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With a precocious grin from ear
to ear the little girl called out from the shores
of Conception Bay to her anxious mother and father,
“Hey Mom, watch my wheelchair would ya? I’m
going sailing!” |
Sailing is a relatively new program to Easter
Seals, and the ultimate in empowering children. We
take what would seem impossible for kids with physical
disabilities - hauling lines, working the rudder, tacking to
and fro - and make it possible!
Easter Seals maintains a number of
specialized "access sailboats", where all working parts are
calibrated to a joystick control. So forget being towed
around behind a motor launch! A few modifications allow even
severely challenged children to be the sailors, right
up to the point of piloting their sailboats on Deer Lake or
Conception Bay.
Ken, a new volunteer with Easter Seals, pulled into the
Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club, arriving just a little
late. As he hurried to the water's edge, Ken spied
a line of wheelchairs. All sat empty. Out beyond the
chairs, however, bobbed a number of small sailboats.
Ken
stood transfixed, watching the crafts zip, wave and
dance across the waves. The scene surpassed his wildest
expectations - these boats were being sailed by kids.
Kids enabled!
The program is the only one of its kind in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
For information contact Easter Seals at
726-2622 or toll free 1-888-601-6767 or e-mail
info@easterseals.nf.ca.
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