Disabilities need not keep people off Madison's lakes this summer, thanks to a first-ever partnership program between UW-Madison's Department of Kinesiology and the Mendota Rowing Club . "I think rowing can pay a key piece in fitness and physical activity and overall health promotion, including people with disabilities," says the club's coordinator of the Adaptive Rowing Summer Course, Cayte Anderson.
Brad Dakan of Madison is one of the rowers in the course. "I'm interested in all different kinds of sports," says Daken. "I didn't even know it (rowing) was possible. I have a spinal cord injury and I can't use my legs, and in rowing, the major part is your legs. Once I found out they could modify it to where I could just use my arms, I was all for it."
Anderson says the rowing shells are modified by the addition of small outriggers and some stationary seating. She says several of the rowers are "highly competitive," and could easily take their rowing skills to the Paralympics.
