Special courses in outdoor activities as Dubai aims to be world’s most disabled-friendly city

The thrill and lure of the water quickly become clear to the brave young mariners of Dubai’s empowering Sailability scheme, where seamanship and self esteem are their destination.

Mustafa Javed with Corine Brouwer sailing during the ‘Sailability ‘ initiative organised by the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

DUBAI // Seeing disabled people progress from being afraid of open water to helping them man a sailing boat is daily motivation for the team behind Dubai’s Sailability programme.

Every week, those with a spectrum of disabilities board modified vessels and cruise Dubai’s waters rigging the boats, tying rope knots and learning how to steer a boat depending on wind, weather and sea.

This was all made possible thanks to the work of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club’s Sailability initiative, the local arm of a worldwide, not-for profit, volunteer-based movement.

“We have a group who are all Down syndrome, another with students who have varying degrees of autism,” said Kathy Saxton, lead coordinator and chairman of DOSC Sailability. “We have a large number who have varying degrees of hearing impairment and others who are physically challenged and who require wheelchair assistance and a hoist to get them in an out of the boats.

“Many students when they begin with us have little to no experience with the water.

“It is often a very slow process but knowing that they have the support of a team of experienced volunteers makes them feel at ease.”

And seeing a smile on every face at the end of each session makes it worthwhile, said Ms Saxton.

The Australian said a large group of young Emiratis recently made incredible progress over the course of the season.

“In the beginning they could not bear to get their feet wet,” she said.

“They progressed to paddling in a kayak and sailing in the small-access dinghies – specifically designed boats for disabled sailors which hold one student and one instructor.

“After this they progress to six-man keel boats.

“Their verbal communication was non-existent but at the end of every session every volunteer knew just how much they had gained from their time with us.”

The Sailability programme is run by volunteers who help dozens of people on a weekly basis - first by teaching land-based skills before heading out on open water.

“Even with the students that are more high-functioning, it is a delight to see them come back week after week, not only to get out on the water but to take responsibility of rigging the boats (with assistance) and also de-rigging after they have finished,” said Ms Saxton. “This instils in all of them that there are responsibilities involved in a sport such as sailing. Safety is, of course, paramount to us and all students are regularly exposed to capsize drills so that they understand when, or if, it happens to them they are comfortable and know exactly what to do.”

Ms Saxton said it was hard to put into words what working at Sailability meant to her.

“It has given me an opportunity to give some enjoyment and purpose to some students who otherwise would not have a chance to experience the joys of sailing,” she said.

“Sailing allows people with disabilities to achieve independence and a real sense of self-worth, by being freed from the problems of mobility and other issues that they face on land.”

Sailability needs volunteers and fundraisers.

For more information, contact Ms Saxton at [e-mail].