A Parent's Guide to Accessible Fishing

Although there is a growing awareness and acceptance of children with disabilities, it might be difficult for your child to share the same experiences as others. Taking your child fishing is a great way to help them enjoy nature, spend quality time with their friends and loved ones, and introduce them to an awesome new hobby!

Children who engage in activities that require them to learn new skills (such as fishing) can work on polishing their social skills, improving their problem-solving capabilities, and increasing their learning abilities because it fosters self-confidence.

Discover the best and safest ways to take your child with a disability fishing.

Adaptive fishing equipment is essential when you’re enabling children with disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, or sensory processing disorders to engage in the sport of fishing.

There are many different types of adaptive fishing equipment that can accommodate these disabilities and enable your loved ones to enjoy fishing regardless of their condition.

Children with any condition that makes operating a traditional reel difficult can use an electric fishing wheel. An electric reel automatically casts out and reels in. This is a handy adaptive fishing accessory for those who are unable to walk or stand for extended periods.

If your child has limited mobility, travel by boat might be a challenge if they rely on a wheelchair. This can be frustrating because you may feel that you are unable to experience the joy of cruising or boating with them. The good news is that there are boats that can accommodate you and your children.

Accessible boats typically have wide doors at the front or back to make it easy for wheelchairs to get in and out. Some boats have a lift system that can help a wheelchair to get on and off the boat. Other features may include wider doorways, lowered sink controls, and lowered life vests so that children can more easily reach them.

Children with sensory processing disorder are often overwhelmed by sensations, textures, or activities. The products you wear or the objects you encounter may feel abrasive to your child.

If they're not properly protected against these sources of discomfort, your child might not want to wear a regular life preserver. The adaptive life preserver enables children with sensory processing disorders to float safely and comfortably. Their weight is supported by a buoy located on their right side, and they can hold onto it as they float.

The adaptive life preserver is placed around the child or held by a parent/guardian or another trustworthy adult as they take part in water-based activities, such as boating, water skiing, or tubing. Even if your family doesn’t plan on swimming during your trip, as a preventative measure you should consider purchasing one for your child to wear while fishing.

3. Moderate caffeine and/or alcohol. Both of these beverages are diuretics that make your body produce more urine than usual, which means you’ll be losing more water. If you must drink something to stay awake, try fruit juice or a sports drink. For caffeine, consider small tea or coffee mugs to keep caffeine to a minimum and keep warm on the boat.

4. Stay out of the sun. It can be difficult to do so at times, but it’s well worth it. Too much exposure to the sun will dehydrate you faster and result in sunburn. If you are forced to spend time out in the sun, use sunscreen to protect your skin from further damage and limit your exposure as much as possible.

5. Eat foods high in moisture (fruits, vegetables).

When going on a fishing trip for the first time, it’s a good idea to plan ahead. For example, if the weather will be hot, it might be better to bring shorts or light pants instead of jeans and heavy socks.

Additionally, loose clothing will allow you to move and sit in different positions comfortably while fishing. Loose clothing also offers protection from mosquitoes and other pests.

Pro tip: Think layers. Weather on the water is often unpredictable, so be prepared to remove or add on garments as needed.

When it comes to family trips, anything can happen. This is especially true for trips that require your family to spend an extended time out in nature. Here is a checklist to help you ensure your family is prepared for any emergency that might arise!

1. First-aid kit — Bring along bandages, aspirin, antihistamines, latex gloves, and any prescription medications your child might require.
2. Food and water — Non-perishable food items such as canned goods and energy bars are a great idea because there is little chance of them accidentally spoiling.
3. Weather radio — Many radios can be programmed to notify you of inclement or dangerous weather occurring in your area, which will let you know exactly what you are in for.
4. Boat GPS (global positioning system) — If you are going to be fishing in an unfamiliar area, it's important to keep track of your boat's position. This is especially true for fishing in large bodies of water. GPS units usually come with a lanyard or clip that can be attached to something on the boat, normally the steering wheel.
5. Extra batteries — To ensure that your cell phone and other electronics can stay charged, it is a good idea to bring extra batteries along for the trip. Remember to keep the batteries in a waterproof container such as a sandwich bag.

Each state has its own set of rules and regulations when it comes to fishing licenses. Therefore, it’s important to know whether you’ll need a fishing license and how to purchase one in your state so that your family fishing trip won’t be marred by any legal issues. Fishing license fees can range from under $10 to more than $100 depending on the state, the type of fishing you’re planning to do, and the age of the license holder.

Most states offer discounts on fishing licenses for children, and some even offer permanent licenses for people with disabilities. Those who aren’t fishing in their home state can often go online and print their fishing license.

Children with sensory processing disorder are often overwhelmed by sensations, textures, or activities. The products you wear or the objects you encounter may feel abrasive to your child.

If they're not properly protected against these sources of discomfort, your child might not want to wear a regular life preserver. The adaptive life preserver enables children with sensory processing disorders to float safely and comfortably. Their weight is supported by a buoy located on their right side, and they can hold onto it as they float.

The adaptive life preserver is placed around the child or held by a parent/guardian or another trustworthy adult as they take part in water-based activities, such as boating, water skiing, or tubing. Even if your family doesn’t plan on swimming during your trip, as a preventative measure you should consider purchasing one for your child to wear while fishing.

Water can be very dangerous for any child. Children with Down syndrome are at a very high risk of drowning at an early age as well, so take extra precautions in or around the water. There are a few things you can do to minimize your child’s risk while maximizing their fun.

If possible, consider signing your child up for swimming lessons before taking the fishing trip. A qualified special-needs instructor's formal knowledge of swimming will prepare your child for the water and teach them the right way to move their bodies.

Becoming certified in CPR is also a good way to prepare yourself in case of an emergency involving your child.

If your child has a sensory processing disorder and you're going fishing, the environment of the boat is important to consider. Often, children with sensory processing disorder are hypersensitive to sounds, so excessive engine noise could create a feeling of overwhelming anxiety. The motion of the boat is also something to consider.

Below are some tips to help your child with sensory processing disorder enjoy your fishing trip:

• Consider noise-canceling headphones. Make sure the headphones work well for your child before they use them on the trip.
• Make sure your child's seat belt or safety device is on.

• Help your child stay awake and alert. If they need a break from the fishing, have them get up and walk around as much as possible. If you notice your child is getting sleepy, let them nap.

Fishing can be a fun and productive hobby. However, if done incorrectly, fishing can also be quite dangerous. Here are some fishing safety tips to help you and your family stay safe outdoors.

• Pack plenty of fresh water, food, and extra clothing.
• Let a trusted family member or relative know where you're going and how long you expect to be gone. If possible, they should know who to contact if you don't return as planned.
• Be prepared for sudden storms and extreme cold or heat (bring along an appropriate amount of clothing for layers).
• Show any inexperienced members exactly how to use all equipment
• Save the emergency numbers for your nearest hospital and sheriff's department so you can call for help if someone gets hurt or sick.

Fishing can be a fun and productive hobby. However, if done incorrectly, fishing can also be quite dangerous. Here are some fishing safety tips to help you and your family stay safe outdoors.

• Pack plenty of fresh water, food, and extra clothing.
• Let a trusted family member or relative know where you're going and how long you expect to be gone. If possible, they should know who to contact if you don't return as planned.
• Be prepared for sudden storms and extreme cold or heat (bring along an appropriate amount of clothing for layers).
• Show any inexperienced members exactly how to use all equipment
• Save the emergency numbers for your nearest hospital and sheriff's department so you can call for help if someone gets hurt or sick.