March 11, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Oksana Masters, who trains at the University of Illinois’ Disability Resources and Educational Services, continued her amazing run at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games in Italy. Masters captured gold in the women’s sitting 10km to secure her third gold medal of these Paralympic Winter Games after completing […]
Category: Disability Resources & Educational Services
DRES trainee Masters wins gold in 2026 Paralympics
March 09, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Illinois has three DRES-affiliated Paralympians competing in Italy Oksana Masters, who trains at the University of Illinois’ Disability Resources and Educational Services, took gold in the women’s biathlon sprint at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games on Saturday to earn the 20th Paralympic medal of her career and […]
Wheelchair athletes lead Illinois’ first Adaptive Rec Day, inviting campus to play and pay it forward
Feb. 26, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Illinois hosts inaugural Adaptive Rec Day, expanding disability sports awareness It wasn’t even 11 a.m. and Gym 2 at the Activities and Recreation Center on the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was already buzzing. Illinois’ first annual Adaptive Rec Day had just begun, drawing students, faculty and […]
AHS Alumni Awards celebrate leadership, resilience and service
Sept. 29, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Honorees embody resilience, leadership, service, and equity The College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign once again shined a light on extraordinary alumni at its annual Alumni Awards celebration, held during Homecoming weekend. This year’s honorees—Dr. Jack Groppel, Justice Adrienne Albrecht and Brandon Buchanan—embody the […]
How Illinois helped John Preston redefine himself
Aug. 14, 2025 | Adelyn Mui John Preston had never been in an integrated environment until he came to the University of Illinois in 1967 Arriving at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the 1970s, John Preston was among the few Black students and people with disabilities on campus. His journey through the university not […]
AHS alum Hagel, 2004 basketball team chosen for USOPC HOF
May 06, 2025 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo Paralympic multi-medalist Susan Hagel and the 2004 gold-medal-winning women’s wheelchair basketball team were among those selected for induction this summer into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame. The USOPC announced on Tuesday its Class of 2025 that brings together eight individual Olympic and Paralympic athletes, two teams, […]
Study shows smart home technology to be beneficial for aging in place
May 22, 2025 | Jonathan King Mobility disabilities, defined as a “serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs,” affect approximately 21 percent of adults 65 years of age and older Saul Morse believes his wife might not have survived a recent health episode without assistive technology. “Had it not been for our voice-activated digital home assistant, […]
Illini lead Team USA basketball into semis
Sept. 04, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo The U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team is a step closer to a record third straight gold medal. Led by Illini Paralympians Steve Serio and Brian Bell, Team USA routed France 82-47 on Wednesday in Paris. Serio and Bell each had seven assists as Team USA had 34 assists total […]
DRES alumni unite to help students
Jan. 15, 2024 | Ethan Simmons Former Illini wheelchair athletes have helped fund scholarship for the next generation of adaptive sports stars In the heat of an Illinois men’s wheelchair basketball season, intense morning practices roll into sociable team meals and lively late-night gaming sessions. The hours spent between busy student-athlete schedules—on buses and in […]
AHS honors four outstanding alumni
Jan. 15, 2024 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo In 2023, the College of Applied Health Sciences chose four AHS graduates to receive alumni awards. These awards serve as a testament to the unwavering dedication and great contributions of our graduates. Young Alumni AwardMichael LeachRecreation, Sport and Tourism Michael Leach was appointed as the first-ever chief diversity and […]