The University of Alabama

The University of Alabama created the nation’s first collegiate adapted athletics facilities, shaping the landscape of competition for student-athletes with disabilities (2003–Present): The University of Alabama’s Adapted Athletics program was founded in 2003 with women’s wheelchair basketball. Men’s wheelchair basketball was added in 2005, wheelchair tennis in 2011 and para track and field in 2023. The program opened the nation’s first dedicated collegiate arena for adapted sports in 2018, creating a national model. The Parker-Haun Tennis Facility was opened in 2021, another national first. UA’s Adapted Athletics program has 24 national championship titles across all sports. UA alumni have competed at the Paralympics since 2004, with 18 athletes or staff competing at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Learn more