Anna Faltermeier/The Smithville Herald Brianna Weber of Coffey is all smiles as she takes off from the dock at Crow’s Landing at Smithville Lake Friday, July 11, during Day at the Lake. Weber, who is blind, attended with a group from The Alpha Pointe Association for the Blind. The Day at the Lake is an annual event that gives disabled individuals the opportunity to participate in recreational water activities like waterskiing and riding on a personal watercraft.
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A day at the lake
People with disabilities enjoy day of water sports
By Kathy Crawford
A Great Blue Heron glided just above the water at Smithville Lake, undaunted by the concentration of boats and jet skis at Crow’s Creek Park. As it searched for its lunch, participants of the 14th annual Day at the Lake on July 11 were already eating theirs.
Ameristar Casino provided the lunch, volunteers loaned out their watercraft for the day, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City pulled it all together so individuals living with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities could fly along the water, too.
“A Day at the Lake is meant to introduce water sports to those with spinal cord injury, amputations and visual loss,” said Dana Chatlin, director of external affairs at the Rehabilitation Center, adding that the majority are those with spinal cord injuries. “We have some wonderfully dedicated volunteers.”
This was the fourth year that Smithville residents Rick and Sandy Ruhge volunteered by trying to recruit people with watercraft.
“I grew up doing these activities, but I enjoy seeing people’s faces who never thought they could do this,” he said.
Chet Koch, general manager for Ameristar, served bratwurst alongside dozens of volunteers from the casino. Volunteers usually come back after trying it the first time, he said, because it’s a different kind of giving.
“Here we feel it; we see it,” he said. “We know we’ve made an impact on society.”
A bond that is like a family forms among patients, as well as between patients and their health care providers, said Randy Leighton, a physical therapist at Saint Luke’s Hospital.
“We have all kinds of folks who take off work and come out,” he said. “Some don’t get on the water. They just enjoy friends, fun and sun.”
But Liberty resident Heather Schouten, who is in a wheelchair, said she was definitely a water sports fan. She said this was her third year at the event. She plans to leave for college in the fall and wanted to take in all the water rides she could.
“I do everything,” she said. “I was the first one on the skis this morning. I’m going to try skiing without the outriggers next time.”
The skis are equipped with a seat and outriggers. Most participants have limited movement, so they’re able to adjust to the equipment personally, Chatlin said. Chase drivers and other volunteers are present for safety.
The personal watercraft drew the attention of William Carroll of Kansas City, who was at the sports clinic for the first time. He said was no stranger to boat rides, but never been on a personal watercraft.
“I’ve been wanting to do it,” he said as he signed up. “I guess I’m going to get wet.”
It was the first time Tim and Carrie Hayes of Olathe, Kan., attended A Day at the Lake, too. The couple heard about the event through a co-worker at Children’s Mercy Hospital and volunteered the use of their personal watercraft.
“We figured we have this (a personal watercraft) to our advantage, so why not share it,” she said.
Community volunteers attend a training session prior to the event, Chatlin said, and they are paired with rehabilitation professionals to provide a safe, good time. The Rehabilitation Institution pays for the fuel.
“We want to provide an opportunity that anything is accessible,” Chatlin said. “Just because a person is disabled doesn’t mean they can’t get out and do things.”
For more information about the Rehabilitation Institute or volunteer opportunities, visit www.rehabkc.org.
Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or kathycrawford@npgco.com.
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Ameristar Casino provided the lunch, volunteers loaned out their watercraft for the day, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City pulled it all together so individuals living with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities could fly along the water, too.
“A Day at the Lake is meant to introduce water sports to those with spinal cord injury, amputations and visual loss,” said Dana Chatlin, director of external affairs at the Rehabilitation Center, adding that the majority are those with spinal cord injuries. “We have some wonderfully dedicated volunteers.”
This was the fourth year that Smithville residents Rick and Sandy Ruhge volunteered by trying to recruit people with watercraft.
“I grew up doing these activities, but I enjoy seeing people’s faces who never thought they could do this,” he said.
Chet Koch, general manager for Ameristar, served bratwurst alongside dozens of volunteers from the casino. Volunteers usually come back after trying it the first time, he said, because it’s a different kind of giving.
“Here we feel it; we see it,” he said. “We know we’ve made an impact on society.”
A bond that is like a family forms among patients, as well as between patients and their health care providers, said Randy Leighton, a physical therapist at Saint Luke’s Hospital.
“We have all kinds of folks who take off work and come out,” he said. “Some don’t get on the water. They just enjoy friends, fun and sun.”
But Liberty resident Heather Schouten, who is in a wheelchair, said she was definitely a water sports fan. She said this was her third year at the event. She plans to leave for college in the fall and wanted to take in all the water rides she could.
“I do everything,” she said. “I was the first one on the skis this morning. I’m going to try skiing without the outriggers next time.”
The skis are equipped with a seat and outriggers. Most participants have limited movement, so they’re able to adjust to the equipment personally, Chatlin said. Chase drivers and other volunteers are present for safety.
The personal watercraft drew the attention of William Carroll of Kansas City, who was at the sports clinic for the first time. He said was no stranger to boat rides, but never been on a personal watercraft.
“I’ve been wanting to do it,” he said as he signed up. “I guess I’m going to get wet.”
It was the first time Tim and Carrie Hayes of Olathe, Kan., attended A Day at the Lake, too. The couple heard about the event through a co-worker at Children’s Mercy Hospital and volunteered the use of their personal watercraft.
“We figured we have this (a personal watercraft) to our advantage, so why not share it,” she said.
Community volunteers attend a training session prior to the event, Chatlin said, and they are paired with rehabilitation professionals to provide a safe, good time. The Rehabilitation Institution pays for the fuel.
“We want to provide an opportunity that anything is accessible,” Chatlin said. “Just because a person is disabled doesn’t mean they can’t get out and do things.”
For more information about the Rehabilitation Institute or volunteer opportunities, visit www.rehabkc.org.
Staff writer Kathy Crawford can be reached at 532-4444 or kathycrawford@npgco.com.