COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

SKATING ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND & HAND
BUFFALO, NY · EIN 222200201 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE N68Z · Recreation & Sports · Small ($100K-$1M) · sabahinc.org
revenue
$512K
expenses
$602K
net assets
$25K
employees
7
volunteers
425
program ratio
83%
mission · from form 990

TO ENRICH THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS CHALLENGED BY PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE AND/OR EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING EDUCATION AND THERAPEUTIC RECREATION, PROMOTING FITNESS AND DEVELOPING SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Skating Association for the Blind & Hand (SABAH) provides adaptive ice skating and recreational programs for individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities in Western New York. Its primary program, School Day Adaptive Ice Skating, integrates movement with academic standards for school-aged children. The organization also offers evening and weekend skating, summer programs, and outdoor activities, promoting fitness, socialization, and life skills through therapeutic recreation.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $68K
    PRODUCTION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ANNUAL ICE SHOW.
named programs · 7 · from sources

What they call their work

Adaptive Ice Hockey
Program teaching basic skating and hockey skills to individuals with special needs in a supportive environment from December through March
Celebration on Ice
Annual season-ending ice show featuring performances by over 700 SABAH athletes, culminating in a red-carpet movie premiere event at the Buffalo Convention Center
Evening & Weekend Ice Skating
Weekly adaptive ice skating sessions for individuals of any age with disabilities, held at four locations across Western New York from October through March
Fit & Fun for Adults with Disabilities
Physical education program offering sports and games such as volleyball, disc golf, t-ball, and floor hockey for adults with disabilities
Outdoor Series
Accessible nature walks and outdoor adventures for SABAH athletes and families, designed to promote connection with nature and each other
School Day Adaptive Ice Skating (SDAIS)
Curriculum-based ice skating program for school-aged children with disabilities, aligned with New York State Common Core Standards and offered at no cost to students or schools
Summer Skates
Therapeutic summer ice skating program providing adaptive equipment and skating essentials for individuals with special needs
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Adaptive Sports Programs 4 activities
    • Adaptive ice hockey program
      Offers an adaptive ice hockey program from December through March for individuals with special needs, focusing on teaching basic skating and hockey skills in a supportive, inclusive environment.
    • Adaptive ice skating programs
      Provides year-round adaptive ice skating sessions for individuals of all ages with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities, including weekly programs from October through March at multiple locations in Western New York and summer programming. Programs include instruction in basic skating skills, games, free skating, and adaptive equipment such as skates, helmets, walkers, and Rifton Walkers. The program served over 830 participants, including 317 school-aged children during the 2023–2024 school year.
    • Adaptive turf and outdoor recreation programs
      Offers year-round adaptive physical education and recreational programming on turf and in outdoor natural settings, including seasonal activities such as volleyball, disc golf, t-ball, football, floor hockey, and floor hockey, as well as outdoor excursions like birding, nature hikes, beach walks, and snowshoeing. These programs serve adults and children with disabilities across New York State Parks and community locations.
    • School Day Adaptive Ice Skating (SDAIS) program
      Operates a school-day adaptive ice skating program for economically disadvantaged students with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities, delivered during school hours at Bud Bakewell Riverside Rink. The program uses a station-based curriculum integrating individual goals in dressing, skating, social interaction, and following directions, with embedded physical and occupational therapy components.
  • Figure Skating Instruction and Development 1 activity
    • Annual ice show and celebration events
      Produces an annual ice show and season-ending celebration featuring live performances at multiple rinks and a red-carpet movie premiere event with dinner, dancing, and recognition at the Buffalo Convention Center. The event highlights the achievements of over 700 athletes with disabilities and serves as a core programmatic and community engagement activity.
  • Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser 1 activity
    • Fundraising events
      Organizes annual fundraising events including Kickstock, which requires teams to raise a minimum of $750 to participate, and the Starlight Night Auction and Gala, both of which support program operations and community engagement.
  • Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
    • Volunteer engagement and support programs
      Engages over 400 active volunteers annually to support athletic participation, including weekly on-ice and off-ice assistance from October through March, equipment distribution, registration, and ice access. Volunteers also support annual events such as the Celebration on Ice and Starlight Night Auction and Gala.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$512K
Contributions & grants$375K73%
Program service revenue$95K19%
Investment income$810%
Other revenue$42K
expenses
Total expenses$602K
Program expenses83%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising7%
Salaries & benefits$365K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$223K
Cash$68K
Investments$0
Liabilities$198K
Net assets$25K
Liquid reserves1.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -17.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SHEILA O'BRIEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $107K
board members · 17
  • AL VAUGHTERS — DIRECTOR
  • ALAN J ROSENHOCH — DIRECTOR
  • BRIAN COSTELLO — DIRECTOR
  • CHRISTINA MILLS — DIRECTOR
  • DAN MCCARTHY — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID VL BRADLEY ESQ — DIRECTOR
  • ISAAC DE LOS SANTOS — DIRECTOR
  • JOSH KREBS — DIRECTOR
  • KELLY PAPA — DIRECTOR
  • LAURA HETTRICK — DIRECTOR
  • MARK MCDONNELL — VICE PRESIDENT
  • MARY CLARE KOESSLER-SMITH — PRESIDENT
  • MICHELLE CORDERO — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT M STATES — TREASURER
  • SARAH O'BRIEN — DIRECTOR
  • TOM RENNIE — SECRETARY
  • WILLIAM P KEEFER ESQ — DIRECTOR
relationships · 27

