iDID Online

Jennie learns to ski independently

I had my first taster of learning to ski independently this week.  As some of you may know, I started to ski towards the end of last year and my first session was enough for me to decide that this was something I wanted to do properly.  I’m not the type to do things by halves so when I saw other people skiing on their own in a sit-ski I knew that was what I wanted to achieve.

I usually ski in a mountain man bi-ski, which consists of a bucket seat and foot rest (that also has sides to stop your feet falling off).  I get strapped in, practically from head to foot, with straps around the feet, knees, thighs, waist and chest (seriously, there’s NO falling out!)  I
should mention that this  is not the only type of sit-ski – there are several types, some of which have two skis on the bottom (a bi-ski) and some of which have one ski on the bottom (a mono-ski).

As usual, I was using the mountain man bi-ski this week.  These tend to be used for people who have little to no upper body strength and who therefore need to ski with someone directly behind them.   I was given outriggers which, in my case as someone using a sit-ski as opposed to standing up, were effectively short crutches with velcro straps around my forearms and short skis on the bottom.  These could be flipped up to work like normal crutches by tugging a
string under the handle.  

Easier said than done.

For a start, I didn’t have the strength in my fingers (as someone with cerebral palsy) to be able to  ull the string so someone had to pull it for me.  This isn’t the end of the world though, as when I’m actually going down the slope I don’t need to use them without the skis, and once I’m at the bottom someone can take me round and up the lift again.

Now it was time to try and balance in the mountain man on my own.

Again, easier said than done.  It takes quite a bit of strength to hold yourself up in a mountain man and as I found out on Sunday I don’t have that strength...yet!  I also had to try moving myself forwards and backwards with the skis on the outriggers flipped up so that I could dig them into the ground and push (it’s a dry ski slope).  This again required a lot of effort but I’m pleased to say I did manage to do it...just about.  I now need to work hard to strengthen my arms though, because I’m determined to do this!

Next time I’ll be in a Bi-unique, which is similar to a mountain man but they are lower to the ground and don’t have the sides on the footplate.  More importantly for me, they have a Glove Seating System, which means they fit closer to the body and all of my movements are transferred to the ski, giving me much greater control over it.  The difficulty with the mountain man was that there was a bit too much room either side of my body, and as you have to control the sit-ski by leaning with your body I had to move more to get it to do what I wanted. 

Once I’d tried the (seemingly) small exercises I had one go on the slope.  I didn’t go up very far,
and had someone holding onto me in front and behind so that I could get a sense of what it feels like with the outriggers.   The prospect of doing it myself was, at the time, a little daunting  onsidering my lack of strength but at least it gave me a feel for what it would be like.  The small exercises I’d done made me realise how much of a challenge skiing independently is going to be.  It really is harder than it looks.  But I’m not saying that to be negative...I’m saying it because I accept the challenge! 

Diversity breeds Diversity

In a changing world access to equal opportunities is becoming ever more important.  In the workplace and in education this is expected, so why not in action sports too?

For many action sports enthusiasts (in sports such as surfing, wakeboarding, climbing, skiing/snowboarding and skating/BMX) reaching national
competition is a main goal.  Not surprisingly, people want to challenge themselves to go further, reach new heights in their sport and be amongst the best.

So where do people with disabilities fit in?  Well, at the moment it’s difficult to see exactly where we fit in, but as I said before, the world is changing and people are beginning to expect more, not only in the workplace and education but from their leisure experiences as well.  People with disabilities want to achieve the same goals that those without disabilities want to achieve and they are beginning to realise that there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to.  This is why it is becoming more important for mainstream action sport organisations to become more inclusive.

Diversity.  This is at the core of this blog.  When looking for a dictionary definition of the word I found words like ‘different’ and ‘variety’, which is exactly what these organisations need to recognise in people who want to take part in their sport.  No longer should they just be focusing on the young, fit and healthy who are obvious candidates for their sport.  They need to open up to the wider community of diverse individuals, many of whom have disabilities that should not prohibit them from participating.  Let us not forget, though, that we need to support the instructors to work with a variety of disabilities so that these sports can be truly accessible.  It is often the people, as much if not more than the equipment, who can make or break the accessibility of a sport with their attitude and openness towards disability and new ideas.

