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Pushing past the limits of what people think the disabled are capable of By THEA RUTHERFORD ~ Guardian National Correspondent ~ thea@nasguard.com: Jerome Thompson didn't waste much time questioning what he calls a "vision from God" to drive a boat around Nassau and Paradise Island. The vision came in February 2008. Fourteen months later Thompson went into training. By summer 2009, with the wind in his hair and the sun on his face, the president of Adventures Unlimited Bahamas had established his company with the biggest adventure of all. Thompson, who is blind, navigated the boat with the help of a team that included his trainer and a videographer. "Wherein I was successful in driving a boat independently — a motor boat — around Nassau and Paradise Island, other persons throughout the world who have disabilities . . . they're all able to do interesting and extraordinary things." Since his leap of faith, Thompson has been hard at work stringing together opportunities that push the limits of what people think the disabled are capable of. Thompson has teamed up with David Jones, an American disabilities advocate and entrepreneur, to bring Sportsability, a multi-faceted sporting event, to Nassau in 2011. Held in cities across Florida for the past 20 years, Sportsability leaves no sporting terrain unexplored. Think water-skiing, kayaking, horseback riding, tennis, rugby, basketball, power soccer. "Most of the recreation and the sports that we promote is non-competitive because we feel like you don't have to be a Special Olympian or you don't have to be a paralympian and excel to a professional level to enjoy the benefits of recreation," said Jones. The event is the successful offspring of the Florida Disabled Outdoors Association, formed by Jones in 1990. The avid outdoorsman founded the association two years after a hunting accident that paralyzed the left side of his body. Jones and his family traveled to The Bahamas over a week ago to formalize ties with Thompson's Adventures Unlimited. Jones explained the objective of the event to members of the Bahamas National Council for the Disabled at the organization's headquarters off Collins Avenue at that time. He met with Sports Minister, Charles Maynard, later the same day. "We've got a year and half to make this happen," Jones told the members at a meeting that garnered a lot of support for the event. Edvenna Major is excited about an event she sees as a chance for "Bahamian people to see different disabilities in their own country." The 22-year-old artisan uses a wheelchair and has been swimming competitively for the past eight years. Bert Pierre, a blind peanut vendor and member of the association, called the event "a positive move." The event also received the endorsement of the Disabled Council President James McKenzie. "I would like to see everything get off the ground and get moving," said McKenzie, who is blind. "We at the council . . . we're trying to do the best we could to assist any disabled [people] in any way we can." The first Sportsability event to be held outside of the United States, Sportsability Nassau is targeted towards locals but, Jones said, will be marketed internationally. "We intend to come over here and to help The Bahamas become a more accessible destination for people of all abilities — from Florida for sure, the U.S. and around the world," said Jones. "The disabled community represents a very valuable marketing niche that many times has not been pursued." Both Thompson and Jones hope that the event will play a positive role in the government's intended move towards increased legislation for persons with disabilities in The Bahamas. "We see this as a way to start many new programs here in The Bahamas and to really work on the issues and complications that you have," said Jones. "Accessibility is a big one."
Monday, January 11, 2010 |
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