Team Leader Commended for Dedication at National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (April 30, 2026) — Dedication, compassion and an unwavering spirit were on full display at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colorado, where a local VA Northern Indiana Health Care System employee was recognized for her exceptional leadership.

Caitlin Mayden, a recreation therapist with VA Northern Indiana, was praised by event coordinators and participants alike for her outstanding service as a team leader during the weeklong event, held April 4-11. The clinic, a collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, annually brings together hundreds of veterans nationwide for a unique, world-class adaptive sports experience.

Guiding, Encouraging, Inspiring

Throughout the week, Mayden led a team of about 26 veterans each day, many of whom live with visual impairments, spinal cord injuries or amputations. With unwavering commitment, she ensured every participant received personal guidance and support.

“They skied three times, then the other days did adaptive activities like snowmobiling, sled hockey, fly fishing and rock climbing,” Mayden said. “I went with them and assisted with transportation, making sure they felt confident and comfortable.”

Every morning, Mayden and her co-leaders held team meetings to review daily schedules, answer questions, and help veterans prepare for new activities. She arranged for transportation up the mountain and often rode along, helping with wheelchair transfers into specialized equipment. Whether it was a first-time skier’s anxiety or logistical challenges, Mayden made it her mission to eliminate barriers to full participation.

“We were their personal helper,” Mayden said. “If they needed information or encouragement, I was there. My job was to help them believe in themselves and to support them every step of the way.”

Transforming Lives: “Miracles on a Mountainside”

Since its inception in 1987, the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic — often called “Miracles on a Mountainside” — has helped more than 10,000 veterans build confidence, improve health, and reconnect with their communities. The clinic is held each spring in Snowmass and now serves nearly 400 veterans each year. It offers a full slate of adaptive activities and rehabilitation opportunities specially designed for veterans with traumatic injuries, amputations, visual impairments and other disabilities.

Clinic organizers and attendees credited Mayden for her above-and-beyond efforts, saying she played a “pivotal role” in creating a supportive and inclusive environment.

"Thanks to her support, we are able to create these meaningful opportunities and ensure the continued success of the Winter Sports Clinic," an event spokesperson said. "Staff and volunteers like Caitlin are the driving force behind our impact in veterans’ lives."

Moments of Triumph

For Mayden, the clinic was filled with moments of triumph. She recalled one veteran in particular who hesitated to dance at the group social, admitting he hadn’t danced in 15 years.

“I sat down and talked with him and said, ‘You know, it would be really fun to go dance,’” Mayden said. “He was unsure, but I said, ‘Let’s just try it and see how it feels.’ We hit the dance floor, and just getting out there gave him confidence. He danced several more songs with other people.”

That breakthrough emboldened him to later attempt rock climbing — an activity that, at first, seemed impossible.

“He wasn’t excited at first. He thought he couldn’t get off the ground,” Mayden recalled. 

“But I told him, 'It’s mind over matter.' I climbed alongside him. When he reached the top of the wall, the look on his face was priceless. He accomplished something he never thought he could.”

A Lifelong Calling

Mayden’s passion for adaptive recreation began in childhood, inspired by her mother, a VA spinal cord unit nurse in St. Louis.

“I used to visit her at work and watched the local games there,” Mayden said. “That’s when I fell in love with recreation and adaptive sports — seeing the veterans’ faces when they completed a task they thought was out of reach.”

Enthusiastic about the transformative power of the clinic, Mayden hopes to return as a team leader for years to come.

“I love it. It's amazing,” she said. “I enjoy volunteering, meeting veterans from across the country, and being part of something that truly makes a difference in their lives.”

How to Get Involved

Participation in the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic is open to U.S. military veterans with qualifying disabilities, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, visual impairments and certain neurological conditions. To ensure participant and volunteer safety, adaptive skiing weight limits are set at 220 pounds for sit-down skiers and 300 pounds for stand-up skiers. Priority is given to veterans receiving VA care, and all applications are reviewed by medical and program directors.

The clinic is co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, with support from corporate partners and individual donors. Each spring, the event spans five to seven days in Snowmass, Colorado, near Aspen. Veterans can apply online or via email, with applications typically due by late November.

For more information about participating, volunteering, or supporting the clinic, visit wintersportsclinic.org.