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Sport for Change
TL;DR
Amy Purdy lost both legs below the knee at nineteen and was back on a snowboard that same season. Move United has 257 member organizations across 45 states and lists them by location. The Challenged Athletes Foundation gives grants that pay for the equipment. So Every BODY Can Move works on the state laws that decide whether insurance covers a prosthesis built for sport.
Quick Answers
How do I find an adaptive sports program near me?
Search the Locations page at moveunitedsport.org, which searches its 257 member organizations across 45 states.
Who pays for adaptive sports equipment?
The Challenged Athletes Foundation gives grants for sport chairs, handcycles and sports prostheses, as well as training, coaching, competition and travel. The VA runs its own adaptive sports grant program, which funds the organizations that run programs.
Does insurance cover a prosthesis built for sport?
It depends on the state. So Every BODY Can Move is the campaign working to change that, state by state.
Editor's Note
Amy Purdy could not find an athletic program that allowed her to participate with a disability, so she along with Daniel Gale created one on their own and started Adaptive Action Sports in 2005.
Related Documentaries
Related Books
Related Podcasts
Related Organizations
Related Changemakers
Ways To Get Involved
Search for a member organization near you at moveunitedsport.org. Apply for equipment funding at challengedathletes.org. Check where your own state stands with So Every BODY Can Move.
Key Takeaways
- Move United has 257 member organizations across 45 states and serves over 131,000 youth and adults annually.
- The Challenged Athletes Foundation awarded 4,033 grants representing more than seven million dollars in funding.
- So Every BODY Can Move seeks state legislation requiring insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetic and orthotic devices.
- Adaptive Action Sports was started by Amy Purdy and Daniel Gale in 2005, and runs programs at Copper Mountain in Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Move United?
Move United is a nonprofit charity that runs a network of community adaptive sports organizations across the United States. It has 257 member organizations across 45 states and was established in 1956. It serves over 131,000 youth and adults annually through sports, recreation, competition and education programs.
Which organizations are behind So Every BODY Can Move?
Four national nonprofit partners launched it in 2022, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics, the Amputee Coalition and the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists. It was inspired by the advocacy work of Forrest Stump, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equitable access to physical activity for individuals with disabilities.
Will insurance pay for a prosthetic device used for sport?
It depends on the state. Requirements vary by state on patient age eligibility, insurance plan types affected, and device types covered. So Every BODY Can Move is the effort to establish that coverage in state legislation, and its own state pages are where a person can check where theirs stands.
What is So Every BODY Can Move?
So Every BODY Can Move is a national policy and advocacy effort launched in 2022 by AOPA, NAAOP, AAOP and the Amputee Coalition. It aims to establish state legislation requiring insurance coverage for activity-specific prosthetic and orthotic devices, recognizing them as medically necessary for health and functionality.
Does the Challenged Athletes Foundation help veterans?
Yes. It runs Operation Rebound, launched in 2005 for veterans.
Who receives Challenged Athletes Foundation grants?
Athletes with physical disabilities. Recipients come from households earning under fifty thousand dollars a year, and nearly one in four received a grant for the first time.
How many grants has the Challenged Athletes Foundation awarded?
4,033 grants, representing more than seven million dollars in funding.
What does the Challenged Athletes Foundation pay for?
Its grants support equipment, training, coaching and competition. The adaptive sports equipment named includes sport chairs, handcycles and sports prostheses, as well as travel expenses.
Does Move United run competitions?
Yes. Move United Sanctioned Competitions are sanctioned by Move United and the applicable National Governing Bodies for the sports being contested. In 2025 there were 38 Sanctioned Competitions in 25 states reaching over 3000 adaptive athletes of all ages and performance levels, including Paralympians and Wounded Warfighters.
How many adaptive sports organizations are in the Move United network?
257 member organizations across 45 states. Together they serve over 131,000 youth and adults annually through sports, recreation, competition and education programs.
How do I find an adaptive sports program near me?
Search the Locations page at moveunitedsport.org. It searches for member organizations near you, across the 257 member organizations in 45 states.
What is the 28×28 goal?
The campaign seeks to enact So Every BODY Can Move legislation in 28 states by the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.