Student/Senior Organization 4 Adaptive Recreation

isabilities. My parents managed a watersports center for disabled children. I would often devote time sailing, as a buddy snorkeling, or just spending time with them. I grew up never noticing any differences. I continued serving my community in many ways during my teen years, working with my local community center leading fund raisers that contributed to several local charities. I always involved my peers, leading by example, so other young people could experience the feeling of helping others. These experiences shaped me. Community service has become part of who I am. I was fortunate to learn to row. My early memories of my experience on the water and the happiness it brought my disabled friends, prompted me to start an adaptive rowing program. My first challenge was to experience what a disable rower would encounter. I was invited to the oldest adaptive rowing program and I spent a week training at Louisville Adaptive Row. I was blindfolded, strapped down and used a fixed seat, all which would make rowing difficult. It was an immediate appreciation for how much effort was needed by the rower with limited mobility. Armed with many previous successful accomplishments from years past, my second challenge was to convince the President and Board of Directors at my rowing center that I could teach disabled people to row. Their response was overwhelmingly positive. This had been a project the center had been unable to accomplish. Intrigued by my youth and my presentation, they agreed. Because I was only 14, the center’s insurance would not cover my efforts. My next challenge was to find an experience adult rower to supervise. I was fortunate to find a master rower, whose commitment to my success was unending. There were always other challenging times during the three years I spent developing the program; expensive equipment, maintenance, weather and qualified volunteers that could transfer participants into the boats. Solving challenges became oddly routine and uneventful, just requiring determination to tackle the tasks at hand. The program was able to raise additional funds. One of the leading adaptive regatta sponsors, donated a boat to help the program grow. Recently our city committed $85,000 a year towards the continuation of the program. We were able to hire a full time coach and one of our participants just came back from representing the US Paralympic team in Rio. I had the privilege to row with the woman who brought home a Gold Medal. As I enter into my fourth year of service, I have met some pretty incredible people who do not allow their disabilities to get in the way of their dreams. Their aspiration to succeed, fuels my desire to help. I am using my experiences to help a disabled woman realize her vision of getting back into the ocean, She has been confined to a wheelchair as the result of an automobile accident. She was 14 when it happened and I was 14 when we met. We instantly connected. Through our efforts, we have been able to provide the opportunity for people with all types of disabilities and their families to enjoy a day at the beach. Where many communities failed to provide adequate access, this program has raised funds to purchase special mats and special wheelchairs that trudge through the sand and float in the ocean. This equipment has provided many their first experience, enjoying a piece of paradise, that many of us take for granted. My involvement has been life changing, teaching me to appreciate life. I have realized that people are people; just some have to do things a little differently than I do. My long range goal is to help change the way disable people are perceived. Never did I fathom my passion for rowing would lead to helping others realize theirs. Everyone can make a difference and I am proud of being able to contribute.