Boot Düsseldorf – Sailing Instructor of People with Disabilities
On 25-26 January 2025 Olesya Zaglada visited the international fair Boot Düsseldorf, representing all water sports.
This fair has much space for inclusion.
One of its highlights was the presentation of Anita Marszalek “Sailing Instructor of People with Disabilities” that took place on 25th of January.
On the picture: Anita Marszalek presenting the Sailing Instructors of People with Disabilities Program at Boot Düsseldorf 2025.
Sailing is a passion that knows no bounds, and the International Sailing Schools Association (ISSA) is taking a giant leap forward to ensure that individuals with disabilities can also relish the joy of sailing. To make this vision a reality, ISSA is introducing a groundbreaking category of licenses for its instructors, known as “Sailing Instructor of Persons with Disabilities” (SIPD).
Tagesprogramm – boot Düsseldorf. The goal is to make sailing accessible for people with disabilities. This means that ISSA trains people who will be qualified crew members of a yacht, sailboat, motorboat. This means that people with disabilities are sailing not just like passengers, but as full members of the crew.
This way the awareness among instructors is growing. They are trying to see the sailing potential in every person, no matter which disabilities they have. Trainers must have an extremely empathetic approach to other people, which is very important.
On the picture: Olesya Zaglada, Anita Marszalek and Roman Durda, Sailing Instructors of People with Disabilities
Instructors try to put themselves in the position of people with disabilities, overcome the same barriers.
The different materials for learning are shown just like reading a book, a special memory game of what is needed on the boat. The program can be accessible for everyone. And it can be a first step on the way to professional sport.
This is an exciting opportunity as sailing can be done by people with any kind of disabilities and of any age group.
More about the Program can be found here https://youtu.be/DJ1vTQT3kdA?si=Z5X56-B_x_lkQTUu