Equal opportunities and diversity go hand in hand, hence the term ‘equality and diversity’.  Action
sports organisations can only advertise their commitment to this by showing their support for diversity in their sport, and what better way to do so than by backing events run by disability organisations?  Diversity breeds diversity.  Backing events such as those that iDID
Adventure holds around the UK shows commitment to disability in sport, or more specifically disability in action sports.  This opens up a whole new community of individuals with disabilities who either want to take part in these sports but never realised they could or those who simply never considered the possibility because the opportunity was not there.

Promoting national competitions for people with disabilities in action sports will also lead the change for disability in action sports.  Competition is what drives many individuals to become more heavily involved in their sport and the same applies to people with disabilities.  Providing
these opportunities for them gives them the extra incentive to get involved and strive to go further.

iDID Adventure is leading this change in the action sport  industry.  Be the change you wish to see
in the world.

When to play the ‘Disability Card’

iDID are driven to change the way disabled people engage with and access adventure sport, and it is through our work students have told us just how life-changing activities like wakeboarding, canoeing, and surfing are and how far the change spreads. At first, I was tempted to put it down to a lack of opportunities for disabled people but during my short year with iDID I’ve learnt something more. People with disabilities often don’t realise they are entitled to a standard of treatment/adjustment for everyday life and activities. Sadly, it means that they get into the habit of expecting less and people can be afraid to ask for more.

There is a culture that we face which leaves people continually having to weigh up their needs as essential and non-essential, or ‘must’, ‘want’ and ‘can’t afford to want’.  This is something disabled people face more than most. For some people, a trip out to a university bar poses so many problems that it becomes a non-essential ‘can’t afford to want.’ This is where iDID University comes in. We are establishing a service which provides an advocacy, where we can work in partnership with Universities, Student Unions, and students to change their experience and find effective ways of creating an inclusive society. When sorting out reasonable adjustments at university, access to lectures is seen as more important than perhaps access to a society, the union club or sports. iDID recognises the importance to students of all these elements – education and recreation, and we exist to help universities provide all students with a wholesome experience, something that makes three years spent at university (or more!) worth it. Recreation and social life are perhaps the most important part of going to university – if it didn’t have an impact we’d all be sat with our parents doing distance learning courses from the comfort of our own bedrooms.

We are living in a world where the impact of an individual on an operating system is seen to be more important than the person themselves, and iDID University brings a person-focussed approach. We find the elements of practice within student unions and universities that unknowingly create additional barriers to university life and education. There are many additional barriers built within university systems – many departments to do not actively create impact assessments when designing their programmes or even in processes such as allocations. This led to a deaf friend of mine getting a personal tutor (a member of staff designated as the first point of call for student problems) who had absolutely no understanding of deaf culture or sign language. Essentially, they couldn’t effectively communicate leading to an almost immediate exclusion from opportunities, welfare support and provision. In a situation like this, how do you go about making the change? I know that a while ago, my first thought would have been – I don’t want to make a fuss. Needing extra changes because something which suits a majority doesn’t suit you feels like making a fuss. Not getting them, or not getting your point across and having to demand a change you’re entitled to feels like playing a disability card. It feels like wanting special treatment and it’s not. Reasonable adjustment in university amounts to equal treatment.

I have come across institutions who believe that disability is ‘dealt with’ by the disability office and is not something which needs to be integrated and inherent within their policies and practices in order to ensure fair access to education, facilities, and social experience. And yes, it was a departmental disability representative who told me that. iDID disagree. Academic success is not dependent on just your access to one side of university life, covers welfare and much more. In some situations, it might be really clear when to start asking for help to succeed, and in others – it’s not. We are taking the Year of No Fear a little further. Think of iDID University as your disability card.

Reflecting on a phenomenon

As iDID comes to the end of its research tour, we are reflecting on the experiences we have had and looking forward to the services we will provide to ensure that others can benefit from the same experiences.

To say it has been emotional would be an understatement. What started as a tour to explore how a variety of extreme/adventure sports can be adapted and how we can make those experiences happen for other people with disabilities; has proved to be life changing for many of the team. Not only were the team researching first hand experiences but were unknowingly challenging their own perceptions of what was possible for them.

I am delighted to say that every activity we have endeavoured to experience has been mind-blowing and has given us unexpected results. At iDID our Philosophy is ‘anybody can do anything they want with the right support’. I believe this 100% but I have to admit when we started, there were some extreme/adventure sports that I thought… hmmmm, really?!

For those that know me, my disability causes me to have dexterity and balance problems as a result of my brains perception being distorted and nerves being damaged. This can prove difficult when taking part in things requiring those skills – I have exceeded my physical capabilities and actively improved my dexterity and trunk strength through taking part in rock climbing and wakeboarding. How has this happened?? It is a result of adapting the activities slightly and using extra devices to support my needs.

