About us
Our mission, vision, and philosophy
Our Board of Directors
The Missouri Disabled Water Ski Association (MDWSA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that was incorporated in the State of Missouri on March 24, 2007, for improving the lives of children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities, visual impairments, and special needs by involvement in adaptive water skiing.
MDWSA was created for the betterment of adaptive water skiing and the disabled athlete in response to a need in the community for an organization that will focus its energy and resources to professionally develop, organize, promote, and provide a comprehensive program of adaptive water skiing for those with physical and developmental disabilities, visual impairments, and special needs.
We provide a safe, fun and extremely memorable water ski experience. MDWSA strives to keep our operating expenses at a minimum. Our board members, as well as everyone “working” at our events are ALL volunteers which means we have absolutely no paid positions; this allows us to utilize your financial gifts to their fullest capacity. For the past 15 years, the goal of MDWSA has been to directly benefit the lives of people with disabilities
Mission
- To professionally develop, deliver, fund, provide, promote and organize a comprehensive program of recreational and competitive water skiing for children and adults with disabilities;
- To organize, promote and provide Learn to Ski Clinics for disabled children and adults;
- To strengthen the physical, spiritual and social well-being of disabled children and adults through disability sport and water skiing;
- To enhance independence, self-reliance and self-esteem of disabled children and adults through disability sport and water skiing;
- To educate the public and create a greater community awareness of disabled children and adults through disability sport and water skiing.
Vision and Philosophy
The Missouri Disabled Water Ski Association was founded with the vision and understanding that a professionally organized program of adaptive water skiing for children and adults with disabilities will energize them beyond their rehabilitation as a means to maintain a healthy, active, and well-balanced lifestyle.
MDWSA will work with children and adults who have acquired spinal cord injuries from accidents and diseases that result in paralysis such as, Spina Bifida, orthopedic disabilities (amputations and hip and knee replacements), cerebral palsy, acquired head injuries, polio, as well as other neuromuscular disorders. Additionally, those with vision impairments or developmental disabilities will greatly benefit from participation in adaptive water skiing.
The philosophical and fundamental goals of MDWSA are as follows: to expand its reach and effectiveness through a professionally developed and focused program of water skiing for anyone with a disability; to work cooperatively with organizations throughout the region that work with the disabled; to create a regional showcase for adaptive water ski opportunities for both the recreational and competitive water skier; to elevate standards of accessibility and inclusion at area lakes and waterways; to promote a greater public awareness of those with disabilities; to unite the community and region through water skiing for the disabled; and to be attractive to corporate and community sponsors.
Benefits of Adaptive Water Skiing for the Disabled
Water skiing for the disabled, also known as Adaptive Water Skiing, along with many other wheelchair and disabled sports, plays an important role in the post-rehabilitation process of the person with a physical disability.
It provides them with the opportunity to improve their physical, emotional, and social well-being through weekly and monthly beginner and intermediate ski clinics.
By getting involved in such a program, it helps them set goals for success while experiencing the enjoyment of a recreational program, and it allows them to be competitive again or maybe competitive in a sport for the very first time in their lives.