Our Mission
All of those who live with a physical or visual disability will be given the opportunity to participate in therapeutic sports and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem and to promote growth and well0being while instilling family values.

Our Vision
The children of DASA will be encouraged to continually seek their highest level of independence and become involved to the greatest extent with their non-disabled peers and their community as a whole.

The Inspiration
In 1997, Kelly Behlmann gave physical therapy to children. The physical therapy focused on the child’s disability. Kelly dreamed of switching that focus to the ability each child has. What began as a dream has gone far beyond anything Kelly could have imagined. While Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA) maintains its original goals to introduce children with physical or visual disabilities, whom are cognitively age appropriate, to sports that will provide them with exercise and physical fitness, confidence, and the meaning of team, the organization has expanded to groom national champions, international record-breakers, and Paralympic athletes. Along the way, DASA has also begun including community education, personal care training, and social outlets for the children with disabilities and their families. DASA provides year-round sport activities with quarterly family and friend events. The programs are instructed by volunteer coaches whom have taken the American Coaching Effectiveness Program. A variety of sports are offered: such as Basketball, Swimming, Track and Road Racing, Golf, Martial Arts, Archery, Sled Hockey, Rock Climbing, Stand-up Soccer, and Power Soccer. A family and friend event might include a trip to a professional sporting event, horseback riding, or a picnic.

DASA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies upon fund raising events, grants, and individual and corporate donations. 

 

*** DASA is now recognized as the Paralympic Sport Club St. Louis.  This recognition carries with it the responsibility to educate the community about disabled sports. 

The United States Olympic Committee sees DASA as an intricate part of spreading the word of Olympic driven sports for people with disabilities.  In the future, look for DASA to host Paralympic Academies.  With the help of the USOC, DASA will have Olympic and Paralympic athletes and coaches available at these academies to offer sport opportunities to children and adults of all abilities.