More than 100 students from Aurora Public Schools had a field day — literally and figuratively — Wednesday at the National Sports Center for the Disabled’s recently-opened complex in Golden, Colo., on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Students, many of whom were disabled, got to experience archery, cycling and an obstacle course — some for the first time.

The center’s opening addresses an area where accessibility for the disabled community has struggled to advance, outdoor recreation. 

“I think we all believe that living in Colorado that we have access to the great outdoors and it’s just not the case for people with disabilities,” Julie Taulman, president and CEO of NSCD, said. 

Using a $50,000 grant from The Hartford to purchase adaptive bicycles and tricycles, NCSD now has a small fleet available for students and other visitors. Some adaptive mountain bikes and trikes can run thousands of dollars above a typical children’s bike, Taulman said.

“They’re always told they can’t do that. When you get out and experience adaptive sports for the first time, they realize, ‘I can do that…’ It opens a whole bunch of doors that they thought were closed before,” Taulman said. 

In the new NCSD cycle fleet are power-assisted rides for double amputees, individuals with spinal cord injuries and more. Taulman herself has noticed an increase in self esteem and confidence from program participants. 

Three years ago, NCSD started a schools program, making the equipment and staff available to schools for free — which Taulman says was made possible with generous donations to the organization.