Project Awaken Events

Get Active: Chicago Adaptive Sports & Disability Events Calendar

Discover upcoming adaptive sports, recreation, and disability-community events across Chicago and the suburbs — wheelchair sports, adaptive cycling, accessible theatre, scuba, and more. Project Awaken brings together listings from trusted partners so you can find ways to get active, connect, and thrive.

Use the color-coded filters below to browse events by organization.

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Swim

Swim

The Instructional Swim program is for individuals who have a physical or visual disability that are new to swimming. Athletes will be assigned one-on-one to a volunteer swim instructor. Floatation devices will not be used in the teaching progression.
The Independent Swim program is designed for swimmers who are able to swim at least 50 meters consecutively, can be completely independent while in the water (no volunteer or coach assistance needed). Workouts are provided to increase endurance, strength and speed. Instruction is given to fine tune technique. Recreational swimmers who are looking to improve their technique or stroke are welcome.
Instructional sessions are held in Lake Forest on Sundays (session times vary from 4:00-6:00pm) and in Carol Stream on Thursday evenings.
Independent Swim sessions are held in Lake Forest on Sundays from 6:00-7:00pm
*Limited space available. Please contact Cindy Housner (chousner@glasa.org) to confirm your spot.
Check the calendar in SportsPlus for the most up-to-date schedule.

Listed by GLASA. View details / register

About this event

Swim is featured on the Project Awaken Get Active calendar as part of adaptive sports, recreation, arts, and community programming for people with disabilities across Chicagoland. Project Awaken brings together listings from trusted Chicago-area partners so people with spinal cord injuries, mobility disabilities, and visual impairments can find welcoming ways to get active, connect with others, and try something new.

Events like this typically welcome participants of varying abilities along with their families, friends, sighted guides, and volunteers, and many are free to attend. If you are new to adaptive sports or recreation, it helps to reach out to the host organization ahead of time with any access questions, ask whether specialized equipment is provided, and bring a companion if that makes you more comfortable. Taking that first step — showing up, asking, trying — is what getting active is all about.

Please confirm the date, time, location, cost, and any registration requirements on the official event or organizer page before attending, as details can change. To find more opportunities, explore our full events calendar, browse Get Active grants and resources, or join the Get Connected peer-support community.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Get Active Calendar

What kinds of events are on the Get Active calendar?

Adaptive and inclusive sports, recreation, fitness, arts, and community events for people with disabilities across Chicago — including wheelchair basketball and football, adaptive cycling, track and field, swimming, adaptive scuba diving, and accessible theatre (ASL-interpreted, audio-described, and open-captioned performances).

Who can attend these disability and adaptive sports events?

Most events welcome people with physical disabilities and visual impairments along with their families, friends, sighted guides, and volunteers. Many events are free; each listing links to full details and registration.

Which organizations are featured on the calendar?

Events are aggregated from trusted partners including GLASA (Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association), Access Living, Dare2tri, Diveheart, WDSRA, NSSRA, and the Cultural Access Collaborative.

Where are the events held?

Across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs (Chicagoland), with some virtual and online options and occasional national adaptive-sports camps and trips.

How often is the events calendar updated?

The calendar syncs automatically every month and can be refreshed at any time, so the list of upcoming adaptive and disability events stays current.