Five years ago, Roger Muller went diving in Grand Cayman with his older brother, Bobby, a paraplegic, who sustained his injury while engaged in combat in Vietnam.
‘It occurred to me on that trip that diving can be very liberating for people in wheelchairs,’ recalled Roger. ‘I immediately thought about kids, and how they would benefit from the experience of diving.’
Consequently, Roger established Stay-Focused, a non-profit organization that offers disabled youth the opportunity to learn to scuba dive.
‘I wanted to reach kids at an age when they might be wrestling with issues of self-esteem … at the point when you can have some influence and possibly make a difference in their lives.’
Having done all his diving in Grand Cayman, choosing the island as the site location for Stay-Focused was an easy decision, he said.
The quality of the dive experience is superb for mobility-challenged teens. The water is warm, which reduces stress caused by cold water and there is little current to fight against, an important factor for paraplegic divers, he noted.
The dive sites are also close to the island and the dive boat provided by Red Sail Sports is well-equipped to accommodate the special needs of mobility-challenged divers, he added.
Now in its second year of operation, Stay-Focused offers participants the opportunity to become certified divers during a six-day program.
To date, 12 teens with disabilities, including spina bifida, polio and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disorder) have been certified, and Roger anticipates bringing another 12 student-divers to Grand Cayman next year.
‘Our concept is if you stay focused, you can overcome any challenge.’
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