Published Friday, March 8, 2013
By AMY JONES / Associate Editor, shelbycountyreporter.com
As Joe Ray wheeled around, showing off the property at Adaptive Aquatics in Wilsonville, he paused for a moment and looked out over the glittering expanse of Lay Lake.
“This is my office,” he said, arm stretched toward the lake. “People are blown away when they come out here.”
Thirty years ago, Joe couldn’t have anticipated how a twist of fate would direct him to Wilsonville and Adaptive Aquatics. Four years after losing the use of his legs at age 20 in a car accident in 1978, Joe attended a session at Camp ASCCA, Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults. Phil Martin, the founder of Adaptive Aquatics, was at the camp and altered Joe’s life forever by teaching him how to ski.
“It was really in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s that adaptive skiing really came about,” Joe said. “At first, I was like, ‘I can’t do this. I’m in a wheelchair. I can’t swim.’ That’s the same argument I hear from people who come out here now, so it’s kind of funny.”
Before Joe took up adaptive skiing, he had never really been an active person, but his first experience on the water changed everything.
“You leave your wheelchair on the dock. You’re out there gliding across the water, doing what you want to do,” Joe said. That made me realize I’m not bound to a set of wheels. It kind of frees you from the confines of everyday life.”
After his Camp ASCCA experience, Joe decided he wanted to get involved with Adaptive Aquatics, which helps kids and adults with disabilities experience fun on the water. He moved to Birmingham after his accident, then to Alabaster. About 20 years ago, he was so involved with Adaptive Aquatics and loved the water so much that he decided to move to Wilsonville.
“There’s always some opportunity for anything. People can experience the freedom of the water,” Joe said on why he’s loved Adaptive Aquatics since the beginning. “We say they leave their wheels on the dock. It just kind of opens up the door to all kinds of opportunities.” …view the complete story here.
Located in Alabama on Lake Martin, Camp ASCCA offers campers a wide variety of traditional recreational and educational activities with a unique design for accessibility.
Sign up for our eNewsletter to keep up with events and happenings at Camp ASCCA!
