Community Highlights: Meet Laura Smith of High Country Adaptive Sports

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Smith.

Hi Laura, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have been practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Northern Arizona since 2009, but before I ever even thought about what I wanted to be as an adult, I was raised within the disability/nonprofit community. I was a sighted peer for children with blindness when I was little, and I remained involved with that population as I became old enough to volunteer and then eventually coordinate a sports/habilitation program for blind teens. When I moved to Flagstaff, I noticed a void in myself and within the community – where were our people with disabilities being served socially, emotionally, and recreationally? For years, I imagined building a sports program similar to the one I’d previously coordinated. While I worked with students as an SLP I maintained dreams of returning to my adaptive recreation history, and all of a sudden, I met the team at High Country Adaptive Sports, who was hiring for an Executive Director. Taking over this organization has really felt like a full-circle moment for me both personally and professionally. As a therapist, I’ve worked for years on supporting the functional skills for individuals with disabilities, and now I get to see members of the disabled community put those skills to GREAT use while having fun, creating joy, and building memories. As the Director, I have focused on sharpening the administrative functions within the organization, but one of my original and main focuses continues to be connecting High Country Adaptive Sports to the athletes and allies within our local community. Flagstaff is filled with so many compassionate, adventurous spirits, and I can’t wait to see how the HCAS and Flagstaff communities grow together. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t believe that any road is ever seamlessly smooth, but I do believe that all roads lead to growth if you are able to embrace it. There have been several clear moments on my path that I can point to as very intense, specific situations of growth, and I am thankful to each of them for getting me to where I am now. I use every tool in my toolbox to maintain a forward-looking attitude, and some days that toolbox feels a little less helpful than others; self-awareness and forgiveness have allowed me this incredible ability to be productive in spite of the road bumps. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
High Country Adaptive Sports is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich lives through adaptive recreation. We focus on adaptive outdoor recreation, including mountain biking, kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, and we recently added a program for indoor rock climbing. We are the only group offering adaptive ski/snowboard lessons at The Arizona Snowbowl, but our programming continues to evolve. We will be leading our first river trip through a partnership with Grand Canyon Youth next spring and have plans to expand our winter programming to include adaptive cross-country skiing. 

The focus of our programming is to expand access to the beautiful outdoor spaces of Northern Arizona for people of all ages with disabilities of all types. What our organization is incredibly good at is meeting individuals where they are and adapting outdoor recreation to their specific needs and interests. Some people we work with want to compete and feel the experience of speeding down a mountain; others enjoy the serenity of paddling a kayak at sunset. We enjoy meeting each athlete where they are and pride ourselves in doing so. 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My fondest childhood memories include riding my bike, rollerblading, playing softball, playing piano, and snuggling with my pet dachshund, Docta. It’s impossible to choose one favorite moment. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.highcountryadaptive.org
• Instagram: @high_countryadaptive, @latompsmith
• Facebook: High Country Adaptive Sports, Laura Tompkins Smith