A guy I have helped with flyfishing classses in the past has been asked to set up a local program. Ray has been teaching casting and tying for a long time but has no experience working with disabled people. What will we need to change in his normal program? We won’t know for a couple of weeks exactly what injuries we will be dealing with. Has anyone who has done this got any advice?
rainbowchaser,
If things here at our local VA hospital had worked out, I would be able to answer your question because our fly fishing club was asked to assist with fly fishing classes for disabled veterans and I was planning on helping a lot with the fly tying, but, they ended up with no one responding. Now we are working with mentally disabled veterans which is a whole new ballgame.
I would say that until you know to what extent their injuries are, you will not be able to plan ahead. Just be prepared to be creative and if the disabled vet has the desire, they will assist you a lot on what help they need.
Stay in touch my friend,
Your best tool will be a “can do!” or “Let’s figure this out” attitude. Like you said, you don’t know what the injuries are yet so you will be pretty much winging it. This is one of the most healing parts of the program for the vet. The knowledge that someone is there to help them “figure it out” is incredibly powerful.
You can lash a fly rod to a prothesis. Adapt tools to work for him/her for tying. Most importantly, focus on what they can do and work from there. Forget what they can’t do.
Creative thinking and looking at this as a kick butt challenge will get you through just fine.
Jim,
When You get ready and need some more bodies give Us a shout.
Thanks, Bill. I don’t know how many students we’ll have but we want to keep a low student /teacher ratio. If we need more people than Ray already has lined up I’ll certainly call you about coming up. It’s a long drive if we are just looking at extra bodies standing around. I do think a casting demo from Jean might help some guys understand that they can do it too.
Project Healing Waters is an organization that does this. http://www.projecthealingwaters.org/ I suspect you cold find somebody through them who has experience and can advise you.
Thanks oldfrat. The local American Legion post asked Ray to do this and I think they are in contact with that organization. I was hoping that someone here might have some experience in adapting an existing course to these circumstances. I’m thinking common sense and duct tape to adapt rods and tools will end up being the way to go. If someone is interrested in continuing beyond the three day program they have asked for we can work on more elegant solutions with them individualy.
When will this happen. If it fits my schedule and you need volunteers, let me know. you are a short drive away.
Need some tying material?