Water is the ultimate equalizer. Canoeing and kayaking are activities that emphasize ability. Skill is determined by ability and attitude, and people at all skill levels, with and without disabilities, can find enjoyment in canoeing and kayaking. All that paddlers need are the willingness to accept instruction and be challenged and the ability to adapt to new situations. Canoeing and Kayaking for People With Disabilities presents strategies that give people of all abilities the opportunity to discover the challenge, freedom, and renewal found in paddling.
The book, written by adaptive paddling pioneer Janet A. Zeller, will help you build on your existing knowledge of paddling techniques so you can share the sport with a variety of people with disabilities. Zeller presents best practices based on her years of experience as a paddler with a disability and the experiences of other instructors and recreation and health care professionals. The text includes tested instructional techniques and equipment adaptations as well as safety information and rescue protocols.
By focusing on each person’s ability, outdoor professionals, paddling instructors, and recreation providers can learn how to make paddling available to those with disabilities. These topics are presented in the text:
General guidelines for working with people with disabilities
Information on legal requirements, including accessibility at facilities and launching and landing sites, program access, development of eligibility criteria, and assessment of facility accessibility
Thorough coverage of common disabilities, their implications for instructors, and teaching strategies and adaptations for each disability
Guidance in choosing gear and modifying or building equipment to meet the needs of paddlers with disabilities
Consideration of safety and risk factors, rescue priorities, and adaptations for rolling
Factors to consider when planning a trip, including the ratio of paddlers with and without disabilities, taking wheelchairs and mobility devices on the trip, and route selection
Chapter 1 Introduction
Who Has a Disability?
Why Canoeing or Kayaking?
References
Chapter 2 General Guidelines
What to Say
What to Do
Risk Management
Chapter 3 Legal Requirements: Accessibility of Facilities and Programs
Basic Legal Requirements
Facility Access
Evaluating Facilities
Costs
Accessibility at Launching and Landing Sites
Mobility Device Security
Safety Issues
Program Access
Integrated Setting
Developing Essential Eligibility Criteria
Accessible Information
References
Chapter 4 Instructor Checklists
Program Overview
Medical Information Sheet
Paddler’s Interview
Location
Preprogram Scouting
Chapter 5 Equipping the Paddler
Selecting Clothing
Life Jackets or Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
Selecting Canoes and Kayaks
Selecting a Paddle
Reference
Chapter 6 Disabilities and Their Implications for Paddling and Instruction
Upper Limb (Arm and/or Hand)
Upper-Limb Amputation
Trunk
General Impairment of the Leg(s)
Lower Limb (Leg and/or Foot): People Using Wheelchairs
Lower-Limb Amputation
Hearing Impairment
Visual Impairment
Lung Diseases
Cognitive and Brain Function Impairment
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Side Effects of Medication
Chapter 7 Adaptation Principles
Outfitting for Optimal Performance
Five-Point Outfitting
Stable Seating
Mobility and Safety
Skin Protection
Wheelchair Seat Cushions and Paddling
The Layering System
Basic Tool Kit
Building a Bulkhead
Chapter 8 Adaptations Based on Functional Impairments
Upper Limb (Arm and Hand)
Upper-Limb Amputation
Trunk
Lower Limb (Leg and Foot)
Lower-Limb Amputation
Low Vision or Blind
Cognitive and Brain Function Impairment
Chapter 9 Rescues
Self-Rescue
Rescue Priorities
Adaptations for Rolling
Reference
Chapter 10 Transfers and Carries
Transfers
Carries
Transfer and Carry Techniques
Equipment
Chapter 11 Paddling Trips
Ratio of Paddlers With and Without Disabilities
Route Selection
Taking Wheelchairs and Mobility Devices on Trips
Wheelchairs and Mobility Devices on Portages
Repair Kits
Medications
Personal Hygiene
Interviewing a Potential Outfitter, Guide, or Organization Before Taking a Trip
Description
Editor
Tab Reflection
Multimedia
Janet A. Zeller is a lifelong paddler experienced in both canoeing and sea kayaking. After a 1984 accident resulted in quadriplegia, Zeller was determined to return to paddling. Since that time, Zeller has worked to provide instructors with the knowledge, techniques, and tools to help people with disabilities access canoeing and kayaking opportunities.
In 1989 Zeller developed the integrated adaptive paddling program for the American Canoe Association (ACA). With Annie Wortham Webre, she coauthored the first book focused on opening the sport to paddlers with disabilities. Since 1990 Zeller has traveled nationwide as an ACA instructor trainer educator of adaptive paddling workshops. She trains canoeing and kayaking instructors, recreation and health care students and professionals, and those who run water-based recreation programs in the techniques for integrating people with disabilities into their programs.
Zeller is the National Accessibility Program manager for the U.S. Forest Service, author of numerous articles, and a frequent presenter on accessibility, universal design, and inclusive outdoor recreation at national, regional, university, and local forums. In her free time she enjoys sea kayaking, canoeing, and wilderness camping.