Our History
The Adaptive Athletics Association was founded in 2010 with a clear and passionate purpose, to promote and grow wheelchair athletics throughout the United States, starting with wheelchair tennis. Comprised of dedicated athletes, coaches, and community advocates from the Inland Empire, our founding board set out to create new opportunities for participation, competition, and awareness in adaptive sports.
In our early years, the Association focused on expanding access to wheelchair tennis across Southern California. We hosted tournaments at premier venues including Mission Hills Country Club, the Yorba Linda Country Club, and made history by organizing the first-ever wheelchair tennis tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, giving adaptive athletes a stage alongside some of the sport’s most iconic events. These tournaments helped raise the visibility of adaptive tennis and offered players valuable opportunities to earn ITF ranking points close to home.
As our community grew, so did our programs. We launched outreach initiatives to introduce the sport to new athletes of all ages, provided access to adaptive sports equipment, and partnered with local clubs and certified coaches to develop fitness, training, and wellness programs for athletes with physical disabilities. Our efforts have since expanded beyond competition to include weekly wheelchair tennis clinics at the Gold River Sports Club, where emerging players train, connect, and inspire one another.
Over the past fifteen years, the Adaptive Athletics Association has evolved from a small regional effort into a collaborative organization that connects athletes, coaches, leagues, and organizations nationwide. Along the way, our Board of Directors has grown and changed, guided by a shared commitment to inclusion, access, and excellence. From our founding board members, Charise Karjala Collins, Marsten “Marty” Anderson, Todd Hanover, Leslie Haughney, Tom Ayala, Jimmie Gant, Rob Hanly, and Molly Polk, to today’s leadership team, Marsten “Marty” Anderson (President/Treasurer), Alycia Anderson (Secretary), Tom Ayala, Chris Hoffman, and Melissa Hoffman, we have remained true to our purpose, empowering adaptive athletes and strengthening the community that supports them.
Today, as we celebrate our 15-year anniversary in 2025, the Adaptive Athletics Association stands at a new height in its journey. Our current Mission and Vision reflect an expanded global outlook, to empower athletes, coaches, leagues, and organizations by providing an inclusive, connected platform that fosters discovery, collaboration, and growth in adaptive sports, ensuring that every person, regardless of ability, can access, compete, and thrive in the world of sport.
From our humble beginnings on the courts of Southern California to our growing national and international partnerships, our legacy continues to build toward one goal, a world where adaptive athletics are fully integrated, widely celebrated, and universally accessible.