Each and every member of the team has surpassed any expectations of themselves and I am extremely proud and honoured to have been witness to it. This makes me more excited because I know there is more to come. Our launch is around the corner and this means more shared experiences…. With you! We want you to challenge yourselves, believe you can do it and you will.

So the question is: What will iDID do?

iDID is based in Northamptonshire; its primary services:

iDID Adventure Groups

iDID will run adventure sport clubs in local communities. These clubs allow individuals to have regular access to adventure sports and our members will have access to discounted rates. The activities provided will be location dependent (not everyone is lucky enough to live by the sea or have some facilities in their area); however, once an individual is a member, they have access to ALL iDID clubs so you can travel to another group if an activity is not local to you.

We will be expanding our services and inviting others to start iDID groups in their area. Working together we can move the iDID legacy forward and ensure that these opportunities are widely available for those who wish to take part.

iDID will provide opportunities for adventure weekends for activities such as surfing and outdoor sports. We have partnered with specialist centres in the UK to ensure you get the best quality support and experience.

iDID Adventure Therapy

iDID Utilises the therapeutic benefits of adventure sports to provide a highly effective method in treating mental health issues. This service is currently being developed through Pilot Studies.

iDID Discovery Portal

Our online portal provides support to both professionals in disability awareness and individuals in adventure sport information. You can find information relating to what each extreme/adventure sport entails, how you can access adaptive sports and where you can find them. Our search facility allows you to enter your postcode and find the services in your area, giving you the option to pursue your adventurous streak independently. Alternatively, information relating to any iDID groups can also be searched; if there isn’t a group in your area… why not start one?! We will provide all the support you need to successfully lead iDID in your area.

What can you expect from iDID?

iDID is committed to ensuring you get the most out of your adventure experience. We use our networks to ensure that you have the right support. If there is a question we can’t answer, we will find it out! Our customers are the most important part of our organisations; to achieve our mission of improving accessibility in the adventure industry, we need you to support the work we do.

iDID works with local communities and volunteers who themselves are experienced adventurers. This means that we can provide greater levels of support and keep activities affordable for you. The opportunity to launch iDID in your own area provides unique experiences for individuals to be part of the amazing work iDID are doing. By starting an iDID group, you take control of your environment and create your own opportunities in your area.

Our information portal contains a wealth of knowledge collectively brought together from professionals in adventure sports and disability. If there is information you can’t find, simply get in touch and we will endeavour to resolve your query.

Simply put, we are working our socks off to launch our services and achieve our aim of launching in June. We welcome people to get involved and offer their services and have sponsorship opportunities available.

We are currently looking for Volunteers in the Northamptonshire and Reading area; ideally you will have experience in adventure sports and/or disability and be energetic and hard working. By working with iDID you will have a direct impact in your community.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss sponsorship, investment or volunteering opportunities. Please do get in touch:

Susanne Rees

Director – iDID Adventure Ltd

 

[email protected]

Please note that upon launching, some services may have adapted and developed from those stated above.

With thanks to eveeryone who has contributed large and small to iDID.

 

 

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do”

Eleanor Roosevelt

'It's the closest thing to flying' - Jennie re-lives iDID's surfing trip

’I can’t even walk straight, how am I going to surf?!’

When Suzi told me we were going on a research trip to explore adaptive surfing, my first thought was ‘how on earth am I going to do that?!’  As much as I know how much scope there is for adapting adventure sports I didn’t expect to be able to have my first surfing lesson just yet!

So bright and early on Thursday morning Suzi and Lauren picked me and my brother Ben up (he came as my PA) in this MASSIVE car.  I know Suzi had asked for a big car to get my electric chair into, but we didn’t expect this posh all-singing-all-dancing 4x4 we got – it was perfect (not to mention the heated front seats...)

Anyway, on arrival in Bude we were met by our instructors, two of whom (Jon and Becky) were the owners of Big Blue Surf School.  Getting into our wetsuits was the first challenge.  As they’re meant to be close-fitting it takes a bit of effort to pull them up your legs and then your arms before doing the zip up at the back.  The first wetsuit Ben and I fought with was definitely too tight to get over my feet and even Becky tried before we gave up and tried a slightly bigger one which went on perfectly. 

