Submitted by Brynn Michalcewiz on the 2019 winter session study abroad program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the School of Education…
This week, our program had the opportunity to work with AccessSurf, an organization that adapts water activities like surfing and paddle boarding for people with disabilities. This was my first experience paddle boarding and it was amazing being taught by an instructor who had a disability himself. He taught us all about his board and how the different parts help him so that he is able to go out in the water and compete in races. We also learned how to properly help transfer somebody from their wheelchair to their board in the water. The instructors and the participants were so inspiring. This experience reinforced why I want to become a special education teacher.