Who they work with

  • 350 remarkable volunteers from this region Partner — Volunteers support program delivery and enable expanded adaptive recreation services.
  • Beyond Learning Center Partner — Participating school in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • Bud Bakewell Riverside Rink Partner — Host site for SABAH's adaptive ice skating program.
  • Buffalo Bandits Partner — Provides space for SABAH's athletic programs
  • Buffalo Convention Center Partner — Host venue for the Celebration on Ice movie premiere event.
  • Buffalo Public Schools Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • Buffalo Sabres Partner — Provides space for SABAH's athletic programs
  • Dwyer Arena Partner — Hosts SABAH's weekly on-ice sessions in Lewiston, NY.
  • Frontier Central School District Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • Grand Island Central School District Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • Hamburg Town Rink Partner — Host site for SABAH's adaptive ice skating program.
  • Ice Arena of Hamburg Township Partner — Hosts SABAH's weekly on-ice sessions in Hamburg, NY.
  • Kevin T. Keane Sports Park at Nardin Academy Partner — Host venue for the Kickstock 2026 event.
  • Lake Shore Central School District Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • New York State Government — Program aligns with New York State educational standards and assessments for students with disabilities.
  • Niagara University’s Dwyer Arena Partner — Host site for SABAH's adaptive ice skating program.
  • Northtown Center at Amherst Partner — Host site for SABAH's adaptive ice skating program.
  • Orchard Park Central School District Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • SABAH Inc. Network — Member organization using the name SKATING ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND & HAND
  • St. Mary’s School for the Deaf Partner — Participating school in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • Sweet Home Central School District Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • The Bud Bakewell Arena Partner — Hosts SABAH's weekly on-ice sessions in Buffalo, NY.
  • The Children’s Guild Foundation Partner — Collaborates on the Summer Athletes Bold at Heart adaptive physical education program.
  • The Northtown Center at Amherst Partner — Hosts SABAH's weekly on-ice sessions in Williamsville, NY.
  • The Shagadelics Partner — Performing band for SABAH's 2026 Starlight Night Auction & Gala event.
  • West Buffalo Charter Cheektowaga Central School District Partner — Participating school district in SABAH's School Day Adaptive Ice Skating program.
  • multiple group homes and adult day habilitation facilities in the region Partner — Collaborates with group homes and adult day habilitation facilities to reach adults with disabilities for program participation.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Expressive and Themed Programming for Engagement
    methodology: expressive-performance-engagement
    By incorporating music, costumes, and expressive performance into skating sessions, the organization increases joy and motivation among athletes with disabilities because emotionally engaging and personalized experiences enhance participation and emotional well-being.
  • Movement-Integrated Academic Reinforcement
    methodology: movement-integrated-academic-learning
    By aligning adaptive ice skating with academic standards and integrating gross motor activity into learning, the organization improves attentiveness and cognitive engagement because physical movement activates neural pathways that support learning and classroom focus.
  • Therapeutic Recreation for Holistic Development
    methodology: therapeutic_recreation
    By using adaptive skating and structured recreational activities, the organization improves physical fitness, socialization, communication, and independence among individuals with disabilities because engagement in therapeutic recreation builds confidence, trust, and developmental skills in a supportive environment.
  • Volunteer-Partnered Engagement Model
    methodology: consistent_volunteer_pairing
    By consistently pairing trained volunteers with participants, the organization fosters trust, promotes socialization, and supports independence because ongoing relational connections enhance comfort, continuity, and engagement for individuals who are blind or have disabilities.