ARIZONA ADAPTIVE WATERSPORTS

Arizona Adaptive Water Sports provides adaptive water sports to people with disabilities ages 3yo and older. This program provides adaptive water sports activities including- tubing, fishing, boating, waterskiing, kayaking, wakeboarding and wakesurfing. We serve those with physical and neurological disabilities as well as mental health and intellectual challenges. Specialty programs include- Kids Day, ALS Day, Veterans Day, Brain Injury survivor day and many others. We also have sunset cruises that bring the family together while being surrounded by the majestic mountains at Bartlett Lake Marina in beautiful Carefree, Arizona.
The families are encouraged to attend many of the activities with the participant. We want the families to enjoy their time on the water making memories and enjoying the outdoors. They spend so much time in the hospital, at doctors offices and with therapy appointments. This program rejuvenates the soul for the participant and the family.

We see first hand people go from fearful to courageous to ignited. People with disabilities require the use of adaptive equipment and safety features in place in order to have successful experiences with adaptive outdoor recreation. In order for a person to participate in adaptive waterskiing it takes up to 12 staff & volunteers to get that person on & off the water safely. The training for our volunteers is extensive because our first priority is the safety of our participants on the water.
We know that when someone overcomes a barrier or challenge than they go onto try new things and this could include dating, driving, going to school or trying a new activity. The point is that when these experiences happen they continue to do have long term positive affects on that person and their future.
We are honored to partner with Bartlett Lake Marina. They have made it their mission to be able to host accessible programs like this at the lake. We have hoyer lifts to get people in and out of their wheelchair so they can get in and out of the water, large wheelchair accessible restrooms and wheelchair access to the lake. We are excited to be taking this model to other lakes in our state.
With your support we can expand our ever popular adaptive wakesurfing program, invest in adapted fishing from specialized kayaks, and have more programs at other lakes around Arizona.