The Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, slated for April 24-26, has an exciting new addition this year.
The Welcome Wave is a disability friendly heat that has been added as part of the Youth Run event at 3 p.m. on April 26. The Welcome Wave has no age restrictions. Registration is required.
“I think this is unique because we’ve targeted not an entire race but a particular heat that’s designed around being disability friendly, but also the inclusion part is being part of a bigger picture,” said Kevin Bird of Champaign, whose 13-year-old son, Wylan, is autistic. “Those participants are full participants in one of the main Illinois Marathon Race Weekend (events). That’s the big thing. Inclusion for me is not necessarily doing what typical people do; but being a part of what everyone else in society gets to be a part of.”
The Welcome Wave is the result of advocacy on the part of several Champaign-Urbana area families. Marathon organizers listened and made the changes.
“This is a nice example of how advocacy works,” Bird said. “We were able to have that communication and make a difference in this race. That’s something I’d encourage other families to do. Speak up about needs and work together with the activities in town, no matter who is providing them, to make them more accessible to everybody.”
Here are the details for the Welcome Wave, tailored for families and participants with disabilities:
–The heat will be the first race run in the Youth Run event, immediately following the national anthem, minimizing wait time and the total duration of participation.
–The heat will be run on the same course at the Youth Run event, on the turf inside Memorial Stadium. Running, walking or rolling in full or shortening the distance is welcomed.
–Participants will be able to exit the stadium directly to the same level without needing to go up to the Great West Hall, and still receive their post-race food.
–Participation in this heat is optional and a choice can be made on the registration form. Participants meeting the criteria for the Youth Run may choose to run in a heat corresponding to their grade level. Participants already registered have received a survey via email to opt in.
Participants with disabilities are not limited to the Welcome Wave. They are eligible to participate in all of the weekend’s events.
“Different things are suitable for different people,” Bird said. “If you’re using a wheelchair, for instance, and you really need to have pavement, the 5K might be more suitable because it’s run and rolled on pavement, and the Welcome Wave is going to be on the turf of Memorial Stadium, which is still accessible but may not be as easy for people who use a wheelchair.”
For more info on the entire weekend, click here.
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