Aquatics and Accessibility
Beyond ADA Compliance
By Chris Gelbach
Adaptive Programming Resources
Below are just a few of the organizations that provide resources for instructors and participants in adaptive water sports:
The American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation (AAPAR) offers workshops for adaptive aquatics assistants, instructors and master teachers. www.aahpherd.org/aapar
The U.S. Paralympics website offers an array of resources, including a list of Paralympics swimming coaches and information on how to become a Paralympics Sports Club. www.teamusa.org/US-Paralympics
The Handicapped Scuba Association (HSA) offers open-water scuba instruction for people with disabilities and their dive buddies, as well as instructor training. www.hsascuba.com
U.S. Sailing has a full section dedicated to disabled sailing resources on its website, including a list of programs across the nation. home.ussailing.org
The American Canoe Association (ACA) offers workshops on how to integrate paddlers with disabilities into paddling programs. www.americancanoe.org
The Wounded Warrior Project partners with specialized disabled sports providers to deliver year-round sports and fitness programs for injured service members. www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Disabled Sports USA offers water sports (and many other sports programs) to anyone with a permanent disability through its nationwide network of community chapters. www.dusa.org
Adaptive Adventures provides alpine skiing and snowboarding, cycling, kayaking, water skiing and wakeboarding and whitewater rafting programs to youth, adults and veterans with disabilities. www.adaptiveadventures.org
Adaptive Aquatics introduces and teaches adapted water skiing for children and adults with physical disabilities. www.adaptiveaquatics.org
The Adaptive Fly Fishing Institute offers education and certification training in therapeutic adaptive fly fishing and fly tying to providers, educators and outdoor recreation professionals. adaptivefishing.org
Fishing Has No Boundaries is a national organization with 23 chapters in 11 states that opens up the great outdoors for people with disabilities through fishing. www.fhnbinc.org