County to offer high challenge sports program to disabled persons

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

AccesSportAmerica says it’s a national non-profit organization that  “inspires higher function and fitness for children and adults of all disabilities through high-challenge sports.”

As such, outrigger canoeing and windsurfing programs for people with disabilities will be developed out of an agreement signed by Palm Beach County Commissioners with Accessportamerica, Inc.

Commissioners said the organization would provide the county with boats, equipment and instructors.  In turn the county will provide assistance with supervision of program, docks and a storage area within Okeeheelee Park. 

The agreement also provides for Accessportamerica, Inc. to provide the instruction to the county’s therapeutic recreation section program participants free of charge, said commissioners.  

Adapting Equipment

Rev. Ross Lilley founded AccesSportAmerica in 1995. His son, Josh, who was born in 1985 with cerebral palsy, was the inspiration for AccesSportAmerica

A pioneer in adaptive equipment and training techniques, Ross serves as chief instructor and inventor for AccesSportAmerica so that windsurfing and other high-challenge water sports are possible for children and adults with disabilities. AccesSportAmerica is the only source of equipment adaptation for windsurfing for people with disabilities in the United States, according to Lilley

The organization now has an instructional staff and team of volunteers, and reaches hundreds of children and adults annually offering high-challenge water sports including windsurfing, kayaking, rowing/sculling and water-skiing and is successful in adapting to virtually every disability from quadriplegia and paraplegia to sight impairment, blindness and emotional disorders. During the past six years, AccesSportAmerica has developed, built and tested adaptations to accommodate a wide range of disabilities.

“Our intent is to accommodate any person with any disability,” says Lilley.

AccesSportAmerica continues to develop a year-round fitness programs that include high-challenge water sports for children and adults with disabilities “to challenge the body and mind while encouraging the spirit,” says Lilley.

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