I was given a sand chair so that I could be pushed down to the water’s edge to conserve the energy I would undoubtedly need when I got in the water!

There are so many ways to ensure accessibility in surfing; I had a 1-2-1 surfing lesson with Jon while the others had a lesson in BSL, it was inclusive for EVERYONE.  While they were warming up and learning the basics on the sand I was straight into the water and off for my first surf!

Getting onto the board in the first place was...interesting!  I had to get my stomach on it and then with Jon and Matt’s help get my legs on so that I was lying flat on my stomach.  The board I used was adapted so it was a lot easier to get on.

Then we were out to sea!  Jon took me out to catch my first wave and as I was a newbie he surfed with me on the back of my board (tandem).  I had to be as far back as I could be on the board while still holding on to the handles at the front – the reason being that all the weight needed to be at the back of the board so that it didn’t nosedive and result in me landing in the water!  I had a buoyancy aid on though so that in the highly likely event that I did fall off I wouldn’t drown.

It was amazing!  Jon surfed on the back of my board for the first 3-4 waves so that I could get the hang of it and I loved it!  The feeling is something you’ll have to experience for yourself because it’s incredible and, as Jon said, it’s the closest you can get to flying.

Then he got me surfing on my own.  The others were paddling with their arms while lying flat on the board until the right moment to catch a wave but as I couldn’t do this Jon pulled me along with the wave when it came and then let go so that I carried on alone.  I fell off twice to begin with (I told you it was highly likely...) because the front of the board was turning slightly at the end as I didn’t know how to control it.  To correct this I had to move myself right back on the board, which involved completely letting go of the handles.  How could this possibly work though?  Surely I’d fall straight off if I let go?

For those of you who have Cerebral Palsy or any other condition that affects your balance you might appreciate my reluctance to do this.  Holding onto the handles was, in my mind, stopping me from falling off the board just as holding onto a stair rail stops me from landing in a heap at the bottom.  However, I put my faith in Jon (OK, even more faith) and let go of the handles, moving my whole body down the board and just holding onto the sides.  To my surprise and great relief I managed to surf right up to the shore without falling off!  I could hear Jon behind me telling me when to arch my back – I had to push up on my hands at the right time so that I was putting more weight on the back of the board and stopping it from nosediving and throwing me off.  It was then that I realised how far behind me Jon was as he waled in to pull me back out again...I really was surfing on my own!

Now I had the hang of it and wanted to keep going!  It was an amazing feeling, and reminded me once again of why I’m involved with iDID.  I was catching waves just like everyone else was and I was able to surf on my own, lying flat on a surfboard.  After society telling us we can’t do certain things because of our disability there’s nothing like the feeling that actually, we can do it just as well as everyone else and there’s nothing stopping us!  My surfing ability was clearly emphasised when at one point I even overtook my brother on his surfboard!

All too soon it was time to come in and get warm.  The minute I got out of the water I realised just how tense I had become from the cold as I could barely put one foot in front of the other...just as well the sand chair was there waiting for me!  After a lot of warming up, which included a bowl of soup, I regained the movement in my legs and would happily have gone again!

The Big Blue Surf School were fantastic.  I can’t wait to go back there and surf with them again and, of course, work with the rest of the team on organising iDID’s first surfing weekend!

Adaptive Snopwsports - to the slope and beyond! Chris checks out DSUK

My name is Chris, I’m 21 and I’m from Northern Ireland.  Firstly, I think what the iDID Adventure team is doing is both brilliant and long-overdue.  I have Cerebral Palsy, so although I am quite active & sporty, I had never really considered trying skiing or adventure sports until i started seeing what iDID were doing. Regular readers will know Jennie, she is part of the iDID team. She invited me to go skiing with her at DSUK and since it's the 'Year of No Fear' and all that, I could hardly say no!

The staff were extremely helpful, talking me through different options for going down the slope such as ordinary skis with or without outriggers, a sit ski, or a “mountain man” toboggan. Jennie went with the mountain man but I decided to give the upright skiing with outriggers a go.  Because of this I’d to swap my trainers for a pair of ski boots, which are completely rigid and effectively immobilise the ankle.  Getting used to walking in them was a slightly unusual experience, my physiotherapist would be so proud – I was finally having to put my heels down instead of walking on the front of my feet!

The outriggers are basically crutches with skis on the end instead of ferrules.  The ones I was using had a nifty little mechanism to allow the user to choose between having the skins down flat, or up on their tips, used in this mode they could act as crutches and give me extra balance, always useful on a slope! 

