Joe Sims never learned to swim. Even when he could see, the sport eluded him. But several years ago, working closely with a Metro student trainer assigned to him through Campus Recreation's Physically Challenged Program (PCP), Sims, now completely blind, overcame his fear of the water and learned to swim.

"It was an exciting day,” Sims says, “when I could take the float-belt off and swim on my own.”

Sims, along with 50 to 75 students each semester, takes part in the Physically Challenged Program, a recreation initiative providing personal training and outdoor experiences for people at Auraria with disabilities. Programs such as the PCP have earned the Auraria campus New Mobility magazine's distinction as one of the 10 most disability-friendly campuses in the country.

Here's how it works: Students and other members of the Campus Recreation Facility who are physically challenged can sign up for personal training with Metro State students from the Human Performance and Sport Department, some of whom have disabilities themselves. Each trainee receives an individually designed program based on his or her medical history and fitness goals and receives as many as three personal training sessions a week. Through this program, visually impaired individuals have learned to roller blade, swim and run, among other activities. People with different challenges have increased their strength and improved their health through cardio and weight-training workouts.

"Our goal is to help them achieve a better quality of life and they come willingly and work very hard,” observes Julie Mancuso, assistant director of Campus Recreation who runs the program. “I've seen people make enormous changes."

The other component of the program provides outdoor and other recreational opportunities for campus people with disabilities. This summer, for example, the PCP is hosting a June 29 wildflower hike with monoculars to help participants in wheelchairs better view the vegetation. Adaptive water skiing will be held at Sloan's Lake, July 20, July 27, Aug. 3 and Aug. 10. Fall and winter activities range from hiking, adaptive skiing, bowling, canoeing and rock climbing to horseback riding, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

Sims, 62, attends classes through the Metro Meritus program, which allows senior citizens to audit courses free of charge. He tries to swim two times a week and work out another couple of times weekly. He also likes challenging himself with activities he never thought he'd do, like water skiing. "The PCP program," he says, “helps me stay in good shape, maintain an active life and helps me mentally. By engaging in activities, it gives you a positive outlook on life.”