What makes San Diego’s coast so accessible?

• “The Challenged Athletes Foundation, based in San Diego, is a hub for all things adaptive sports. They are always holding events for people with physical disabilities. Then there’s the International Surf Association, based in La Jolla. They’re the main spearheading organization for adaptive surfing development. It’s organizations like these that help set the tone for the whole community. Also, there are beach wheelchairs at many of the life guard towers at the beach so that people with disabilities can get in and out of the water easily.”

• “Surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking and waterskiing are all sports that kids and adults can partake in in the San Diego area. There are several adaptive surfing programs, specifically, in San Diego including The Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program of San Diego, The Challenged Athletes Foundation, The Junior Seau Foundation Adaptive Surf Program (for kids) and The Stoke for Life Foundation.”

• “There is actually an electric beach chair at the beach in Coronado which allows people with disabilities to ‘take long walks on the beach’. Also, there are several boat tours that will accommodate for people with disabilities and special needs.”

• “The Challenged Athletes Foundation, hands down, has changed the way people with disabilities are able to interact with the ocean and be active participating members of the community. Also, Adaptive Surfing Magazine (www.adaptivesurfing.com) is based out of San Diego and is a major hub for people that want to get involved.”

• “Because San Diego is so inclusive there is a large community of active people with disabilities that are more than willing to create opportunities for others to get on the water or back into healthy and active lifestyles.”

• “The ISA is leading the adaptive surf movement and plays a huge role in building and keeping the momentum of adaptive surfing throughout the world. They host the World Adaptive Surfing Championship event right here in La Jolla, which is awesome. When the global community comes to La Jolla it creates awareness around the community and with that, more support and inclusion in general. It’s been amazing to watch the community embrace adaptive surfing!”