February Updates: Education Conference, Competition & More!

Member Newsletter | February 2026

In this Issue:

Move United Education Conference Registration

Move United Celebrates 70 Years

Sanctioned Competitions Series

Connect, Learn, Grow: Member Events

Jim Winthers Award

Meet Brittany Derecha

Conference Registration is Open

Over 90 educational sessions and workshops
Exhibitor hall
Opportunity for continuing education credits
500+ adaptive sports professionals
Roundtable discussions
2 receptions and networking opportunities
Poster session presentations
Executive-exclusive session track
35% registration discount for member organizations

Registration Instructions

Log in to the Move United Hub (log in to existing account or create new Free or Premium account). *To register for the Move United Education Conference, Free Individual Membership is required
Update your Profile. Make sure that your Profile is complete.
Review and agree to the Code of Conduct. You will also find this in the Profile.
Once your profile is complete, click the Move United Education Conference logo (on main homepage) and register for the Move United Education Conference.

Note that all pre-conference workshops require advance sign-up. The majority of sessions hosted on April 20-23 will fill on-site on a first-come, first-served basis until the room reaches capacity and do not require advanced sign-up.

Sports Make Us More

Here's what you should know this month.

70 Years Moving Sport Forward: Celebrate with Us!

In 2026, Move United celebrates 70 years and so do you. From 16 wheelchair archers in 1948, to our founding as the National Wheelchair Athletic Association in 1956, to 246 community member organizations strong today. Our journey reflects the transformation of adaptive sports from medical rehabilitation to lifelong health, sports, and recreation. This anniversary belongs to all of us.

How We're Celebrating:

History: Honoring the pioneers from WWII veterans to the member organizations who created access where none existed. Your founders, your chapter's story, your barriers broken.
Community: You ARE the movement. From the largest programs to the smallest member organization, every athlete, volunteer, instructor, coach, and administrator plays an important role in our 70-year legacy.
Future: The movement continues with 70 more years of work ahead. Together, we're building toward LA 2028 and the next generation.

Share Your Organization's Story:

Your organization owns part of this history - we want to hear from YOU.

Answer:

What does adaptive sports mean to your community?
What's your hope for the future? Share your founder stories, historic images, artifacts, and evolution.

Complete the form or post with #MoveUnited70 and tag @MoveUnitedSport.

The pioneers and trailblazers in our movement didn't just open doors - they built the framework to hold them up.

Let's show that adaptive sports isn't about inspiration, it's about expectation.

Join us in celebration throughout 2026!

Share Your Story

2026 Driving Mobility and Accessibility on Public Lands Grant

Through the 2026 Driving Mobility and Accessibility on Public Lands grant, NEEF aims to

Increase the capacity of local organizations and government agencies to address mobility and accessibility considerations on public lands; and
Improve the level of access, comfort, and enjoyment experienced by public lands visitors of all abilities, together with their families and friends.

The grant will provide up to $20,000 per grantee to increase physical or digital access, provide adaptive recreation equipment or programming, or perform accessibility assessments on public lands in communities near 16 Toyota Motor North America facilities.

Learn More

Are You Ready to Compete?

Move United announces the 2026 Sanctioned Competition Season. More than 30 events hosted by Move United member programs nationwide are ready for you.

Whether your athletes are chasing their first medal or a spot at The Hartford Nationals, the competition season starts now. Find events, plan the season, and get ready to compete.

Visit the competition calendar below to search by sport and location.

Find a Competition

Provide Your Feedback For Our Magazine

For nearly 30 years, Move United magazine has been your gateway to adaptive sports and recreation. Every issue, we share feature articles to highlight or introduce different adaptive sports. We also include athlete stories that inspire and educate. Through the magazine, we demonstrate that sports make us stronger, more connected, and capable of achieving what we never thought possible.

We want this magazine to serve you better- and that starts with hearing from you. Your insights help us maximize every page we have available.

Complete the Survey

Get in the Game

Join an upcoming event.

Move United Member Open Office Hours

February 11 | 12:00 - 2:00 PM ET

Join our Zoom office hours to connect with the membership team. Ask questions, share ideas, or simply say hello - we're here to support you!

2026 Member Survey Deep Dive

February 25 | 1:30 - 2:30 PM ET

Our Member Organization Survey empowers the adaptive

sports movement by providing critical data to strengthen their programs, secure funding, and advocate for expanded opportunities. Join us to learn about the impact of our collective network.

Join the Movement

Member updates and highlights

New Members

Welcome to our movement! These new partners join thousands of athletes and organizations proving that together, we expand what's possible in adaptive sports.

Affiliate

Denver Adaptive Divers

Member Benefits Spotlight

Jim Winthers Volunteer Award

The Jim Winthers Volunteer Award recognizes lifetime contributions and significant achievements in furthering recreational adaptive sports. Nominees must have contributed a minimum of 10 years of volunteer service to Move United or a member organization.

Nominate Now

Meet Move United

Brittany Derecha

Member Services Manager

Dr. Brittany (Britt) Derecha serves as Move United’s Member Services Manager for Individuals, overseeing Individual Membership along with the Warfighters and Ambassador Programs. Learn more about Brittany.

Missed an Issue?

Catch up on our Member Newsletters in the archive.

Ready to be part of the movement transforming lives through sport?

Connect with us at ddodge@moveunitedsport.org or explore more at moveunitedsport.org.

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