As it was my very first skiing lesson, a fair bit of time was spent getting used to the equipment & manoeuvring on a fat surface, before beginning to move up the slope.  This was the most difficult part personally, as due to the physics involved, it’s almost impossible to walk up a slope with skis on, one must stand perpendicular to the slope and side-step their way up. It required a lot of effort to move & concentration to try to keep my feet in a straight line; my feet often turn in or out slightly, which isn’t usually a big deal, but it becomes much more noticeable when I have about 2 foot of fibreglass on!  I asked about using the ski-lifts but was told no, beginners must side step, as they’re only going few hundred metres up the slope.  The effort that was exerted getting up the slope was well rewarded by the exhilaration and adrenalin pumping through my system as I went speeding back down!

All too soon, my 90 minute session was over and I was heading back indoors, though not before stopping to watch Jennie have one last run down the slope in the mountain man, it looked thrilling, and judging by the video I took, she was certainly going at some speed, which she was obviously enjoying! Skiing is something I never saw myself doing before, but because I had so much fun this time, I’ll definitely be doing it again.

I'm really looking forwared to the event iDID are working on with DSUK and will be definately going on iDID's snowsports weekends as well... hurry up iDID!!

Chris Murray is 21 and from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has Cerebral Palsy and is actively into sports. Chris is working with Ulster University to research sustainable disability sports and will be working with iDID on its University Project.

iDID Adventure are working hard to get their services out, you can help them by visiting www.ididadventure.co.uk and completing the appropriate survey.

Disability Travel - Oliver and Abi share their experience

 Equality over the Equator - Oliver does New Zealand & Oz

In November 2010 I left the UK on my own to head over to New Zealand on a working holiday visa.  I had signed up to a programme through a company that sorted all the visa and provided support at the other end.

Travelling on your own especially when you can’t hear brings a whole new set of challenges however; New Zealand, I found, were much more welcoming and equal in their treatment as opposed to the UK. They don’t dismiss deafness so quickly and will actually try and help you as much as they can.

Trying to find work was a challenge as I was unable to use the phone so had to either rely on someone ringing up the company on my behalf or find work organised through a hostel. However towards the middle of my trip I discovered New Zealand Internet Relay service. A  FREE type-talk service where you can ring any local number in New Zealand across the internet using a web based software programme. This was a major breakthrough as it meant I was able to be a little bit more independent. It did take a bit of time to convince some employers though, especially those who have not heard of the relay service before.

Meeting other travellers from a whole variety of countries was the other challenge, especially with accents and language barriers which was a interesting challenge for me but I learnt to overcome this as well.

While I was out there we had some of the worst weather which lead to rubbish seasons and therefore often left waiting for jobs to materialise that they never did or being unable to contact potential employers left me in a bit of a limbo.

My top tips for any travellers going abroad are:

1) Do your research, what support would you be able to access in your host country, for example I was in contact regularly with the New Zealand Deaf Association.

2) Have a plan; some transport modes such as coaches in New Zealand are not straight forward for access.

3) Think about taking a buddy, someone who can help and support you. I went alone and sometimes felt it was both a positive and negative. If I did it again I would think about taking a friend as you can support each other during tricky times.

4) For New Zealand it is worth being able to drive before going out there, same for Oz as a lot of jobs are in remote areas and need drivers. If you have a car and willing to give lifts you are in a much stronger position for jobs.

There is a lack of companies that actually are WILLING TO help disabled people travel and make that travel accessible. I was delighted to hear that iDID are developing a service specifically for Disabled Gap Year travellers.

Senorita's on Wheels... and camels! - Abi does Lanzerote with Jennie & Faye.

Over last summer I was invited to help Jennie, a colleague at iDID, and another girl, Faye, on a week’s holiday to Lanzarote as their personal assistant. I had worked with them both before and known them for several years so thought this was a brilliant opportunity, so swiftly accepted. It was only then I began to think about the hurdles and difficulties we might face. I had never flown on my own before let alone with wheelchair users expecting my help. How would it work on the plane? What about getting the wheelchairs back safely in a foreign country?

It turns out I needn’t have worried about most of these aspects. The airport staff were very helpful and we actually got through airport security quicker which has to be a positive! The flight was fine and even getting off the other side was relatively ok, apart from some minor language barriers and the staff occasionally not realising both Jennie and Faye were real people.

