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WESTON, Mo. (InvestigateTV) — An adaptive skiing program north of Kansas City, Missouri, believes access to the slopes can have a life-changing impact on people with disabilities. At Snow Creek in Weston, Ryan Robinson pays for his lift ticket with jokes and puns, bringing infectious joy to the mountain. “I have to tell a joke to the lift operators, or a very clever pun,” Robinson said. “They can’t start the lift until I do so.” Robinson, who has cerebral palsy and was born at 27 weeks, approaches skiing differently than typical skiers but says his condition hasn’t defined him. “I really haven’t let it define me in any way, shape, or form,” Robinson said. Stan Weston with Midwest Adaptive Sports has watched Robinson’s remarkable progress on the slopes. “When he first started, the instructor had to physically assist him all the way down the hill. Well, you’re gonna see pretty soon that now we don’t assist him much,” Weston said. Robinson said the experience provides an unmatched rush. “The rush that you get from going down the hill, it just brings chills up and down your spine,” he said. Midwest Adaptive Sports teaches people of all abilities how to ski, thanks to a mix of federal and local grants totaling about $33,000. The funding includes $9,000 through Platte County Outreach, $6,000 through Move United, and $18,000 through Vail Resorts’ Epic Promise program. “When you let somebody have a chance to do something they love to do, it doesn’t get much better,” Weston said. Learn more about this adaptive skiing program by clicking here. Submit story tips to our Investigators Share errors or concerns with our Digital Editors Watch full episodes of InvestigateTV+ Subscribe to the InvestigateTV YouTube Channel
