Challenged America: "We're more than just sailing" (Add'l Post #6)

Challenged America is a program that enables people who have a disability to experience the wonder of sailing....however they  express on their website that it is SO much more than just sailing. Located in San Diego, CA, Challenged America was first started back in 1978 when two disabled veterans were watching others sail and thought to themselves, “That looks like fun…and all of them are sitting too.  Now, that’s something we should be able to do.” With an idea as simple as that, Challenged America was established with the idea that offering people with and without disabilities the opportunity to sail, they could improve their health, build up their self-confidence, develop new skills and abilities, stimulate independence, and foster a competitive spirit in its participants. In fact, they consider themselves a form of vocational rehab where they encourage their participants to contribute back to the community through employment, self-employment and business ownership, volunteering, and returning to school. In the past, particpants have described their sailing experiences to bring great benefits. Some of these benefits have included temporary relief from chronic pain, relief from anxiety in those who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), an enhancement of other senses in those who are visually impaired, promoting mind stimulation and reflexes in those who have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, increased self awareness and confidence in those on the Autism Spectrum, and promoting feelings of independence and control in just about everyone! On the outside it might appear to be sailing, but on the inside it is clear that the participants take away so much more. Although I think we have a long way to go to decrease discrimination in people with disabilities, it's great that programs such as this are being developed to broaden the spectrum of opportunities available to them! For more information, visit their website here! Until next time, Katie