Kayaking for People with Disabilities

August-September 2000

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.

by Adrienne Montgomerie

Dr. D (left) with the late Victoria Jason

I felt like a mermaid, I was so free," says Dr. Amy Doofenbacker. The kayak released Dr. D from the chair and crutches that are the reality of her daily life.

Whether because of her disability or simply because she's Amy, Dr. D has a unique perspective on risk. When most people with able bodies are intimidated by the stereotypically confining and tippy kayak, she says she never thought to be intimidated.

"Why would I be?" she said. "I thought it was glorious. I would be more intimidated walking up my driveway in the dark. You glide through the water, see birds, and rock climbers. You're just free, out with nature, out with healthy people, and they don't see your [disability]."

In the small town of Chesley she is known simply as Dr. D but she is no ordinary individual. Dr. Amy Doofenbacker is first and foremost a veterinarian. She is also an athlete who has set three world track records in her wheelchair, and just over a year ago (Feb. 14, 1998) she was presented with the King Clancy Award and inducted into the Terry Fox Hall of Fame for raising more than $18,000 for cancer research over several years of Terry Fox Runs.

At the age of fourteen Amy first dislocated a kneecap in a skiing accident, and then lost a large portion of the muscle mass to the complication of gangrene. Doctors said, "You're a cripple now. You'll never finish school, or have a career."

In her wheelchair Dr. D began an athletic career culminating in three world track records. She not only finished school but went on to university and veterinary school. At the University of Guelph's vet college Amy discovered she had a problem with overheating. With characteristic trouble-shooting savvy she began studying in tank tops and sourced out an ice vest for use in the operating room. (They're designed for power plant operators.) After several years of ill health her doctors told her she had Multiple Sclerosis.

Terry Fox had long been an inspiration to Dr. D and her participation in the annual run-first as a runner, then with her wheelchair, and finally in her kayak-was what inspired her to take up long distance racing. But everything changed when she developed MS. Physical activity became a danger as it raised her body temperature, threatening to trigger an MS attack.

Then, in the course of her vetly duties, when she saved the life of a severely dehydrated cat, the owner thanked Dr. D in the only way he knew how-he took her kayaking.

Dr. D has since done many rivers in her kayak, as well as challenged 12-ft waves during the first ever Terry Fox "paddle." Mostly she paddles close to her home, around Lion's Head, Georgian Bay. She has travelled most of the coastline between Tobermory and Hope Bay-a feat which ranks just after her mobile vet service on her list of pride-and-joys.

Dr. D quells fears of overheating by regularly dipping a cup into the water and pouring it over her head. But overnight travel is still intimidating because of the threat of having an attack far from help and home.

An R5 river kayak was Dr. D's choice because it is a lightweight, stable boat with a cockpit large enough to accommodate her leg brace.

"Independence is the most important thing," says Dr. D. "If I needed help getting the kayak on and off the car it would defeat the purpose."

TIPS

We asked Amy and Roy Wilhelm, Canoe Ontario's Inclusion Representative, for their tips on kayaking with a disability. Here's what they had to say: Don't get hung up on specialty products. Each kayaker will know what is the best adaptation for their ability. Most adjustments can be done with common supplies from the paddling shop, hardware store, or medical supply. The goal is to be able to paddle with as little extra work and gear as possible.

Try out a lot of boats. See what is easy to paddle, lift, get in and out of, and gives you the physical support you need. Many shops will let you try before you buy. At the very least you should rent a few different boats before you make your choice.

Generally, people with mobility or balance disabilities will find a wider, large volume boat feels more stable and is easier to enter. You might consider a sit-on-top kayak like the one "Magnum Pl" used to paddle on TV. There are several models. Boats can also be adapted to increase their stability. At the very least you can snap a pair of sausage-like air bags called sponsors onto the sides of your kayak-making it tippable only with a great deal of determination.

