Finley’s Story: Celebrating Neurodiversity Through Sailing
As Neurodiversity Celebration Week approaches, it offers an opportunity to reflect on how we can foster more inclusivity, as well as recognise the wide range of strengths and talents that neurodivergent individuals bring to our communities.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global movement dedicated to challenging misconceptions about neurological differences and reshaping how neurodivergent people are understood and supported. Neurodivergent individuals, whose brains work differently from what is often considered the ‘norm’ including people with ADHD and autism, bring unique perspectives and strengths to the world, when given the right opportunities to thrive.
One such opportunity came at exactly the right moment, when a boy keen to find a hobby discovered Sailability.
New horizons
Finley is 13 years old, and like many young people navigating ADHD and dyslexia, he needs to take life at a slower pace so he can take in all the information and process it in his own way.
Finley’s family were searching for experiences that would help him get out more, but what could be seen as more ‘traditional’ sports for his age, such as football, just weren’t the right fit.
His mum Sarah discovered Sailability through a colleague who attended with her own son. Neither of them had sailed before, but she decided to contact their local club at Rutland who were incredibly welcoming and invited them to come along. Little did they know, this decision would be life-changing for Finley’s confidence.
The right fit
It soon became clear that sailing was something Finley enjoyed. Through regular visits and with the support of a community who were able to adapt to suit his pace, Finley started to thrive on and off the water, with friendships developing for both Finley and Sarah.
“Going to Sailability has definitely had a positive impact on my life because I can get out, I get to go out in the sun, I get to meet friends; it’s just all round a really good opportunity.”
Both Sarah and Finley encourage anyone considering Sailability to take the leap; pop down to your local club and say hello, meet people, and discover what sailing can offer – it could be transformational.
“It’s given Finley a knowledge that there are things in life he can be good at. There are school things he struggles with, and there are school things that he is really good at, but for him to have something away from school that he has really thrived on has given him an amazing confidence and self-esteem.”
Finley’s journey is a reminder of what can happen when organisations rethink how neurodivergent individuals are supported and included. With understanding, patience and the right environment, confidence can grow, barriers can fall, and lives can change.
Sailing in particular can be especially beneficial for neurodivergent individuals due to the fact it combines sensory input, movement and structure in a meaningful way. Unlike busy environments, being on the water can provide natural white noise, open space and visual calm, as well as a rhythmic, predictable motion.
