she shoots.

The Air Rifle Shooting Clinic was held Sunday, September 20, in the Memphis Marriott's ballroom. We had 12 participants -- perfect because we had 6 Air Rifles provided by Pyramyd Air. The clinic, which covers, safety, sight alignment, trigger control, and follow through, lasted until 11:30. After lunch the participants turned into competitors for a 3x10 match. The competition was ratcheted up a notch when PVA Associate Spots and Recreation Director Andy MacDonald produced Cabela’s gift cards for first and second place.

Congratulations to our champions Gary and Cheri for their outstanding performances! Enjoy your shopping spree!

For more information about the disabled air rifle shooting clinics contact Vanessa Warner at 703-267-1495 or vwarner@nrahq.org.

Manager of NRA Disabled Shooting Services Vanessa Warner sends us the following from wrap up from the M1 for Vets dinner at Camp Perry:

The final night of celebration honoring the M1 for Vets was a beach party co-hosted by the Ohio National Guard and the Sandusky AMVETS. Unfortunately, inclement weather caused the party to moved to the Camp Perry Clubhouse but that didn’t matter. A celebration is a celebration regardless of the location.

The room was crowded with veterans, active duty soldiers, volunteers, and family members. The energy was a fantastic blend of excitement for the future and relief that the shooting was over. Conversations varied from poking fun about bad shots, cross-fires, to congratulations and handshakes for those who had medaled. More...