Jordan Kozloski is a gym rat who shoots over a thousand shots a week and completes three-mile laps around her neighborhood. It is this type of commitment that has helped this multi-sport athlete win 21 team state championships heading into her senior year at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia. Dedication and perseverance are common traits among student-athletes and are two characteristics Jordan had to learn at a young age.

                Jordan’s story begins when she was just a toddler.

                “I lost my leg completely to a riding lawn mower when I was two and half years old.” Jordan said.  “I went up behind him (Jordan’s father) while he was mowing the lawn. My mom ran out when she saw me, and I hear someone calling my name. So, I turned around with my left leg facing the lawn mower and he didn’t see me and he backed right over me and shredded it off completely. They tell me that I flat-lined twice.”

                Due to the nature of her injury, doctors were initially unsure if Jordan would be able to wear a prosthetic. However, just three months later, Jordan was fitted for her first prosthetic and playing in a golf tournament fundraiser being held on her behalf.  From there, a love of sports was born.

                After a short-lived golf career, Jordan decided she wanted to play basketball. However, her coaches found it difficult to adapt their training to her prosthetic. That’s when Christy Jones, a teacher for Orthopedically Impaired students in the Houston County School District, saw a need and stepped in.

                 Jones, a long time official with the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs (AAASP), is credited with helping to bring adapted activities to Houston County.

                “We just had the opportunity, it was the right opportunity to bring it into the school system,” Jones said. “Our assistant superintendent and superintendent at the time, Dr. Hines, who’s the current executive director of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA), were huge supporters of the program.”

                In addition to teaching, Jones has taken on coaching all wheelchair sports at Houston County High School: wheelchair basketball, wheelchair handball and wheelchair football.

                Wheelchair basketball is Jordan’s self-proclaimed favorite sport, and her dedication to the sport is providing her with opportunities beyond high school. In January, Jordan earned a spot as an alternate for the 2018 U.S. Women’s National Wheelchair Basketball Team.

                This opportunity wasn’t achieved without dedication and perseverance. Jordan’s been playing competitive wheelchair basketball since the second grade and hones her wheel skills by playing wheelchair handball and wheelchair football for her high school as well.  

                Playing three sports all school year can be time-consuming, but Jordan recognizes the importance of participating in multiple sports in high school. 

                “I think it gives you a different perspective with each one. Like you have different skills you can attribute to, different mindsets.” Jordan said. “It benefits you in a way where you learn to balance different things all at the same time. You don’t have to do just one thing. You don’t have one mindset. You can branch out and experience new things and I think that’s really helpful in high school.”

                For these reasons and more, Jones is a strong advocate for adaptive programming in school systems across the country.

                “Fight for the program. Don’t just accept no as an answer.” Jones said. “If that’s something you truly want to have, make it happen. Everybody deserves that opportunity to compete and if you truly believe and want it then you can make it happen in your systems.”

                For more information on starting adaptive programming contact the American Association of Adapted Sports Programs at 404-294-0070, or at [email protected].