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SLU Professor Celebrated at DASA Ability Awareness Day

04/23/2024

Saint Louis University hosted DASA (Disabled Athlete Sports Association)  Ability Awareness Demonstration on Monday, April 22, and surprised and celebrated Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor.

Occupational Therapy faculty and students surprise Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and potentially the first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, front, with a celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy faculty and students surprise Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and potentially the first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, front, with a celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor, and the potential first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, center, reacts to a surprise celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor, and the potential first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, center, reacts to a surprise celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy faculty and students, along with President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D, surprise Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and the potential first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, front, with a celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy faculty and students, along with President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D, surprise Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and the potential first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, front, with a celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy faculty and students, along with President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D, surprise Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and the potential first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, front, with a celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy faculty and students, along with President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D, surprise Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and the potential first female US wheelchair rugby Paralympian, front, with a celebration in her honor during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Bernard Rousseau, Ph.D., Dean of Doisy College of Health Sciences, plays wheelchair rugby with Occupational Therapy students during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Bernard Rousseau, Ph.D., Dean of Doisy College of Health Sciences, plays wheelchair rugby with Occupational Therapy students during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and Paralympian, left, plays wheelchair rugby with her students during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and Paralympian, left, plays wheelchair rugby with her students during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students play wheelchair rugby during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and Paralympian, left, plays wheelchair rugby with her students during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Sarah Adam, Occupational Therapy professor and Paralympian, left, plays wheelchair rugby with her students during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students try wheelchair sports during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students try wheelchair sports during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students try wheelchair sports during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students try wheelchair sports during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Occupational Therapy students try wheelchair sports during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
Occupational Therapy students try wheelchair sports during DASA Ability Awareness Day on April 22, 2024. The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being. Photo by Sarah Conroy.
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Sarah Adam, OTD, assistant professor of occupational science and occupational therapy at Saint Louis University (SLU), is projected to make the squad for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Final rosters are expected to be announced in May. 

Adam was named to the 2022 USA Wheelchair Rugby Training Squad and is part of an elite team that has been competing to earn a spot at the Paris 2024 Games set to take place over 12 days from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8, bringing together 4,400 of the world’s most outstanding Paralympic athletes.

In addition to Adam's surprise, the event featured members of the SLU community getting a chance to experience adaptive sports like wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and seated volleyball. 

The ability awareness demonstration event was designed to allow members of the SLU community a chance to try adaptive sports and learn about opportunities for people with physical disabilities to participate in adaptive sports, recreational programs, and fitness activities designed to improve self-esteem, strength, independence, and well-being.