27 May 2016
Creating Optimism
Throughout the year the students at Wairoa are given the opportunity to participate in a community access sailing program through the non-profit organisation Sailors with Disabilities.
The program is free of cost and is comprised completely of volunteers who donate their time to take a group of 10-15 of our students out on the Sydney Harbour for a 3 hour sailing excursion. The organisations motto is "creating optimism" and that is certainly what we see in our students once they have participated in the program.
While aboard the boat, the students are given opportunities to steer the boat by either using the boat's steering wheel or for students with more complex physical needs, a remote control that can be brought to their wheelchair. The students are able to walk around the boat with the crew to explore the various vantage points while aboard the boat. It is a great program that builds confidence in our students while also allowing them to see the various sites of Sydney first hand such as the Opera House, Luna Park and the Harbour bridge which the students enjoying passing under.
We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful program that it is in our own backyard. For more information on the program you can visit their website at http://www.sailorswithdisabilities.com