STRAPS (South Texas Regional Adaptive and Para Sports) is an adaptive sports program of Morgan's Wonderland for those with physical disabilities and visual impairments operated out of Morgan's Wonderland Sports, a Morgan’s Wonderland facility primarily serving South Central Texas. Its mission is to organize, promote, administer, and conduct a variety of adaptive and Paralympic-style sports for wounded service members, veterans, and other adults and youth. STRAPS athletes/participants strive to enhance functional skills, socialization, and independence through adaptive sports participation and competition. Our programs also encourage community reintegration and character development.
STRAPS provides comprehensive recreational and rehabilitative sports for those with physical disabilities, including those transitioning from life-changing traumatic injuries or events. There are thirteen intentional sports offered within the program: Functional Fitness, Goalball, Sit Volleyball, Power Soccer, Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Soccer, Wheelchair Football, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Softball, Boccia, Track & Field, Wheelchair and Ambulatory Pickleball, and Wheelchair and Ambulatory Tennis. The program involves multiple levels of participation based on the functional skills and abilities of each athlete/participant. Entry-level programs are implemented to build confidence and independence to evolve to more advanced competitive levels, incorporating competition opportunities across the state and the country.
STRAPS was founded in August 2012 with only three sports and 50 athletes. Since then, it has been active for 11 years and evolved to include thirteen sports and has served 570 athletes - of these 251 are Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities. The addition of our Ultra-Accessible™ Morgan's Wonderland Sports Complex allows STRAPS to expand programming to allow for more extensive and more frequent program offerings with existing and new collaborative partner organizations. STRAPS is open to people of all ages and abilities appropriate for the respective sport. Participation is provided at no cost to all athletes with disabilities (including the cost of coaches, equipment, facility rental, uniforms, and partial travel to competitions). In 2022, STRAPS held over 670 practices across all sports. We continue to seek outreach opportunities to increase the number of active participants and maintain the relationships and support for each registered athlete. Program participation has grown by nearly 60% compared to 2021 including a 27% increase in servicing Veterans and members of the Armed Forces with disabilities.
