​By Mennatalla Ibrahim,
Special to the AFRO

The American University Institute of Disability and Public Policy recently partnered with the non-profit Brendan Sailing to host the second annual Navigating Differences Symposium on Sept. 9 at the Washington, D.C. school campus.

Brendan Sailing is dedicated to enhancing self-esteem and self-confidence in youth with learning challenges, such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), through sailing programs in D.C., Annapolis, Md., and St. Mary’s City, Md.

This symposium was aimed at connecting the effective approaches for aiding this population that Brendan Sailing has developed over the years with the findings of researchers and academics in this field.
“The thought was: Let’s have a symposium where we can bring together professionals and academics, as well as occupational therapists, counselors, teachers, parents and participants, and we can all learn from each other,” said Charlie Arms, executive director of Brendan Sailing after the Sept. 9 event. “We’d love to connect with some of the schools that operate and serve this population during the academic year. We’re very open to partnerships and to offering opportunities for schools and programs to attend the symposium, so they can display what they do and really network and connect.”

The symposium was kicked off with a screening of the film “Normal Isn’t Real” by director and producer Krys Kornmeier, which showcases four stories from young adults with learning differences as they navigate success in work and school. 

“Listening to the folks on the film talk about the struggles they had as youth until they really found something they were passionate about and were good at really connects with what we do,” Arms said. “We hope to allow our participants to thrive and see that there are other ways to learn.”

Keiko Shikako, an associate professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy at McGill University, served as a panelist, discussing some of her research in childhood disability. Her work focuses on building inclusive communities that recognize the human rights of children with disabilities and promotes the participation of children with disabilities in different life roles and activities.This was her first time collaborating with Brendan Sailing, and she said she was impressed with the outcome of the symposium.

“The participants had very pertinent questions and comments,” Shikako said. “It’s great to see everybody so committed to and already doing major work in the field of inclusion for persons with disabilities.”

Shikako’s involvement in the symposium came through longtime colleague Derrick Cogburn, an American University professor who also serves on the Brendan Sailing Board of Directors. As the executive director of the university’s Institute on Disability and Public Policy, Cogburn acted as a panelist and co-sponsor of the symposium both this year and last year.

In addition to the five panelists, 25 people attended the symposium, including parents, American University students, occupational therapists, academics, Brendan Sailing alumni and advocates. Though this marked a significant increase from last year’s symposium and encompassed every population they aimed to reach, Brendan Sailing hopes to see this audience exponentially grow in size in the coming years.
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“For next year, we’d like to at least double [the number of attendees]. We don’t want hundreds of attendees because the whole point of [the symposium] is the interaction aspect, but we had about half as many as we would have liked. That is our goal,” Arms said.
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​“I’m going to sailing school that’s entirely for kids like me,” announces 11-year old Maggie Lee (whose name has been changed for privacy), a bright, rambunctious child who is excited to start sixth grade this fall. Lee will be attending Brendan Sailing, the sailing program offering lessons out of Annapolis, St. Marys, and Washington, DC. for children with learning differences.

This month, Brendan Sailing’s founder—a former president of US Sailing well known on the Bay for his ocean racing feats—was honored with a national award from the U.S. Coast Guard Foundation. James P. Muldoon, a longtime Annapolis sailor, realized years ago that his own son needed a different approach to learning to sail. Brendan Sailing is the result.

Maggie is a perfect candidate for the specialized sailing program.
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“It’s for kids who have ADHD, dyslexia, and who are on the spectrum, like me,” she says without hesitation or any sense of insecurity...
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Dear Brendan Community,

Today marks the official start of Spring, the Equinox. I look forward to this year's Brendan Sailing programs.  The Brendan Team has been hard at work during the off season, preparing impactful programs for 2023 and spreading the word about Brendan Sailing.  

Registration opened last month for our summer programs in both Annapolis and St. Mary’s.  Applications have been brisk, please make sure to sign up soon to get your choice of programs.  The format has been changed at St. Mary’s with two sessions in July.  

One of my goals has been to expand the reach of Brendan Sailing.  The Brendan Approach workshops are making that happen.  There are several in-person workshops confirmed for this spring and summer.  It is also significant that our Executive Director presented on the Brendan Approach both at the US Sailing Leadership Forum and LDA conference.

