Sail-Habilitation
Sailing for Those with Special Needs

Sunlight dances across the gently lapping waters of Dillon's Creek Marina and spreads along the weathered wooden pier.  The air is warm, the breeze is light, and the sky is a crystal blue.  It's a perfect day for sailing, especially with Sail-Habilitation. 

Dr. Stephanie Argyris, founder and president of Sail-Habilitation, carries several jugs of water with her as she steps aboard the programs twenty-five foot sailboat.  "2003 will be our tenth summer season," she explains.  "We sail from May 1st through October 31st, and focus on each participants sailing capabilities rather than their disabilities."

The chirping birds and buzzing insects are momentarily quieted as a gray van pulls into the gravel lot of the marina.  The roof of the van is visible above the tips of the thick reeds, and Stephanie steps onto the pier.  She makes her way toward the lot.  Several volunteers join her to greet the arriving individuals.  A young woman dressed in khaki shorts slowly descends the steps of the van with a cane, while two young men seated in wheelchairs are lowered to the ground via lift.  Together, they are guided up the wooden wheelchair ramp and maneuver themselves along the pier toward the boat. 

Stephanie introduces herself to the group, and the crew of volunteers assists each individual safely onto the boat.  The young woman needs nothing more than hand held guidance to step aboard, while the two young men are carried.  One of the young men is repositioned in his wheelchair once aboard, and the other two individuals are secured to the already existent benches of the boat. 

Flotation vests are donned and Stephanie sparks the engine to life.  She powers the boat through the Marina following the gentle curves of Dillon's Creek and discusses some sailing basics along the way. 

Five minutes later, the waters open and Stephanie quiets the engine.  The sail is raised, and the fun begins.  Each individual is offered the opportunity to steer, manage the ropes and adjust the sails.  The group takes turns with each activity, receiving as much assistance as needed.

"Sailing offers a wide range of benefits," Stephanie explains as the young woman stands at the helm and steers.  "This woman is working on her balance, while strengthening her upper extremity musculature and her directionality skills."
The young men are positioned on either side of the boat and take turns tightening the ropes.  This not only strengthens their upper extremity musculature and core strength, but improves their motor planning and sequencing skills as they figure out how to position the sails at various angles.  

From a sensory standpoint, the water is also a medium of diverse potential.  Many individuals with movement difficulties experience problems with accurately perceiving vestibular and proprioceptive information.  The vestibular and proprioceptive systems are important for body awareness and work in combination with the visual system to let an individual know where he or she is in space and how he or she is moving through space.

Sailing not only facilitates our sense of balance and movement, but heightens all of our senses.  The feel of the wind on our face and the slide of the ropes through our hands stimulate the tactile system, while the sound of the waves, the smell of the sea and the beautiful view enlivens our soul.  In addition, it is a fun and exciting way to work on various goals while socializing with friends.

The group sails through the waters of the Toms River and Barnegat Bay for about an hour, then returns with smiles and cheers.  They wave to nearby fisherman and other members of the marina as they pass. "This is so much fun," exclaims the young woman steering the boat.  "It feels great to be in control."