Ocean Healing Group
Encyclopedia
Ocean Healing Group is an international nonprofit organization that provides once in a lifetime, Costa Rica
based, adaptive sports adventures and quality of life programs to children with disabilities.
.
based, adaptive sports adventure program. J.A.W.S. program is centered around physical rehabilitation through sports and activities such as surfing
, snorkeling
, zip-line
tours, fishing
, quad riding tours and typically runs from 7–10 days quarterly throughout the year. The program is entirely subsidized for its participant campers and %100 percent of donations received, go directly to the facilitation of programs. The JAWS program currently services disabled children with Cerebral Palsy
, Spina Bifida
, Spinal Cord Injury
, Autism
, Ataxia Telangiectasia
and other conditions.
peer support mentor-ship as well as being on the cutting edge, in research and development of adaptive surfing equipment. OHG also holds the distinction of being both the first and only international, adaptive surfing program in the world.
"Our mission is to help them to break down the personal and physical barriers, while building up their self confidence so they can expand the bounds of possibility for themselves...It's all about helping them to carve the "Dis" out of Disability! It's this mindset that makes up the core philosophy of the Ocean Healing Group!...Donations provide lodging, food and travel expenses for these disabled youngsters, but really so much more than that. They provide rehabilitation for the soul, a new found sense of adventure and perhaps most importantly of all, the experience that when they push themselves to achieve, they can make anything possible!" -Christiaan Bailey
(Dec,2009)
and Board President Frank Bauer.
as a non-profit (501c3) organization.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
based, adaptive sports adventures and quality of life programs to children with disabilities.
History
Ocean Healing Group (OHG) was founded in 2007 by Frank Bauer and paralyzed professional surfer Christiaan BaileyChristiaan Bailey
Christiaan "Otter" Bailey , is an American professional surfer, known for his experience as a surf safari guide and skill as a big wave surfer and skateboarder....
.
JAWS Program
Their flagship J.A.W.S.(Just Add Water Surfing) program is a Costa RicaCosta Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
based, adaptive sports adventure program. J.A.W.S. program is centered around physical rehabilitation through sports and activities such as surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
, zip-line
Zip-line
A zip-line consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline...
tours, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, quad riding tours and typically runs from 7–10 days quarterly throughout the year. The program is entirely subsidized for its participant campers and %100 percent of donations received, go directly to the facilitation of programs. The JAWS program currently services disabled children with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
, Spina Bifida
Spina bifida
Spina bifida is a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube. Some vertebrae overlying the spinal cord are not fully formed and remain unfused and open. If the opening is large enough, this allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through...
, Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
, Autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, Ataxia Telangiectasia
Ataxia telangiectasia
Ataxia telangiectasia is a rare, neurodegenerative, inherited disease that affects many parts of the body and causes severe disability. Ataxia refers to poor coordination and telangiectasia to small dilated blood vessels, both of which are hallmarks of the disease...
and other conditions.
Advocacy
In addition to raising money for rehabilitative services for their campers and promoting other like-minded foundations, Ocean Healing Group also engages in public policy advocacy, Spinal Cord InjurySpinal cord injury
A spinal cord injury refers to any injury to the spinal cord that is caused by trauma instead of disease. Depending on where the spinal cord and nerve roots are damaged, the symptoms can vary widely, from pain to paralysis to incontinence...
peer support mentor-ship as well as being on the cutting edge, in research and development of adaptive surfing equipment. OHG also holds the distinction of being both the first and only international, adaptive surfing program in the world.
"Our mission is to help them to break down the personal and physical barriers, while building up their self confidence so they can expand the bounds of possibility for themselves...It's all about helping them to carve the "Dis" out of Disability! It's this mindset that makes up the core philosophy of the Ocean Healing Group!...Donations provide lodging, food and travel expenses for these disabled youngsters, but really so much more than that. They provide rehabilitation for the soul, a new found sense of adventure and perhaps most importantly of all, the experience that when they push themselves to achieve, they can make anything possible!" -Christiaan Bailey
Christiaan Bailey
Christiaan "Otter" Bailey , is an American professional surfer, known for his experience as a surf safari guide and skill as a big wave surfer and skateboarder....
(Dec,2009)
Leadership
Ocean Healing Group is led by a 7-person Board of Directors as well as a 10 person Advisory Committee. Corporate Officers are CEO/Executive Director Christiaan BaileyChristiaan Bailey
Christiaan "Otter" Bailey , is an American professional surfer, known for his experience as a surf safari guide and skill as a big wave surfer and skateboarder....
and Board President Frank Bauer.
Accreditation
Ocean Healing Group is certified by the Internal Revenue ServiceInternal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
as a non-profit (501c3) organization.