Useful Links

[Adrian Kelland]

The Scuba Trust (http://www.scubatrust.org.uk/)

International Association for Handicapped Divers (http://www.iahd.org/)

[Robert-Jan Bulter]

Can I include a few more links?

http://www.worldwidediveandsail.com/deaf+diving/deaf+diving+travel.htm

http://www.hsascuba.com/

http://www.eels.org/home/

http://www.handikap.no/

[Adrian Kelland]

Can I include a few more links?
Of course Robert.

Also if you have any comments regarding forum ease of use, please pass them on.

Adrian

[Robert-Jan Bulter]

SDI is providing a special course for people with a disability. They call it the Scubility programme.

http://www.tdisdi.com/news/0602/scubility.html

I do not know much about it but I would be interested to learn more.

Best regards,

Robert-Jan

[Mike Halligan]

SDI is providing a special course for people with a disability. They call it the Scubility programme.

http://www.tdisdi.com/news/0602/scubility.html

I do not know much about it but I would be interested to learn more.

Best regards,

Robert-Jan

Robert-Jan,

If you take this further, would you let me know what you learn?

BSAC prefers to be fully inclusive, concentrating on the abilities of the individual and using a single status training programme. For this reason, we train all our NQIs to be able and willing to adapt our materials to the needs of the individual, with guidance in the preamble to revised DTP from January.

So far, I've seen nothing in the procedures of other agencies to challenge the 'social model' view that it is our treatment of the person that disables them, not any impairment they're coping with.

We offer a SDC for experienced diving members to consider the particular issues faced by disabled divers, though it must not be seen as a course for instructors or a pre-requisite for diving with or training a disabled person.

As ever, we are very willing to learn, so please do let me know what you find.

Regards,

Mike

[Robert-Jan Bulter]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your reply. I also followed your discussion with Eugene in another thread about a simular subject.
I recently came around that SDI had developed the Scubility programme. I am eager to know about this programme entails. Myself, I am IAHD trained but I am also curious how programmes of other organisations look like as I am sure I can learn more from them (and compare them). So I am keen to get a copy of the procedures of this Scubility programme. (I was referring to this fact in my previous message).
I read a short describtion of the SDC disability awareness on the BSAC website which seems good and accessible course for abled divers to me. I really would encourage divers to do such a course to create more awareness among them. See for example a few replies of a thread about this SDC as 'a real eye opener'.
It is indeed an interesting discussion about the social model view. I do not exactly know what BSAC is saying about this (but again I am eager to know) but I am interested to continue this discussion. I will have a look what HSA and IAHD say about this matter.

Best regards,
Robert-Jan

[Paul Renucci]

Hi Buds. In 2001 I included a description of the entry challenges for disabled divers including photos on my Scuba web site.

I asked HSA and others for input on my approach to this but received little feedback.

So if anyone out there knows of a grading system I could apply to site entry and exits - perhaps something akin to that used by the Ramblers and Fell walkers I would be pleased to deploy it for everyones benefit.
Then again, perhaps what I've done is acceptable?

Yours sincerely, Webmaster Paul

[Mike Halligan]

Hi Buds. In 2001 I included a description of the entry challenges for disabled divers including photos on my Scuba web site.

I asked HSA and others for input on my approach to this but received little feedback.

So if anyone out there knows of a grading system I could apply to site entry and exits - perhaps something akin to that used by the Ramblers and Fell walkers I would be pleased to deploy it for everyones benefit.
Then again, perhaps what I've done is acceptable?

Yours sincerely, Webmaster Paul

Hi, Paul,

In my opinion, the breadth and scope of the term disabled is such that one cannot be prescriptive. A standardised code would be of use only to those 'in the know', so it can often be little better than jargon.

On the other hand, your descriptions are informative and helpful. Who should argue with local knowledge expressed frankly? Not I. Thanks for being so thoughtful.

Mike

[Eugene Farrell]

Hi All, I absolutely do not claim to be an expert in this area, however I would agree with Mike, being prescriptive is not always the best way. I had the pleasure to attend a "Sensitivity Training" session in the US a couple of months ago and this was a revelation to me. The training is called "trading Places" It reframed my views on a whole host of disabilities and functional impairments. The training used a variety of table top simulations, and classroom physical simulations, as a way of trading places with someone with a disability. It simulated sight loss, sight impairment, function reduction, dexterity changes, loss of motion range, limb function reduction, amongst many others. Of course it cannot claim to be completely real, but it did open my mind a huge amount. One thing I learned was to ask the person what they can do, then adapt to that. I think much more about a host of disabilities and impairments now, and how each person as an individual deals with things.

Here is the site of the trainer: http://www.safeaging.com/corporate/IEAPAmembers.htm

I thought there was real merit in this type of approach.

Best wishes
Eugene

[Mike Halligan]

Hi, Eugene,

That sounds very like the one-day SDC put on by Elaine and Tony.

Another great learning aid, available free is the VHS or DVD "Talk" from the Disability Rights Commission. www.drc-gb.org

Regards,
Mike

[Paul Renucci]

One thing I learned was to ask the person what they can do, then adapt to that. I think much more about a host of disabilities and impairments now, and how each person as an individual deals with things.

Here is the site of the trainer: http://www.safeaging.com/corporate/IEAPAmembers.htm

I thought there was real merit in this type of approach.

Best wishes
Eugene

:) Absolutely, it's too easy for people to see a disabled person and auto assume they wont be able to do something - yet, I have a dive buddy who, during an attempt to disarm an old handgrenade - you know whats coming here ! - had his fingers blown off both his hands. Thumb and a finger stump on one hand and three fingers on the other.

He found new ways to get around what we would call a 'disability?' and handles coins, log books, pens / pencils better than most of us!
Most assumed he would never be able to do anything again but he proved those doubters wrong. He can write, handle money and do anything those of us fortunate enough to have a full set of fingers, arms, legs etc are able to do.

Its just a case of adapting techniques and moving forward to the next challenge. Disability? what disability?

[Eugene Farrell]

Paul

Spot on!

People label and assume too easily. I worry about labels like disability because it immediately feeds into the receiving persons perceptions and experiences.

What i also learned was that many people have disabilities, it could be about a rugby injury preventing movement, a disease, old age, genetic, or perhaps a limb dysfunction.

Maybe a wider appreciation approach is the way to address some of these perceptions??

Hey Mike, when have you got something new for me?

Eugene.

[Ableize]

Nice to meet you all here, I am a wheelchair user that runs Ableize, the UK's disability resource and i'm currently building up the disabled diving section at Disabled Scuba Diving (http://www.ableize.com/recreation-sports/Water-Sports/diving/)

Not finding many good sites to add so on the huntfor more to build up a good resource of scuba sites for the disabled, i'm looking for UK based sites if anybody can help.

Regards

Robin