The Second Annual Navigating Differences Symposium will take place on September 9 at American University in DC.  We have partnered with the Institute for Disability and Public Policy.  Our team is currently in the planning stages and we look forward to continuing to grow as a thought leader in the field of Learning Differences.  

Thank you again, for your support of Brendan Sailing. 

With Gratitude,

James P. Muldoon
Chairman of the Board

​ Brendan Sailing Fall 2022 Newsletter
Volume V Edition IV

In this edition:
Chairman's Message
Executive Director's Message
Awards Party Recap
DC Fall Program
Volunteer Spotlight: Davis Carroll
Staff Spotlight: Peter Udalov
Camper Spotlight: Ariana & Alex Marbury
US Sailboat Show
Giving Tuesday 

Brendan Sailing was recently featured in Spinsheet Magazine! 

RSVP now for 2022 summer sailing programs in Annapolis and St. Mary's in Maryland!

See the magazine write-up from Spinsheet here (Pg. 40).

See the article below, or read via Spinsheet here.

​Keridwyn said she used to be scared of heeling — the sideways tilt of a sailing boat — but now, that’s one of her favorite parts of sailing. She said she even wants to sail around the world, and her dream is to sail to and around Europe.

She said sailing might seem scary at first, but the counselors help with everything.

​Will Avis, who has been a counselor with Brendan Sailing since 2019, said being able to see the progress the kids make is incredible.

“Seeing the skills that we teach them and then to see their aptitude in the water is a
really nice feeling,” said Avis, 21.

​Onboard the Schooner Woodwind on Thursday was the Brendan Sailing staff, campers and some of their family members.

Matt Newkirk’s 14-year-old son, Bartley, attended Brendan Sailing for the first time this summer after meeting and talking to one of the counselors about kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The counselor told him about Brendan Sailing.

“Seeing [Bartley’s] enthusiasm to do something nonscreen-related has been incredible,” Newkirk said.

Last week, Newkirk had the opportunity to go to the camp’s parent sail, which occurs on the last day of each session.

“[Bartley] sailed me around. It was unbelievable and I’m so proud,” he said.

​Even though this is Bartley’s first year at Brendan Sailing, he’s already talking about coming back as a volunteer next year, Newkirk said.

“Kids come back year after year because they’re in a setting where they can be successful,” Berry said.

Brendan Sailing was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit by James Muldoon, who was inspired by his son with dyslexia, Jim Muldoon Jr., who became a successful sailor at a young age on Muldoon’s racing yacht, the Donnybrook.

“One day, I noticed my son give directions to my crew and he’s telling them what to do,” Muldoon said, who attended Thursday’s sail. “He was not like that on land.”

Muldoon said Brendan Sailing gives kids a chance to build their confidence and ability to work as a team, as well as the option to be judged by what they do, not what they speak or write down. Muldoon, who was recently inducted into the Boating Safety Hall of Fame, said he’s working to broaden the sport and is “not
done yet.”

In addition to the Annapolis session, Brendan Sailing offers a St. Mary’s session in the summer — usually, a residential program where the campers stay in college housing at St. Mary’s College of Maryland — and biweekly after-school sailing sessions in Washington, D.C., in the fall and spring. This year, the St. Mary’s
session isn’t residential because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re going to expand in a reasonable manner with the right kind of people and the right kind of goals,” Muldoon said, because the “kids are what’s important.”

Bre Browning, 16, said her favorite part of the camp is connecting with the other kids and learning how to sail more.
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Press Coverage

• Spinsheet Magazine: "A Zeal for Teaching"
• The Capital Gazette: "Brendan Sailing's head instructor prepares for next steps in life"
• The BayNet: "In the Same Boat as Me"
• Southern Maryland News: "In the Same Boat as Me"
• Southern Maryland News Net: "Letter to the Editor - In the Same Boat as Me"

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"​Brendan Sailing has announced that registration is open for the 2021 Summer Camp Season.  This year, Brendan features both one and two weekday camp programs at their Bembe Beach location in Annapolis.   St Mary’s College of Maryland will host a ten-day residential camp and a week-long day camp in Southern Maryland.  An early bird discount of up to $100 is extended for registration by April 1st.  Scholarships are available, no youth is ever turned down for inability to pay."