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Equipment
AccesSportAmerica adapts and/or creates its own equipment. Presently, we own close to 50 windsurfers, rowers, and kayaks and other watercraft which are used at our sites in New England and Florida. We have also designed and manufactured over twenty adaptive devices ranging from seats to standers to hand hooks to seating.
Olympic rower/manufacturer Gary Piantedosi continues to work with us to improve our windsurfing adaptations and to pioneer new adaptations for rowing, kayaking and water-skiing.
AccesSportAmerica is the only source of equipment adaptation for windsurfing for people with disabilities in the United States. We apply this expertise to our other high-challenge water sports. Our intent is to accommodate any person with any disability.
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Windsurfing
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Since 1983 we have been pioneers in the field of adaptive windsurfing beginning with outriggers on mono hull windsurfers to catamaran and trimirans. We currently use 7 styles of adaptive windsurfers in our program. On these boards we use standers, fixed and swivel seats and 1 and 2 sail configurations. Because of our wide range of stability we can take anyone of any disability on a board with 1, 2 or 3 Instructors assisting an athlete. Our varied configurations help make this an incredibly safe offering.
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Hawaiian Outrigger Canoeing
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Canoeing has become one of the leading sports in AccesSport. We use specially designed and adaptive Duke 4-person outrigger canoes. Each session emphasizes the art of the stroke and the team aspect of outrigger canoeing. Our canoes can be configured to accommodate 4 to 6 athletes and trainers or 8 to 11 athletes and trainers. All of this is done safely using special seats and adaptive 1 and 2 handed paddles. We use 2 adapted hand paddles and 4 different seating setups. As in windsurfing, anyone of any dis/ability can participate and be a fully functioning member of the crew.
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Rowing/
Sculling
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Because of our work with Gary Piantedosi, former Olympic rower, our adaptions in this sport continue to be innovative. We can use a fixed or sliding seat in our rowing/sculling adaptations. Using a partner our preference is our sliding seat setup which works on a single, double or one of our two 4-person extra wide shells. This seat can be used in conjunction with a partner who helps in the drive and the return stages of each stroke. Because of the many repetitions, some athletes rediscover function in their quadriceps or hamstrings.
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Surfing/Waterskiing
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Although we use traditional and adaptive sit-skis for waterskiing we find ourselves doing much more "surfing". At very safe speeds and using a very special competition ski boat we create a wake for surfing. Athletes are able to "surf" the waves generated by the boat, most times free to any tow rope. With or without instructors, standing and seated. The athletes have great fun and the rides last much longer than in the ocean.
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Kayaking
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We use wide, open cockpit kayaks for safety. We rely on techniques and equipment that is well used within the disabled community. We will however, add our own innovations whenever we see fit, such as outrigger stabilizing devices.
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Cycling
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We use existing adaptive cycles and fabricate our own to suit every ability. From 2 to 4 wheels, hand cycles to recumbent tandems we make cycling fun and easily accessed. Our newest addition is a 4 wheel recumbent tandem for use on the esplanade and trails in New England.
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Wall Climbing
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Our traverse climbing wall is a one of a kind multi level challenge. We use a variety of holds to make climbing a safe but challenging experience. All participants are belayed on a sliding Tyrolean traverse. We use harnesses that enable us to comfortably unweight people with quadriplegia or others who ambulate freely.
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Tennis
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We use the methods of the Professional Tennis Registry and translate to the abilities of our athletes. We create games and situations to make success possible while still holding a high standard of athleticism. We use hand adaptations and shorter racquets when possible. We also advocate for the use of tennis sports wheelchairs to give athletes the height for a more efficient stroke.
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Personal Training
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In all of our work out sessions, we bring necessary adaptations to accommodate our athletes to existing equipment. Still, we advocate the use of free weights and pulleys whenever possible to simulate true, real life motion. We use lifting hooks, footplates and grips and fabricate when necessary.
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