Tag Archives: sailing

Enhance someone’s quality of life

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This Holiday Season you can give the gifts of self-reliance, independence, self-confidence, and enhance someone’s quality of life.

Your donation to Challenged America will give a disabled veteran, adult or child with a disability all of these and much more.

“The uncertainty that came with vision loss left me fearful about the future, and feeling that a normal life would be impossible. Sailing has restored my self-confidence, given me a sense of freedom and adventure I never knew I had and taught me that anything can be possible no matter what your ability is.

Learning to sail and be in control of a boat, making it dance across the sparkling bay and hearing the splash against the hull has turned me into a graceful ballerina. This is my show now and vision loss is just a bit player waiting in the wings.’”
– Tammy
Challenged America Tammy
Why Donate to the Disabled Businesspersons Assocation’s Challenged America program?

100% of your generous gift goes directly into the program.
There are no salaries or hidden administrative or fundraising costs.
Challenged America is an all-volunteer program, as are all the programs with the DBA charity.
The DBA and all its programs are overseen and directed by volunteers from the community.

Please consider Challenged America during this gift-giving time of year, and then come on down to the dock to see how your generosity is being utilized. Better yet, come on down and volunteer and join the others who contribute their time, expertise and resources to assure that Challenged America continues for another 36-plus years.

You can make your tax-deductible donation by check to ‘Challenged America’ and mail directly to the Challenged America office or online! and use your credit card to make your gift via PayPal.

Recurring monthly donations can also be set up through PayPal. This is an extremely valuable way to help support Challenged America on an on-going basis.

Many employers will make matching donations when their employees donate to charitable causes. Check to see if your employer might have such a program. You might be able to double the impact of your gift!

 Securely Donate with PayPal

Challenged America
at Sunroad Resort Marina
955 Harbor Island Dr., Suite 130
San Diego, California 92101

(619) 523-9318

Tax-Exempt (EIN) : 33-0484461 – Disabled Businesspersons Association

DISABLED SAILORS FOCUS ON SAFETY

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There seems to always be controversy when it comes to people with disabilities and sailing safety.  The “What happens if …?” and “How can they do it?” doubters abound, and our answer is always:  “Prepare, Prevent and Practice, Practice, Practice!”, according to Challenged America co-founder and the charity’s volunteer president  Urban Miyares, a sailor with more than five-decades of sailing experience. 

Sailors at the San Diego-based Challenged America Program come from around the nation and the world; of all ages, they have both hidden and obvious medical conditions.   Sailing on San Diego’s Big Bay, as well as offshore, , these sailors with disabilities, along with their loved ones, as well as professional sailing instructors, therapists and rehabilitation specialists, participate in the 36-year-old,  year-round, no-cost, volunteer-driven, therapeutic adaptive sailing program.   

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Deaf Teenagers from Southern California sail with Challenged America

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On Saturday, 11/16/13, a group of deaf teenagers came from all over Southern California to sail Martin 16s with Challenged America on San Diego Bay.   Special thanks to Sue and Lori for setting up this special group sail; to Cameron, Lori and Phil for interpreting; and to Phil for the photos.

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Steve Muse: Born with a Hammer in his Hand

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Steve Muse_1421703023_n“I would like to say that the journey in one’s life is what you make of it. Being knocked down a few notches has humbled me. It has brought me closer to the people I love. For what reason I can’t always say, because I can be a right bastard sometimes, I am loved. When the chips are down you find out who your friends are. My wife and I are tighter than we have ever been and I’m still Daddy to my kids. I’m grateful for my family and my friends. Without them you are nothing!”

Steve Muse was born in San Diego, California into a family of builders. His grandfather built his own house and a small fiberglass fishing boat among other things. His uncle Dan was a General Contractor and, at an early age, Steve spent summers working for him and learned the trades of carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, roofing, masonry, drywall, etc. They did it all! While growing up, Steve thought, everybody does that stuff. His grandfather Jesse, father Phil and Uncle Jim worked at Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical where they worked in aerospace manufacturing and development. All retired from the company which no longer exists.

Growing up in the east county, Steve attended Riverview Elementary in Lakeside. Later he matriculated to El Capitan High School, also in Lakeside. Initially, Steve attended college, but overwhelmed with his work load, soon dropped out to follow other pursuits. Continue reading →