Inclusion Matters

FEBRUARY 2025

Champion for Adaptive Sports and Advocate for Change

If you've ever visited Advocates’ Liverpool office, you've likely met the friendly face of the helpful Eric Komar, a dedicated member of Advocates’ Reception and Training and Support Services (TSS) Teams. While he is a welcoming presence for visitors, his ambitions extend far beyond helping people navigate the office. Because of his life experiences, Eric is deeply passionate about sports and is dedicated to breaking down barriers for people with disabilities.

Eric describes himself as an amiable and patient people-person. But don’t let his cheerful demeanor fool you. “I’m an extremely competitive and driven person…not just in athletics, but in anything,” he told us. “If my friends challenged me to a lemonade selling competition, I’m doing whatever it takes to win. A different side of me takes over when challenged.” By his own admission, anything of a competitive nature is what fuels him, and it is through sports that he’s found much of his motivation throughout his life.

Eric, 40, has almost too many notable accolades to list. Over the years, he has accomplished great feats in various sporting activities, including sled hockey, basketball, weightlifting, ju-jitsu, and arm-wrestling. In fact, Eric has gained recognition not just on a local or national level, but internationally, for his arm-wrestling abilities. Proud but humble by nature, Eric told us that the thing he’s most prideful of isn’t one of his many medals, trophies, or even the spotlight that’s shown on him during any of his accomplishments. “I’ve had the privilege of teaching and mentoring young hockey players and arm wrestlers over the years,” he said. “Getting young ones into the sports I’ve been so passionate about means more to me than anything else.”

Eric’s passion for sports is deeply intertwined with a bittersweet past, shaped by both moments of success and painful experiences. Like many children, Eric took an interest in sports at a young age, partially as a means of connecting with his classmates. His earliest memory involving youth sports is also his most traumatic, unfortunately. Eric was born with spina bifida, a condition that develops when the spine and spinal cord do not form correctly at birth. Though he was born with a physical disability, his spirit and grit were stronger than those of his peers. Because he enjoyed playing soccer in his backyard with friends and because he’d managed to keep up with the other children despite his playing on crutches, he decided to sign up for a youth soccer league. What could have been his first instance of participating in youth sports resulted in a memory that’s still painful to this day.

Eric’s mother inexplicably removed him from the league before it had started. Confused by this, Eric pressed his mother for the rationale behind her decision, and it wasn’t until years later that she finally divulged what had happened. According to Eric’s mother, one of the other parents decided to remove their child from the team because they ‘didn’t want their kid playing with a gimp.’ When Eric learned of this, he was saddened and angered, but perhaps more than anything, he was motivated by it like nothing else. “There would be other negative experiences,” Eric told us, noting everything from people’s stares in the community to facing constant doubts from classmates and even his instructors. “Though all of it hurt, the story my mother shared forever put a chip on my shoulder.”

A turning point of sorts for Eric came around the 7th or 8th grade, when he was pulled out of the traditional gym class and placed in an adaptive physical education class. At the time, this decision by the school was very much against his wishes. “All I wanted was to participate in the same things as my friends,” he said. But it was through his working one-on-one with an instructor that he was exposed to the fulfilling and exciting world of adaptive sports, and this new interest of his blossomed quickly.

Fast forward to today, and Eric is a decorated adaptive sports athlete, having been a standout in Challenger Baseball, multiple wheelchair basketball leagues, and a renowned sled hockey team, The CNY Flyers. Other notable accomplishments include having won competitions at the Empire State Games, in the World Armwrestling Federation, and in the International Federation of Armwrestling. Sports and the successes he’d had in them bolstered his confidence substantially over time. Because he was reaping so many unexpected benefits through adaptive sports, he made it his mission to help others share the same experiences. For years, Eric has been a staunch advocate for young people with disabilities, and it is through his roles as Board member and President for CNY Adaptive Sports that he has touched many lives.

“CNY Adaptive Sports gives so many options for people of all ages and all disabilities,” Eric said. “We try to provide fun programs for everybody with varying levels of competition and goals. There’s a niche for everybody, regardless of disability. It’s about providing opportunities for recreation, fitness, and making friends who are experiencing similar challenges.” 

Eric’s goals range from spreading word about local adaptive sports and the benefits they provide to ones he admits seem lofty. “One day, I’d love to see equal pay for, say wheelchair basketball players compared to NBA players, or sled hockey players to NHL players,” he said, adding that he does all he can to help improve public exposure and acceptance. “One of the things I want to change is the perception of how people look at adaptive athletes because there is unfortunately a lot more pity than genuine respect,” he continued. “They probably look at us in terms of what we can’t do, but I want to show them what we can do.”

