From July 17-27, 2013, this Path to Paralympics Chicago/Brazil Sports and Disabilities Exchange will bring 11 youths (under 21-year-old) and eight adults to learn about youth sport opportunities for persons with disabilities.  A unique twist on exchange grants, disability leaders will participate in activities on athletics, education, and workshops that promote leadership, advocacy, and volunteerism for persons with disabilities in Brazil and the United States. Youth athletes from three cities will be represented: Rio de Janeiro, S�o Paulo and Vit�ria.

While in Chicago the delegation will learn about advocacy for the disability rights movement and participate in sports opportunities in Chicago, including sailing, sled hockey, wheelchair basketball, dance and much more. The locations and schedule can be found: Here

Participating organizations include:

• Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association
• Partners of the Americas
• Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
• The Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities
• Access Living
• Chicago Park District
• Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing and more.

About WorldChicago:

WorldChicago, a non-profit organization, works in concert with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. embassies abroad.  WorldChicago acts as a liaison between approximately 1,000 international visitors and their Chicago-area counterparts each year.  WorldChicago has served as Chicago's official host of U.S. government sponsored visitors since 1952. The organization's mission is to promote mutual understanding and appreciation amongst cultures through citizen-based diplomacy.

About the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs:

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes mutual understanding between Americans and people from around the world through a wide range of academic, cultural, private sector, professional and sports exchange programs. These international exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes and emerging leaders from the United States and nearly 170 countries. Alumni of these exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 350 current or former heads 

of state and government.