April is CUNY Disability Awareness Month! Throughout the month, we will highlight one CUNY student-athlete who will be helping us launch our Collegiate Wheelchair Basketball Program in the Fall of 2020. This week, we spoke to Christopher Saint Remy to discuss how the program is developing, why he chose to come back to school, and what this program means long-term for youth with disabilities.

Q: Chris, how long have you been playing wheelchair basketball?
A: I’ve been playing wheelchair basketball for 12 years now.
 
Q:  How would you describe your style of play? What’s your NBA player comparison?
A: Honestly, I have an old school style of play. I focus primarily on stretching the floor and playing in open space. I love shooting the ball and also playing that slow pace, grind out type of basketball.

Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett are the players I would compare myself to. This upcoming season, I have to elevate my game in a Lebron James-type of style, mainly because I want to be a better leader and help my teammates reach their full potential.    
 
Q: You are enrolled at Queens College for this upcoming Fall. Why did you decide to go back to school?
A: I promised my mother, before she passed away of cancer, that I graduate college with a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, self improvement has always been one of my main priorities and going back to school will definitely help with that.
 
Q: What’s your goal (s) for the upcoming collegiate season?
A: To help my teammates reach their full potential and win a championship, my goal for the next five seasons. 

Q: Why is CUNY’s Inclusive and Adaptive Sports Initiative an important thing for future generations?
A: This program is the first collegiate wheelchair basketball team in New York City. Until this year, the closet collegiate wheelchair basketball team on the Eastern Seaboard was in Pennsylvania, a long car ride from the city.

CUNY has about 11,000 students with disabilities, a population that’s growing as we speak. The disability community only wants equality, and the chance to show the world our abilities. This collegiate program will provide our future generations of disabled students in New York City the ability and opportunity to become a student-athlete.
 
Q: You got to partner with CUNY Athletics and Guardian Life Insurance to compete against NBA Hall of Famer, Alonzo Mourning. Tell us what that was like. 
A: It was an amazing experience. Playing against Alonzo Mourning on the famous floor of Madison Square Garden brought back so much memories. As a fan of basketball, I couldn’t ask for more. The most amazing part of the whole event is that I won! Furthermore, Guardian Life Insurance gave me a chance to represent all wheelchair athletes and promote that disability doesn’t mean inability. I was truly honored.
 
Q: Long term when you complete your studies at CUNY what would you like to do?
A: When I finish my studies at CUNY, I’m looking forward to getting into medical sales and real estate. I would love to go back to my country Haiti and help them build an adaptive sports program. It would also be great if I could come back and work with my coach, Ryan Martin, and continue helping him build this program.