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Bill Bogdan is a man who loves the great outdoors. His favorite activities include kayaking, fishing, camping, mountain biking and scuba diving. What makes this 54-year-old outdoorsman so unique is that at eight months old, he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. He doesn’t remember much about his surgery or cancer treatments that left him with incomplete paraplegia but he lives his life with strong resiliency and acts as an advocate for equitable and inclusive recreational opportunities for people with disabilities.

Bogdan, an outdoor enthusiast, participates in recreational programs offered through Adaptive Adventures and the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.
He is a disability liaison for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office. He is accustomed to searching for accessible solutions for himself and other people with physical disabilities.

In 2018, while Bogdan and his family were vacationing in Maine and looking to book an ocean kayak excursion, he contacted six different outfitters before finding one that would “find a way to make it work.” Through his perseverance, one vendor was willing to accommodate where and how they would launch their kayaks, allowing his family the ocean adventure they were hoping for.

Bogdan recently found himself pleasantly surprised after using the adaptive kayak launch at the Will County Preserve on Lake Chaminwood, Illinois. Bogdan stated, “This was the first time in my life I was able to launch myself independently. Normally, it takes about four to five people to help me in my kayak. I’m a big guy.” Bogdan was so excited about its ease of use that he immediately contacted one of the company’s owners, explaining how liberating it was for him to launch independently on his very first attempt.

His wife, Laura, was excited too, as the launch’s stability allowed her to keep her feet dry and she didn’t need to lift or pull Bogdan in his kayak. You can watch Bogdan’s launch here.

Bogdan believes the success of the launch, equipped with adaptive features in all the right places, is the design influence of adaptive paddlers. He commented that the “universal access launch can be used by all paddlers whether they need the features or not.” These features will improve everyone’s paddling experience and keep paddlers coming back. Bogdan also commented on the launch’s instructional signage, noting a QR code takes you to a demonstration video that reviews proper usage of the launch’s features. “Nothing was missed!”

As an accessibility advocate, if Bogdan could predict the future, he’d like to see that federal and state parks lead the way in accessibility. Bogdan understands firsthand that disabilities are unique and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Kayaking is an activity that connects people to nature, and he’d love to see more universal access launches available for all people to enjoy, like the one he has close to home on Lake Chaminwood.

SEE ALSO: “Adaptive Kayaking: Fostering Inclusion Outdoors,” Elena Christopher, Parks & Recreation, April 2024, Vol. 59, Iss. 4; “Ensuring Kayak Launches Are Adaptive and Inclusive,” Lori Limpar, Parks & Recreation, July 2023, Vol. 58, Iss. 7.

Lori Limpar is Content Manager at BoardSafe Docks.