News
What’s SUP (Stand up paddle boarding) with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Last week, a group of young Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Clients and their families from Newcastle and the Central Coast enjoyed a lovely day on the water at a much-loved local event called ‘What’s SUP’ (stand up paddle boarding).
The event, now in its sixth year, was well attended by the group of five to 21 year olds, who enjoyed lessons, SUP yoga, beach games, challenging orientation and mobility skills and simulated water rescue activities run by local surf lifesaving volunteers.
The program aims to develop self-confidence and builds independent orientation and mobility skills in a fun and interactive way. The program also educates young lifeguards and external partners to support their understanding of how tasks and the environment can be adapted to enable access and inclusion for those who have a vision impairment.
Jo Anson-Smith, Orientation and Mobility Specialist at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, said: “Along with being a great learning experience, holiday activities like ‘What’s SUP’ are such a crucial part of our Guide Dogs youth program because they allow young participants to meet other people who are blind or have low vision and really feel part of the local community.
“We love running our SUP event each summer as it gives young people and their families a wonderful opportunity to share experiences together, gain confidence and learn new skills in an aquatic environment, including how to signal for assistance if a water rescue is required.
“Breaking down the barriers and seeing our older teen clients working alongside the local lifeguard team today was a real highlight for me. This was a wonderful example of a community who supports access and inclusion for those with low vision and blindness.”
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will continue run Youth Programs in the school holidays throughout 2024. To register your interest, or for more information, email youth@guidedogs.com.au.
Image description: Seven people on paddle boards practice a sitting yoga pose with one leg raised. Their paddle boards are on the water with boats and a hill in the background against a blue, cloudy sky.
Image description: A child kneels on a paddle board holding a blue oar while an instructor stands beside him in the thigh-deep water. Boats, a hill and blue sky fill the background.
Image description: Three children sit on buoyant rescue tubes while involved in a water rescue simulation activity.