Look for good lateral support. Most kayaks come with a built-in adjustable back support, but a simple camp chair- like the "Crazy Creek Chair" or Canoe Accessories' "Canoe Back Rest"-will perform wonders. For complete support, an adjustable "bathtub" chair is available in several sizes, though it makes paddling more of a challenge. If your kayak doesn't come with a neoprene seat cover, try coating the seat with a non-slip tape like the one used for bathtubs.

A longer paddle with a narrow blade will make paddling easier for a person with an agility or strength concern. Paddles are typically made of slippery wood or plastic. Use tape to improve your grip and limit the wear caused by a prosthesis. Better yet, slip a sleeve (for one hand only) made of PVC pipe over the paddle to allow your terminal device to slide easily over the shaft. If your hand simply cannot grip the shaft, consider securing the paddle to one hand with a Velcro glove.

A good deal of stability in a kayak comes from wedging your legs under the deck. Make this easier by adding closed cell foam to the thigh braces, bringing them down to the level of your legs.

One of the most important things to have is a safety plan. Think about what you'll do in the case of a capsize and practice the routine in a safe place. Swimming pools are great for this. Even with thighs braced, it's hard not to fall out of a large volume kayak when you're upside down. Or you may decide not to wear a skirt when you paddle. Try it out. For extra security, plan on paddling with a more able bodied buddy, and think about using a double kayak.

Part of your safety plan must be a well fitting PFD (lifejacket). While altering a PFD voids its warrantee and certification, crotch straps and a grab-loop can make a huge difference to both you and your rescuers.

Take a lesson. Don't fret over finding an instructor who knows a lot about your abilities. Just find someone creative and open minded who's an expert on kayaking. Paired with you-the expert on your abilities-you'll discover a quick payoff.

No way you can paddle a kayak? How about pedalling one? Greg Holloway (see the October/November 1997 article Greg Holloway - Peddle Power) and Current Designs (see the August/September 1998 article Disabled Aids) have each built a kayak with a bicycle drive train. They call it Kawak, meaning "goes like the wind." With a bit of ingenuity, and a couple of weeks in the shop, Holloway was able to fit his sleek sea-kayak with an $8 oversized model airplane prop powered by a bicycle's gear box. It adds about 2.5 kg to his boat but it makes her go up to 10 knots an hour-about a third faster than he could paddle.

Holloway has given his kawak training wheels using sleek outriggers that make the boat virtually untippable. Kawaks are steered with a hand-line, but a little adaptation could get around even that barrier.

"This works," Holloway says. And he's willing to share the idea with anyone who'll listen.

(Editor's Note: Hobie Kayaks makes a pedal kayak with a unique MirageDrive system which does not use a propeller.)

CAR CARRYING

For getting your boat on and off your vehicle consider two things: a way to hoist the boat, and a manageable way to secure it to your car.

The following products and strategies will get the boat onto your vehicle:
a buddy
a hatchback or truck
an outrigger, like the one available from Thule, is a retractable arm that extends your roof rack allowing you to lift one end of the boat at a time.
a swing boom, like Lancelot Co.'s "Lancelot Launcher," that lets you winch the boat up to roof level with about 6 lbs. of cranking effort and then easily rotate your boat onto your roof racks. An add-on called the "Storer" lets you winch the boat and Launcher up to the roof of your garage for storage.
rollers, like "HullyRollers" by Yakima, let you roll your boat along a roof rack. It doesn't take a lot of strength or dexterity to secure your boat to your shuttle vehicle if you have the right tools:
straps made of webbing with a cam-lock require only a pull to lock the webbing in place and are easily released with the press of a thumb. Generic sets are available at most paddling centres, and automotive centres (e.g., Canadian Tire).
ratchet straps, also available from automotive centres, are much like the above but have a winch that lets the gears do the work of tightening the lines.

Wilhelm is currently putting the finishing touches on an addition to Canoe Ontario's instructor's manual called Inclusion, One Stroke at a Time. Canoe Ontario looks forward to talking to people about their abilities, freedom, and paddling. Happy paddling!

See the Sources for Adaptation Directory for help in adapting your kayak to meet your special needs