The resort we stayed in was lovely and fully accessible which suited us perfectly! A nice little bungalow right next to the swimming pool only a very short walk from the coast, lovely! We enjoyed some lovely evenings in the local bars and restaurants which were very accommodating and some lovely sunny walks along the very accessible promenade.

The most exciting and nerve racking bit of the whole trip has to be the day out we went on. We were all excited by the idea of going on a day out and possibly going camel riding! We decided to take the plunge and booked through an accessible company who came and picked us up in their minibus which fitted both Jennie and Faye’s wheelchairs perfectly. They then drove us to the volcanic region and took us camel riding. This made me extremely nervous. Would it be safe? I mean if one of them gets injured it will be my responsibility! And there’s me to worry about as well!

All worries aside the company and the camel leading people were brilliant. They made sure we were all safe, even if Faye didn’t believe them to start with, and took great care of us. I’m sure I can talk on behalf of the girls and say it was a fantastic feeling. Something unique and exciting that we can all now say we have done! After this we even went on a coach, with a lift and enough room for both wheelchairs, around the volcanoes. The sights were amazing and the bus was so much more accessible than the ones we have over here!

It was an incredible experience and all the things I thought might be hurdles weren’t. Apart from Faye’s fussy eating. Never thought I would cook two evenings of steak and homemade wedges followed by full roast dinner in a foreign country. But hey, new experiences make the world a more exciting place and if we don’t push ourselves to try things that seem scary then we will never have such wonderful experiences. If I get an opportunity like that again I will never have to think twice. My advice for anyone wanting to go travelling but worried about their disability or working with other people’s disabilities: Go for it!! You’ll have the time of your life!

The Silent Sound of White Water

I was born profoundly deaf. After going to mainstream school until I was 11 when I went to Mary Hare School – a specialist oral school for the deaf based in Newbury as a boarder. It was here that I was able to join in canoeing for the first time and enjoyed it so much I slowly worked my way up paddling on the canal with the local club Adventure Dolphin during the summer term.

I was fortunate that towards the end of my time at Mary Hare some of the staff were keen paddlers and instructors so were able to help them out and get a taste of coaching. . After leaving Mary Hare I did some volunteer work at my local activity centre near home helping with teaching kayaking during the holidays with various groups. I was offered here to do my level 1 coaching course which was a great course.

My hearing loss meant I had to think of creative ways to communicate especially when doing some of the wetter games and activities. After becoming a level1 coach I did some various work for a charity helping with disabled teenagers summer activity programmes allowing them to take part in activities such as canoeing and kayaking which they would probably never get to do in normal circumstances.

After leaving university I embarked on my level 2 training and with some charity funding and great support from Mark and Rob at elements www.elements.eu.com I was able to get a sign language interpreter to come on the 4 day training course which helped a lot. After completing my portfolio I went for assessment and passed. I have also spent a season back at Adventure Dolphin working with children and adults alike during their summer holiday programmes which was extremely good fun although hard work but with an great team who were great at helping me where I needed it.

Coaching canoeing and kayaking with a hearing impairment does have its challenges especially when working with young people or demonstrating activities. I find there is a need to concentrate a lot more and make the most of observation skills in keeping groups safe while having as much fun as possible. As my hearing aids are not waterproof I have to have great control over how demonstrations of activities that could end up getting people wetter than usual are carried out/ In my own time while I am not coaching on the Thames or Exe I have been developing my own skills on moving water paddling up to grade 3 and 4.

The biggest challenges on moving water is being unable to wear my hearing aids on the water due to the dynamics however most people struggle to hear due to the noise of the water so this is one sport where hand signals come into play often. Some of the major challenges to missing some of the river banter. A challenge when you paddle with different groups of people regularly and is something I am still working on improving while on the rivers and will be embarking on this challenge while I am in Scotland with Reading University Knights Canoe Club in 2 weeks. No matter what your disability if you put your heart and mind into focus and know what you want to achieve, then go for it. Don’t let barriers or providers put you off, sometimes its just misconceptions or experience that changes people opinions. Let them know in advance then there is no excuse.

To find out more about Oliver's adventures, visit: www.oliverrichardson88.co.uk

Oliver is 24, was born profoundly deaf and is currently studying for a masters in Environmental Management at Reading University. 

Wakeboarding.... Seriously?!

Regular readers will know that we have had great support from adventure sport clubs at Reading University which has given us the opportunity to research and get first-hand experience of the extreme/adventure sports we are promoting.

