NWAFF WHEELCHAIR FENCING PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Mission Statement

NWAFF Wheelchair Fencing Program is dedicated to serving persons with disablities of Northwest Arkansas by empowering them through the sport of wheelchair fencing. The program is open to wheelchair users and to persons with lower limb disabilities who are unable to fence traditionally.

Who is Eligible

People with lower limb disabilities and wheelchair users are able to participate in the NWAFF program. As we have limited space, we can only offer fencing to those who fall into class A or B. Fencers are classified according to their level of physical ability:

• Class A fencers have with the greatest mobility, including (usually) full control of their abdominal muscles and good upper body strength (i.e. many can still stand or even walk).
• Class B fencers are mostly paraplegics with little to no abdominal control and good upper body and arm and hand strength.
• Class C fencers have the least mobility, generally no control of abdominal muscles, and often loss of grip or hand strength in one or both hands.

Program Benefits

The Wheelchair Fencing Program allows the participants to train 1 day a week, attend competitions (including travel expenses), and receive all equipment necessary for training and competition. The one hour consists of fencing lessons and drills in foil, épée or saber.