Stay-Focused is a unique, nonprofit organization that provides mobility-challenged young adults the opportunity to become certified scuba divers. The organization is completing its second year of operation, having successfully completed three programmes in 2004 and three this year, with a 100% success rate.

Stay-Focused is best described as a learning organization, with both academic and experimental components. Designed to offer young adults the opportunity to test themselves and learn valuable lessons, Stay-Focused is also about having fun.

Five years ago, Roger Muller went diving in Grand Cayman with his older brother, Bobby, a paraplegic, who sustained his injury while engaged in combat in Vietnam.  "It occurred to me on that trip" recalls Roger, "diving can be very liberating for people in wheelchairs … and I immediately thought about kids, and how they would benefit from the experience of diving."

Consequently, Roger established Stay-Focused, a nonprofit organization that offers  disabled youth the opportunity to learn to dive.  "I wanted to reach kids at an age when they might be wrestling with issues of self-esteem … at the point when you can have some influence and possibly make a difference in their lives."

Why Grand Cayman?

Having done all his diving in Grand Cayman, choosing Cayman as the site location for Stay-Focused was an easy decision.  The quality of the dive experience is superb for mobility-challenged teens.  The water is warm, which reduces stress caused by cold water and there is little current to fight against, an important factor for paraplegic divers.  Also, dive sites are close to the island and the dive boat provided by Red Sail Sports is well-equipped to accommodate the special needs of mobility-challenged divers.

Stay-Focused offers participants the opportunity to become certified divers during a six-day program.  To date, twelve teens with disabilities, including spina bifida, polio and osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disorder) have been certified, and Roger anticipates bringing another twelve, student-divers to Grand Cayman next year. "Our concept is" he adds, " if you stay focused, you can overcome any challenge."


Reactions from parents:

"This would be an awesome experience for anyone, but for someone with mobility limitations ... amazing!"

"I can reflect from the parent/adult perspective, and, in particular, regarding Kelsey.  Being aware of the life challenges mobility limitations can present (in addition to the medical/health issues!), having had this experience and coming away as a certified diver wipes away some significant barriers … literally, as the diver moves in the water, but figuratively, as the individual takes pride in the accomplishment and is able to share this with others.  This experience, I believe, will do exactly what the Stay-Focused goal states: it can change someone's life by generating self-reliance, independence, self confidence and, ultimately, reshape one's self-image."
 
 "Kelsey felt very supported by you and the dive team …"

"You have created such a specialized program that situations related to the kids' mobility/medical/health conditions are problems solved so effectively, they come away not only as certified divers, but having had the time of their lives doing it!"


"There really aren't enough words to express our appreciation.  You have created something incredible that will go on beyond the trip.  Thank you so much for your vision, your time, and your efforts in bringing this together."


Fundraising

While Stay-Focused has been successful in attracting a number of Cayman-based sponsors, the organization still needs financial contributions to support its ongoing activities.  Stay-Focused is incubated within the New York office of Booz Allen Hamilton, an international management and technology consulting firm.  Hence, all funds received go directly to support the organization's dive trips and to fund its medical research agenda.

Contributions go toward:

  US$500.00  Covering cost of one PADI Diving Certification
     $1,000.00  Supporting Stay-Focused's medical research agenda
     $2,500.00  Supporting academic programme and boat excursions
     $5,000.00  Providing full financial support for one student to attend the six-day program


For more information, visit the Stay-Focused web site at:  www.stay-focused.org, or contact Roger Muller at: roger@stay-focused.org