Adaptive pickleball expands access across Colorado

THORNTON, Colo. — On a recent weekday at an indoor pickleball club in Thornton, former Paralympian Jacob Heilveil rolled onto the court in a pickleball-specific sports chair, greeting a small group of athletes eager to learn the game.

Heilveil, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Adaptive Sports for All, is partnering with The Picklr to grow adaptive pickleball programs at indoor clubs across Colorado. Programs are currently offered at The Picklr locations in Thornton and Loveland, with plans to expand to additional communities statewide.

The partnership aims to make pickleball accessible to players of all abilities, particularly those who use wheelchairs, as the sport continues its rapid growth nationwide.

“Pickleball has such an incredible community,” Heilveil said. “When I tried it for the first time, people were accommodating, encouraging and ready to include everyone. That’s what inspired me to bring this sport to others who use wheelchairs.”

Heilveil’s path to adaptive sports leadership began far from Colorado. Born on the South Korean island of Jeju, he contracted polio as an infant and lost the use of his legs. After being adopted by a family in Hawaii, he discovered wheelchair racing and eventually competed in more than 90 marathons and three Paralympic Games, including the 1996 Atlanta Games wheelchair demonstration event.

After retiring from elite competition, Heilveil founded Adaptive Sports for All in 2023 to promote inclusive athletic opportunities, with a focus on wheelchair racing and adaptive pickleball.

The adaptive pickleball initiative began at The Picklr Loveland, where owner and operator Leslie Arnold partnered with Adaptive Sports for All to launch regular clinics and open play sessions.

“Seeing athletes of all abilities share the same courts reminds us what pickleball is truly about,” Arnold said. “Adaptive pickleball has become one of the most meaningful programs we’ve launched.”

Following its success in Loveland, the program expanded to Thornton under the leadership of owner Amber Rieman. Weekly sessions there bring together wheelchair users and able-bodied players, who follow modified rules such as allowing two bounces before a return.

“I love the inclusive environment at The Picklr Thornton,” Rieman said. “Being able to build a program that welcomes everyone aligns with our values and our drive to serve the whole community.”

Each session typically draws between four and 12 players. Heilveil is also working with club owners in Littleton, Aurora, Fort Collins and Cheyenne to introduce adaptive programming at additional locations. He collaborates with Eagle Sports Chairs, a manufacturer developing pickleball-specific wheelchairs, with the long-term goal of making adaptive chairs available for members to borrow at every club.

“The owners and instructors are passionate about growing adaptive pickleball,” Heilveil said. “We’re not just teaching the game. We’re creating a community.”

Looking ahead, Heilveil hopes to develop adaptive leagues, tournaments and membership opportunities throughout Colorado. For Rieman, the mission is personal.

“My husband is also disabled,” she said. “Seeing people play who may have once thought it wasn’t possible is incredibly rewarding.”

Adaptive open play sessions are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend, participate or cheer from the sidelines. More information is available through The Picklr and Adaptive Sports for All websites.