KAYAKING
WITH A DISABILITY
Photos Contributed
by Mark Theobald of DisabledAdventurers.com
Across our nation, and in fact, the world, the physically challenged are being given more opportunities to leave their handicap on the shore as they launch into the sport of kayaking. From Japan to Scotland and throughout the United States organizations are adding paddling programs for the disabled. (Photo: Mark Olsen w/ CCS youth)
"Sea kayaking is like backpacking to me, except everything is stored in the boat and paddling replaces walking. I can explore unique environments and challenges independently," related one disabled adventurer.
Individuals like Mark Theobald are greatly enlarging such options for people with varied limitations. Called "the disabled kayak inventor/engineer extraordinaire!" by his peers, he has developed kayak paddle and backrest adaptations for the sit-on-top that is encouraging this safe and easy kayak to become the paddle craft of choice for many organizations with disability programs.
Profiled here are several paddlers who's lives have been tremendously enriched by the sport thanks to Mark's innovative designs:
Jane:
"This is so cool! I never thought I would be able to do this! We did
the unexpected!" Jane is a second-year college student at UCLA, in her
early 20's, and suffers from cerebral palsy or a CP-like ailment which
causes similar disabilities. She has severely limited control over the
upper half of her body. Because of her lack of arm and hand control,
Jane came up with the idea of moving Mark's paddling fixture far enough
forward for her to use her feet to paddle the kayak. She needed both
the paddling fixture and seat adaptation on the Malibu Two. Jane also
suffers with spasms and Mark's seat adaptation with the width of the
Malibu Two offered more stability for her needs than the solo kayaks.
Left:
Paddling fixture adapted to a Malibu Two Sit-on-top kayak provided by
Ocean Kayak, Inc. for the purpose of developing and adapting these fixtures.
"The Malibu Two is simply a fantastic kayak for this purpose," explains Mark, "particularly because it has all the stability even the heaviest paddler could ever desire. The method of attachment I used on the Malibu Two can be used on ANY kayak!"
Right:
"The PVC framework around the seat was actually the first part
of the seat adaptation I developed," Mark continues. "It has
proven to be as helpful as the paddling fixture for people who have
no trunk muscles, and especially those who suffer spasms. The ...addition
of a padded PVC pipe that is secured just at the leading edge of the
seat pad effectively deepens the seat-pocket and does a great job of
ensuring the paddler does not slide forward and off of the seat-pad.
It keeps the paddler seated more upright (as much as desired by the
paddler), allowing the seat-back and sides to provide a greater level
of support."
Steve,
a quadriplegic paddler who has very limited hand use and is only able
to push with his arms, took Mark's OK Scrambler XT with the paddling
fixture out for a test run.
He gave the design concept a very high review and has helped Mark to work out some design challenges.
On
April 1, 2000, Aaron (photo right) went out on the water for the first
time since his Xtreme-Downhill Skiing accident left him a quadriplegic
two years earlier.
Jack
Fischer, (photo left) is becoming a regular in Mark's group, not only
for kayaking, but also for scubadiving. A school teacher in Los Angeles,
Jack suffered an accident while training for the Olympics on the parallel
bars about 24 years ago that has left him a quadriplegic now for approximately
half his life.
Mark
puts his designs to the test in the California Pacific with the help
of Denise Dowd of Disabled Divers International, Mark Olson a former
kayak shop owner and currently a sales rep for Ocean Kayak; as well
as Cindy Tokar and other members of the California Children's Services
or CCS. He is also involved with SCORE:
Spinal Cord Opportunities for Rehabilitation Endowment.
Resources:
If you are interested in learning how to provide safe assistance to disabled paddlers, or are disabled and want to participate in the sport, here are some resources:
-
Mark Theobald's Disabled Adventurers website. Learn more about his activities in California with disability programs, the individuals participating and his adaptive designs for the sit-on-top kayak.
-
Denise
Dowd is a key member of Disabled Divers International
in California USA and organizes local kayaking trips for disabled
paddlers and dive trips for disabled divers. She is an energetic instructor
with PADI and the Handicapped
Scuba Association (HSA). Denise teaches people with disabilities
to dive and she runs an Instructor Training Course (ITC), teaching
instructors how to work with the disabled in diving.
-
The American Canoe Association has published a book on "Canoeing and Kayaking for Persons with Physical Disabilities" (available, although currently out of print); The ACA does not yet integrate Sit-on-tops into their instructor training. They do have an active disability program for certified ACA instructors. Find out more at this link: http://www.acanet.org
-
UCSB Adaptive Paddling Program run by Rick Van Hoorn. He has worked with Mark when UCSB did their first clinic. For information or to enroll, call (805) 687-7444 Ext. 2102
-
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Anyone interested they can contact the coordinator Ashley Fitzz at 805-264-0510.
-
Adaptive Adventures offers opportunities primarily for people with physical disabilities including, but not limited to: amputations, paraplegia, quadriplegia, birth defects, cerebral palsy, head injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, stroke, and visual impairment.
Below
are a few questions Adaptive Adventures strongly recommends you consider
when evaluating the quality of an adaptive program. Use these for "checking
out" a service provider before traveling great distances or entrusting
loved ones to someone else's care:
1. Do you know anyone who has participated in the program in the past?
2. Are the instructors well trained and/or certified in the activities which they are teaching? What kind of previous experience do the staff and volunteers possess?
3. Who is responsible for training staff and volunteers?
4. Does the program do a personal evaluation to assess your goals, objectives, and needs?5. What type of adaptive equipment does the program provide? What condition is the equipment in? Do they rent equipment for personal use (on/off site)?
6.
How accessible are the facilities associated with the program? Issues such as parking, ramps, shuttles, and distances to be covered are all important.
7. What are the costs to participate? Do they offer any discounts or scholarships?
8. Will they give references?
Adaptive Adventures also provides a nationwide index of Adaptive Sports & Recreation Programs for a variety of sports available by state. See http://www.adaptiveadventures.org
