Universal Paddling - ACA
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Education

Universal Paddling

Since 1990, the ACA has led the adaptive recreation industry through the of training instructors and program providers in the best practices of inclusive paddlesports. 

The Universal Paddling programs enhance the skills and knowledge of ACA Instructors and the general public by teaching how to outfit equipment and modify teaching styles to allow people of all abilities to participate in paddlesports activities as safely, as comfortably, and with the same performance potential as all others.

Advanced Communications Program

Enhance your paddlesports instruction to better integrate individuals with vision, speech, or hearing impairments into your programs.

Adaptive Paddling Program

Gain confidence teaching paddlesports and outfitting equipment for individuals with physical disabilities.

Advanced Communications

Advanced Communications Program

Enhance your paddlesports instruction to better integrate individuals with vision, speech, or hearing impairments into your programs.

Advanced  Communications Workshops (ACW)

Advanced Communications Workshops (ACWs) are designed for instructors, outfitters, recreation program managers, trip leaders, and all others who want to seamlessly integrate people with speech and language impairments, hearing impairments or deafness, visual impairments or blindness into paddlesports programs. ACWs provide a basic understanding of disabilities that affect communication and provide a toolbox of knowledge, techniques, and strategies to enable successful integration. Current ACA Instructors will earn the Advanced Communications Endorsement upon successful completion. All other ACA members who are not certified ACA instructors will earn a Certificate of Completion upon successful demonstration of all criteria.

Purpose

  • Provide ACA instructors an opportunity to earn the Advanced Communication Instructor Endorsement
  • Provide non-ACA instructors an opportunity to earn the ACA Certificate of Completion in Advanced Communications
Instructor Endorsement: Certificate of Completion:
For currently certified ACA Paddling Instructors (Endorsement Criteria) For ACA members who are not certified instructors 
Additional credentialing on your current ACA instructor certification Documentation of successful completion of the ACW
In order to lead an ACA ACW you must be an Advanced Communications Instructor Trainer Evidence of training to integrate advanced communications theory and techniques into your program
Certificate of Completion does not allow you to teach as an ACA certified instructor

Advanced Communications Instructor Trainers

Advanced Communications Instructor Trainers are certified to lead ACWs and have authority to issue Advanced Communications credentials (Certificate of Completion and Instructor Endorsements). To start an Instructor Trainer candidacy you must first be a currently certified ACA Instructor with the Advanced Communications Endorsement for at least 2 years. The Advanced Communications Instructor Trainer candidacy is a mentoring process that is completed over multiple ACWs in different venues.

Adaptive Paddling

Adaptive Paddling Program

Gain confidence teaching paddlesports and outfitting equipment for individuals with physical disabilities.

Adaptive Paddling Workshops (APW)

Adaptive Paddling Workshops (APWs) provide the information necessary to seamlessly integrate individuals with physical disabilities into paddlesports programs. APWs focus on five key topics: 

  1. Language, Etiquette, and Interaction
  2. The Legal Context
  3. Cultivating Seamless Integration
  4. Adaptive Outfitting Concepts & Goals
  5. Mechanics of Adaptive Outfitting for Paddlesports. 

APWs involve hands-on learning in both a classroom and in calm, protected waters.

These workshops are designed to provide instructors, outfitters, recreation program providers, and rehabilitation professionals with the information they need to integrate paddlers with disabilities into paddlesports programs.

Purpose

  • Provide ACA instructors an opportunity to earn the Adaptive Paddling Instructor Endorsement
  • Provide non-ACA instructors an opportunity to earn the ACA Certificate of Completion in Adaptive Paddling
  • Provide a skills course for individuals with physical disabilities
Instructor Endorsement: Certificate of Completion:
For currently certified ACA Paddling Instructors (Endorsement Criteria) For non-ACA certified instructors 
Additional credentialing on your current ACA instructor certification Nationally recognized documentation of successful completion of the APW
In order to lead the ACA APW you must be an Adaptive Paddling Instructor Trainer Evidence of training to integrate adaptive theory and techniques into your program
Certificate of Completion does not allow you to teach as an ACA certified instructor

Adaptive Paddling Instructor Trainers

Adaptive Paddling Instructor Trainers are certified to lead APW and have authority to issue Adaptive Paddling credentials (Certificate of Completion and Instructor Endorsements). To start an Instructor Trainer candidacy you must first be a currently certified ACA Instructor with the Adaptive Paddling Endorsement for at least 2 years. The Adaptive Paddling Instructor Trainer candidacy is a mentoring process that is completed over multiple APWs in different venues.

Guide to Hosting a 2-day APW

Additional Information

Find Universal Paddling Courses

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Essential Eligibility Criteria

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Adaptive Equipment

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Endorsement Criteria

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