I was contacted by a rather enthusiastic guy at Reading University called Seb, who shared our passion for accessible extreme sports and is the President of the Wakeboarding Society. He said ‘here, Suz, I think Wakeboarding will be a fantastic sport to promote through iDID, it can be adapted quite well. When the weather heats up a bit, you definitely have to come and try it’.

Now, I am open to trying anything but this slightly worried me as essentially, Wakeboarding is snowboarding but on water. Being pulled along on a cable or boat… whilst standing on a board… racing across the water… with my balance??? Good one Seb!

I apprehensively agreed but as it didn’t look like there was going to be any sun for a long time, I safely stored the idea at the back of my mind…

Cue heat wave

A fantastically energetic young woman called Lauren has recently joined the iDID team; she loves extreme/adventure sports and sickeningly, is good at them all! So it was no shock when she said ‘Suz, we really need to try Wakeboarding’.

I wasn’t getting out of this one!

So Lauren and I teamed up with the Wakeboarding Society to try my first hand at riding wakes (I’ll explain the lingo, you know, because I’m cool! It is aptly called Wakeboarding because your board rides the water waves produced by the boat and the board, known as wakes). I met with Lauren at the University Car Park and we made our way to a wakeboard centre at Thorpe Park. I have to admit, I was still massively confused by the whole process of Wakeboarding; Lauren had explained about cables and boats and bindings etc but it didn’t click – I just didn’t get it. As we from the car par to the centre, it immediately made sense in my head!

Imagine a massive lake that has a cable system running around the outside around 20-30 ft high. Now imagine that this cable line had lots of cables hanging from it, dropping to the surface of the water for people to hang on to and get pulled around the lake. Now add to that image a series of ramps (like you’d see in skateboarding or snowboarding) and there you have a wakeboarding park.  As you stand at the edge you see people flying by on their boards one by one, pulling tricks and inevitably, falling off! It got my adrenaline rushing, I was raring to go!

 

We got our wetsuits, helmet and life jackets and proceeded to get kitted out. Lauren, of course, had to help me with the suit because seriously, that wasn’t happening on my own! We then met my instructor and headed over to a small section of the lake reserved for health and safety and introduction sessions.

I have balance issues and was sat there telling the instructor how there is no way I’d be able to stand up and I’d be falling in on my first go. There I was justifying my impending rubbishness. I felt slightly crushed when he said ‘Suzi, people without balance problems can’t manage a standing board first of all and everyone falls off. You’ll be in the same boat as everyone (so to speak)’.

I was so used to being ‘different’ that it was a shock to start something off as an equal. We went through the health and safety aspects and was told the most important thing when you fall off is not to panic. I’d only be falling off a board into water and I had a life jacket on, why would I panic?!

I kneeled on the board and the instructor tapped my shoulder to let me know when the cable was about to pull…. Wait, wait, wait, TAP! The cable pulled and suddenly I am gliding on water, firmly tightening my stomach muscles to help control my balance. The cable slowed and gravity took over, I was so in the water within about 7 seconds!

Cue panic

After splashing around like a drowning chicken, in water (I later realised) I could actually stand up in, Lauren met me to help me out. So my first experience saw me flying across water and then flying into it but the feeling it gave me was out of this world. YES, I had panicked but once you get up and look at it rationally, you have to laugh at yourself really. I had lasted mere seconds, I didn’t think much to my ability but I was gagging to go again. I met the instructor who then said ‘that was actually great for your first go and don’t worry because some people don’t even last as long as you did!’ Chuffed with myself for even lasting a split second, I wanted another go. I had a few more tries and learnt how to turn the board; I was more than happy to have achieved that as the lesson was drawing to a close when my instructor said ‘do you want to try going backwards?’

Are you out of your crazy mind?! BACKWARDS

My balance is very much reliant on my eyesight and so the thought of doing something without seeing where I am going didn’t really appeal to me. BUT Lauren and the society were there egging me on and I couldn’t let them or iDID down and the worst that could happen was I’d fall in again. Bring it on!

I am so glad I did because (VERY surprisingly) my balance was better when I was going backwards! That was the end of the lesson and I was on such a high, to many, I may not have achieved much but considering my personal boundaries, I felt I’d achieved the world. Not only that but I’d discovered an activity that is fun and ACTIVELY improves my balance… cashback!

I can’t wait for the iDID Wakeboarding event this summer so I can share this experience with other people, keep your eyes peeled for more details.

