Opportunities For Those With
Physical Disabilities
Organizations in Santa Barbara and throughout the state of California are implementing and promoting recreational activities for those with physical disabilities.
Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program (BORP)
Bonnie Lewkowicz, 65, is quadriplegic, in a wheelchair since age 15 when she was injured in an accident on an all-terrain vehicle. Fifty years later, that has never stopped her from having an athletic life
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Bonnie Lewkowicz is the Program Manager for the non-profit organization BORP, which is working to improve the health, independence, and social integration of people with physical disabilities through sports, fitness and recreation programs.
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"This program provides a structures sports environment for our youth participants, as well as opportunities for disabled adults trying sports for the first time," Lewkowicz said.
BORP's sports programs offer competitive and recreational activities including wheelchair basketball, soccer, sled hockey, and handcycling.
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"Our program provides disabled children, adults, and families with access to many wonderful outdoor and urban activates that California offers us," said Lewkowicz. BORP is committed to creating access to recreational activities for all and is ensuring that no person is excluded from participation.
Photo curteousy of BORP
AmpSurf
The Association of Amputee Surfers (AmpSurf) is a non-profit organization which promotes, inspires, educated, and rehabilitates all people with disabilities. AmpSurf's California chapter is one of four chapters nationwide with experienced instructors. Ampsurf provides people with disabilites with equiptment and teachers to surf in any condition without judgement. It was founded by Dana Cummings, a veteran and an amputee who has a passion for surfing.
"A few years ago, on our annual summer vacation, my sister, Kate, and I stumbled upon AmpSurf," said California Local and AmpSurf Volunteer Annie Carbonier.
Kate and her sister were immediately intrigued and offered to volunteer.
"On that first day, I watched a young boy, about my age, who had been in a boating accident, and was an above the knee amputee, stand on the surf board with one leg and no help or supports, with the biggest smile on his face, ride a wave all the way into the shore."
AmpSurf is not only inspirational and fun for everyone, it is also therapeutic for the participants. The AmpSurf website explains it as " Whether they are an amputee, visually impaired, suffer from PTS (post traumatic stress), or have quadriplegia. Whether they served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf war, Iraq or Afghanistan. Whether they are a child with autism, or a young woman who has lost a limb to cancer, AmpSurf offers a unique program to bring the healing power of the ocean and adaptive surfing together for an experience that is both mentally and physically one of the best forms of rehabilitation on the planet."
"Every participant I have met has been an incredible inspiration to me," Carbonier said.
AmpSurf has given a voice to those with disabilities that allowed them to talk to other people with the same struggles, and become confident in themselves and their abilities, rather than their disabilities.
"Discovering AmpSurf has been a life changing experience for me and so many others, and I know I will never look at the world the same as I did before my sister and I stumbled upon this incredible program."
Photo Courtesy of AmpSurf