Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports Buffalo Bills Compete
There are two Buffalo Bills teams, but only one of them plays using high-tech wheelchairs and is featured on the Buffalo Toronto Public Media YouTube channel. These Buffalo Bills are one of thirteen sanctioned NFL-affiliated wheelchair football teams in the country and compete in two national tournaments each season. The team, which plays under the Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports banner, is part of Move United’s USA Wheelchair Football League (USAWFL) which has supported over 850 athletes, of whom 315 are veterans, and coaches since 2020.
In September, Buffalo hosted its first USAWFL welcoming seven teams, each named after their NFL counterpart and BTPM took to the sidelines to cover them. Four tournament games featuring the Bills are available to watch on the Buffalo Toronto Public Media YouTube channel now. The championship game between the Cowboys and Chiefs will be broadcast Monday, Nov. 15 at 9 pm on WNED PBS and is also available to watch on YouTube.
“It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to give a platform to Buffalo’s first wheelchair football league,” said CEO of Buffalo Toronto Public Media Tom Calderone, “visibility for the league is important and aligns with BTPM’s mission to provide the region with inclusive programming.
Norm Page started Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports, originally the Sled Hockey Foundation, after his son Adam began playing sled hockey as a child. Today, the organization provides adults and children with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports programs from wheelchair football to tennis to curling.
Visibility isn’t just important for the future of the league as it can create more opportunities for everyone with a disability to play sports. Greater Adaptive Sports is expanding, forming a program for younger athletes.
Each weekday beginning Monday, October 30, an exciting new game from the recent wheelchair football tournament will be posted on the Buffalo Toronto Public Media YouTube channel.
The schedule is listed below:
Monday: Game # 1 Buffalo Bills v. New England Patriots
Tuesday: Game # 2 Buffalo Bills v. Dallas Cowboys
Wednesday: Game # 3 Buffalo Bills v. Las Vegas Raiders
Thursday: Game # 4 Buffalo Bills v. Cleveland Browns
Friday: Game # 5 Championship Game Dallas Cowboys v. Kansas City Chiefs
This program has been made possible by Batavia Downs - Western New York’s Entertainment Destination, and by Towne Automotive, we love our towne, with additional support provided by Amy C. Martoche and Timothy W. Hoover.
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About Buffalo Toronto Public Media
Buffalo Toronto Public Media engages with our communities through exploration and entertainment –everywhere. Our member-supported services include WNED PBS, WBFO (NPR) (88.7 in Buffalo, 91.3 in Olean, 88.1 in Jamestown), WNED Classical (94.5 in Buffalo, 89.7 WNJA in Jamestown), WBFO The Bridge (88.7 HD2 and 94.5 HD2 in Buffalo), WNED Create, and WNED PBS KIDS. WNED PBS is also a national producer of award-winning documentaries. Additional information about Buffalo Toronto Public Media can be found at wned.org.