{"id":5320,"date":"2023-08-15T16:31:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T22:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canoeracing.org.nz\/?p=5320"},"modified":"2023-08-15T18:17:59","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T00:17:59","slug":"kayak-clubs-working-hard-towards-welcoming-disabled-paddlers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uptest.co.nz\/canoeracing\/kayak-clubs-working-hard-towards-welcoming-disabled-paddlers\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayak Clubs Working Hard Towards Welcoming Disabled Paddlers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter is often considered a quiet time for kayaking but that has not been the case for many of our clubs and coaches who have been working alongside Canoe Racing NZ towards making the PaddleAble Commitment and becoming more disability inclusive organisations.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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PaddleAble<\/a> has been developed by Canoe Racing NZ to support our vision of an inclusive paddling community where disabled paddlers can participate alongside their non-disabled peers, both recreationally and at events.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What a PaddleAble Commitment Means – Much More than a Checkbox Exercise<\/b><\/h3>\n

The PaddleAble Commitment signals that the paddling club or organisation has and is taking action to ensure they can cater for, and provide positive paddling opportunities to disabled participants.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By working through the steps and signing the commitment, clubs, paddling providers and\/or events are demonstrating their understanding and recognising their on-going responsibilities to being a disability inclusive organisation, and a champion for disabled paddlers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe are incredibly thrilled to be working with multiple CRNZ-affiliated clubs currently who are making the PaddleAble commitment\u201d said Aaron Osborne, PaddleAble Project Lead.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe effort by these clubs and coaches is going to change lives, and grow and improve our sport. It has been awesome to see the enthusiasm towards this project\u00a0 and we are looking forward to having multiple PaddleAble clubs welcoming new disabled paddlers this summer.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Why is PaddleAble so Important?<\/b><\/h3>\n

11% of children and 24% of adults in New Zealand identify as disabled, and research shows disabled people are less likely to participate in sport and active recreation, or have positive participation experiences. Lack of suitable opportunities, lack of appropriate equipment or facilities contribute towards this, as well as societal attitudes and low visibility or awareness that participation is possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Canoe Racing NZ, with funding support from Sport New Zealand, are aiming to address these issues and have spent the last 12 months developing and piloting the PaddleAble framework.<\/span><\/p>\n

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While modifying equipment and adapting what we do are important factors for any disability inclusive paddling activity, coaches and administrators must understand the fundamentals behind the wider disability inclusion sector.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Step\/actions centre around the following pillars:<\/span><\/p>\n