Thank you to Reading University’s Wakeboarding Society for their on-going support. If you are interested in finding out more about them or the local park they use, please visit:

http://www.rusu.co.uk/sports/6275/

http://llski.com/

 

Susanne is 26 and lives with Neurofibromatosis Type 2. This genetic condition causes tumours to grow throughout her central nervous system. She has had major surgery to her brain and spinal cord which has resulted in considerable balance problems and has left her completely deaf.

Apathy, the enemey within?!

So, my 1st disabled student conference happened and as I ride back on the train i have been mulling over my experience and a resultant fallout.

It seemed quite topical that it fell on the Budget day because a conference full of activists certainly had more opinions on the budget from an informed background than many of the people I run into day to day. My own personal Statler and Waldorf nee Joe and George taught me stuff despite barely being over my age when combined.

Many people who entered ballots sold themselves with various aspects of Cameron hate and its hard to see why Joe Public doesn't feel the same way, why are they so apathetic to someone earning a million pounds a year gaining £50,000.

Sadly the apathy wasn't just related to this though.

Like on previous events I have attended even disabled activists are just as apathetic about important things.

2 events at the conference bought this home and both are possibly only in my attention because of my Autism. Within the disabled student community at the moment is a well know activist. He's a smart guy and has in his time in various roles done many good things but they've also been tinged with incidences that have only soured opinion on him in many quarters. During the various motions to which he shows an active interest it became apparent that some members of the NUS and the community in general have troubles not necessarily dealing with someone who wont self classify but is clearly on the autistic spectrum to those who openly are. Repetitious corrections for talking speed, repetitious tutting when he was involved in points of order could clearly be seen including from people who have Aspergers.

I feel almost lucky that in this new period of my life where I know what I have to deal with that I can communicate how my disorders not only make my life hard but how I have to approach issues and actions.

More than my disappointment at people for not understanding someone with such severe issues because he is lucid and intelligent, is the apathy to his conditions and feelings. People with Autism hurt too. I cannot in all confidence say that I have treated them perfectly in the time that I have known them but to be frank I am now quite proud at the steps I have taken to not only ensure that the our national student organisation is aware of what people simply cannot do but also the activist himself at least gets some feedback of what isn't socially acceptable and therefore divisive to his needs.

Without devils advocate there is no discussion in an item, there is only a delay to a decision at best.

Sadly even people within the disabled community seem so unaware of the need for absorbing difference that they gladly castigate someone who is bringing them strength.

The 2nd issue that bought to light the absolute apathy of fellow activists issues came in a workshop.

A quiet unassuming rep sat next to me got caught up in a matter of time keeping that coincided with a moment of personal anguish and fled the workshop. Now while I cannot condone the worry about a lapse of a few minutes when most timetables are never met over the need of a member to talk, the biggest issue came for me thereafter.

I have some Aspergers and with that comes the penalty of sometimes being oblivious to others (or my) feelings. What worries me was that after deciding that 'someone' should at least follow the upset member, he relayed his personal issues to me. I am fortunate in that nowadays it is much harder to bully me than as a child, I'm bigger and badder. This make me believe that I would never be in the situation where in a shared house of students I would have shit smeared on my pillowcases and then pictures of spread on facebook. Why then should a more meek person have to put up with this behaviour. More importantly, as an Autistic guy who can either find it hard to understand emotional issues or who can suffer greatly with post traumatic stress in such circumstances, why why why was I the one to tell the member this was unacceptable behaviour and try to help him resolve it (including letting them cry on my shoulder). I should state now that writing this particular part is very emotional for me so I cannot imagine what they were going through. still, there was I being the one to comfort them.

I waited patiently for the news to filter out that this had happened and more sadly for the people in the workshop to ask if the member was ok.

When a member of your community flees from a workshop (on a national disability stage) in tears, why does no one care?

I am thankful daily that since I started university I have been surrounded by amazing people that are so supportive because even at events where you would expect huge support for situations like this, the feeling was sporadic and at times driven by people who should be the last in the queue to understand.

How can the disabled community move forwards and change society if people cannot find it in their hearts to ask after someone being treated very badly.

Mark D Graham 000586213

Bsc (Hons) Computer Science Year 3 - University of Greenwich

National Student Employee of the Year 2011
Campaigner of the Year - Student Union school Rep&Officer awards
AWP AccessAbility* Ambassador & Transition Disability Ambassador
Lead Aspire Ambassador
Student Union School Officer - Education & CMS Joint
Graduate of the Front Runner Leadership Project by Common Purpose