Think life after injury means pressing pause? Rick Brauer would like a word. From the floor of the Abilities Expo in Dallas, we sit down with the “original test dummy” of Rise Adaptive Sports to unpack how free access to adaptive equipment—and a culture that celebrates trying—can flip isolation into momentum. Rick has spent years pushing hand cycles and court chairs to their limits so newcomers don’t have to, translating hard-won lessons into safer, smarter pathways back to play.

We trace Rise’s origins from a friend’s promise to help a Vietnam veteran, through the 2007 launch of community programs built on grants, donated spaces, and zero participant fees. Rick explains why the free model isn’t charity; it’s strategy. When a hand cycle can cost thousands, a gear library becomes a gateway to discovery. Players can dial in the right fit, test different sports, and build confidence without gambling savings. That approach feeds a vibrant scene around quad rugby every Friday night at the Georgia Farrow Recreation Center in Irving, where the city opens the gym, Rise brings the chairs, and the community brings the energy. Expect contact, laughter, and the kind of resilience you only learn on the floor.

Looking forward, Rick shares a bold vision: a dedicated adaptive sports complex that anchors quad rugby, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair football under one roof. No more fighting for gym time, no more scattered gear, just consistent access and a visible home for anyone ready to move again. Along the way, we talk about the deeper impact—parents easing their grip as they watch kids thrive, newly injured adults replacing dread with goals, and the power of gratitude to keep the mission grounded. If you care about adaptive sports, inclusive communities, or what it takes to rebuild identity after a life-changing event, you’ll find something here to carry with you.

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