Disability Water Sports Programs and Clubs

Information on accessible water sport programs and clubs for people with a disability.

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Water sports for the disabled include water skiing, windsurfing, rowing, surfing, kayaking, wake boarding, disability sailing, swimming, and canoeing among others.

USA

The Disabled Water Sports Program at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center is devoted to providing accessible water sports and recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Specially designed equipment makes water skiing, wake boarding, keelboat sailing, windsurfing, rowing, surfing, and kayaking possible for people with varying levels of mobility and ability. The Center organizes special events throughout the year and offers classes and private lessons in water skiing, sailing, and kayaking. Experience the freedom and excitement water sports have to offer. Contact the Mission Bay Aquatic Center/Disabled Water Sports Program (858) 488-1036.

U.K.

Canoeing for People with Disabilities - Taunton canoe club actively encourages disabled canoeists into recreational and competitive paddling. If you have a disability and would like to discuss taking up canoeing with Taunton Canoe Club, contact: Tel 01823 413262

Disability Rowing Durham University - This project, part-funded by the University, provides a Community Rowing Coach based at the River Tees Watersports Center in Stockton. The main aim of this project is to develop links with local schools and to introduce watersports to both able-bodied and disabled children. Contact Steve Wright, s.j.wright@dur.ac.uk

British Disabled Water Ski Association - Forget the restrictions of the land, leave your disability behind and feel the freedom of the water. With the expert guidance and assistance from fully qualified instructors you can take to the water and learn to water ski, whatever your disability. Amputee, blind, deaf, sufferers of partial paralysis, paraplegic other wheelchair users, people with Multiple Sclerosis and learning disabilities have all graduated from the British Disabled Water Ski Association (www.bdwsa.org).

Canada

SkiAbility Ottawa services the Ottawa Valley with a summer-long program. Created in 2005, the program has doubled in size each year and is excited to meet the growing demand of adapted towed water sports. For more information on this program visit www.skiabilityottawa.ca.

In Quebec, the Eastern Townships Disabled Skiers Foundation has been in operation since the inception of SkiAbility in 2005. Benoit Lessard, one of our adapted national team athletes, got his start with the ETDSF program. For more information on this program, please contact Peter Treacy at ptreacy@fshe.org.

Skiing Without Limits - Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada (WSWC) officially launched SkiAbility in June 2005. The program focuses on increasing participation in water skiing and other towed water sports for persons with a disability. There is an estimated 3.4 million Canadians with a disability. Currently, this population is under-represented in the world of towed water sports, largely for reasons of limited access, minimal programming and lack of awareness and knowledge on the part of both activity providers and persons with a disability.

If you know of other disability water sport clubs and programs in your area please add to this list by notifying us via our comment form below.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.