In March 2008, NCHPAD attended the Emory Invitational Wheelchair Track Meet in Atlanta, Georgia. The meet was the nation's first high school and collegiate invitational for athletes with disabilities. Emory's Department of Physical Therapy and the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP) co-hosted this one-of-a-kind event.

Young athletes traveled from all parts of the U.S. to compete in this event, including Arielle Rausin, a 16-year-old girl that traveled from Florida with her family to compete. While at the meet, we interviewed Arielle, a promising young athlete who has only been wheelchair racing for the last 2 years. Though she credits her involvement in racing with giving her a sense of accomplishment and motivation to strive for bigger goals (i.e., 2016 Paralympics), for now she is just enjoying racing and being an athlete.

To watch this month's Community Voice video interview of Arielle Rausin, along with footage of the event itself, click on link below. The text from the interview is included below for those who may not be able to access the clip.