With his years of success in sports and other areas of life, Eric often tells others, “Don’t limit yourself in terms of what you can do,” while emphasizing that people should, of course, follow the guidance of their healthcare providers. “Hard work knows no limits, and the only limitations are the ones we place on ourselves, whether in academics, employment, or athletics.” Like many people with disabilities, Eric has struggled with depression and anxiety. He knows how much this battle affects people, and therefore, he frequently offers words of encouragement to those who share this struggle, especially the youth in his community. “You’re going to face doubt,” he reminds them, drawing from his own experiences. “Overcoming the stigma of disability doesn’t come easy, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work hard to achieve it together.”

Eric's journey is a powerful reminder that no challenge is insurmountable when fueled by passion, resilience, and a desire to uplift others. His unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers – whether in sports or society – proves that the true measure of strength lies not in what we are told we can't do, but in what we choose to overcome. Eric is a living testament to the power of defying expectations, showing us all that limits are meant to be pushed and dreams are meant to be realized.

To learn more about how adaptive sports may benefit you or someone close to you, please visit CNYadaptivesports.org. Also, Eric has graciously offered to guide people directly with his knowledge of various adaptive services, sports leagues, and other inclusive activities around town. You can reach him via email at Eric_Komar@CNYadaptivesports.org

Advocates is proud of Eric for all he does for children with disabilities, and we're proud to call him a valued member of our team!

Join us on Tuesday, February 18th from

4-9pm for our next Dine For Dollars event at Texas Roadhouse, located at 3830 Rte. 31 in Liverpool.

Texas Roadhouse will generously donate 10% of all pre-tax sales back to Advocates. To ensure Advocates receives credit, simply present this advertisement (either printed or on your mobile phone) while dining in.

On behalf of our individuals, families, and employees, thank you for your anticipated support! We hope to see you there!

Join us for Advocates night at the Syracuse Crunch!

Our next Advocates-sponsored Syracuse Crunch game is Feb. 22nd! People/families receiving services from Advocates along with employees are invited to join us at 7pm that evening as the Syracuse Crunch take on Laval Rocket.

Discount tickets ($18) can be purchased by contacting

Annika Tyson: (315) 473-4444 ext. 126 or online at: www.syracusecrunch.com/advocates using promotional code: ADVOCATES

Help make our 7th Annual event our best one yet!

Join us on Saturday, May 17th

to run, walk, stroll, or roll for Advocates! Advocates' Annual Stroll & Roll 5K will be held at Onondaga Lake Park (Willow Bay, 3858 Long Branch Road, Liverpool, NY 13090.)

The race begins at 10:00 am. There will be food trucks, live entertainment, family games, face painting, and snacks. The top three winners will receive a cash prize. Register before March 16th for the early bird pricing of $30!

All proceeds will benefit people with disabilities.

We hope to see you there!

As we celebrate Black History Month, Advocates honors the Black Americans who have shaped our communities with their immeasurable gifts and contributions.  

Google Arts and Culture allows for gallery goers to honor Black Americans by experiencing online museums. Click here to view the Civil Rights Movement Exhibit.

Your Voice Matters!

Click the button below to contact your legislators today and urge them to reject any proposals that reduce federal Medicaid funding. Cuts to Medicaid would threaten critical home and community-based services (HCBS) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

On behalf of those who receive services through Medicaid funding, we thank you for your time!

On behalf of Advocates, thank you for giving to the Annual Appeal. Advocates' mission is to provide the highest quality supports and services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You join the many other committed and motivated families and friends who choose to invest in Advocates and the future of those we provide services for. It is with your support that we are able to provide these services through a dedicated team of professionals. For that, we are most grateful.

There is still time to make a gift to Advocates' Annual Appeal. Gifts of any amount are appreciated!

To make your donation, please click the button below

or mail your check to:

Advocates Incorporated

290 Elwood Davis Road, Suite 101

Liverpool, NY 13088

Thank you so much for your consideration and generosity!

We are thrilled to announce that Sujit Kurup, who was recommended by his former art teacher, Jackie Adamo (owner of "Adamo Studio" at the Delavan Art Center), showcased his incredible talent in his very first solo art show!

Sujit previously displayed his artwork alongside friends at The Galleries last January, and now he can say he's stepped into the spotlight for a solo exhibition! Sujit was the feature artist at the Downtown Central Library from December-January, and we congratulate him for this accomplishment!

Did you know?

Advocates' Executive Director, Amy Dugliss, and Self-Advocate, Nicholas Courgi, collaborate each month to bring you an Advocates-themed podcast! The Inclusion Matters Podcast can be found by searching "Inclusion Matters Advocates" on Amazon Music and Spotify.

We hope you'll tune in monthly to hear inspiring stories from Advocates!

In case you missed it

Check out last month's spotlight on Taylor Perkins!