The boat captain dressed as Jack Sparrow, the fictional pirate from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean. He guided the pontoon boat, not a pirate ship, around the bay surrounding Coconut Grove.
Captain Emiliano Oddo pointed to man-made islands and landmarks, entertaining the children and their families with fun facts. Several aboard, not just children, were autistic. And Oddo wowed them, all part of Autism Bay Day.
“It’s fun,” said John, an elementary-school student attending his first sailing event with Shake-A-Leg. John said his mom learned of the event through social media, so they headed over – and he’s glad they did.
“I liked the speed, and how fast it was going. Looking forward to sailing again,” John said.
John is one of thousands of children and adults with physical, developmental or economic challenges that have been able to take sailing lessons, watch Biscayne Bay and learn about local marine environment since Shake-A-Leg started in 1990.
“The organization focuses on kids with developmental or physical disabilities,” Harry Horgan, co-founder of Shake-A-Leg, told Caplin News. Horgan had a spinal cord injury from a car accident in Newport, Rhode Island, in the early 1980s. “It was a spinal cord injury that really changed my path, but also led me to what I’m doing today.”
He still enjoys sailing Freedom 20 boats in Biscayne Bay today. Regarding Autism Bay Day, he said, “It’s a great turnout, lots of families attending.”
“At the time, there just weren’t opportunities for people with disabilities to get out on the water,” said Horgan about Shake-A-Leg’s founding. Horgan first sailed in Rhode Island, and later co-founded Shake-A-Leg alongside Dr. Barth Green, the world-renowned neurosurgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital and the former chairman at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who also co-founded the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis.
“Sailing programs existed, but they weren’t accessible or inclusive, so I wanted to create a space where people of all abilities could participate and feel part of it,” Horgan said.
The organization, funded through a mix of donations, partnerships and grants, currently operates from a former Coast Guard seaplane hangar in Coconut Grove. There, they host events like weekly summer camps and sailings.
Captain Oddo is a familiar face on the boat.
“I’ve been working for Shake-A-Leg since the pandemic, but I first sailed with them back in 2008 after I got my license to sail,” said Oddo, who was in character as Jack Sparrow. His boat tour was on a 40’ Pearson pontoon boat meant to carry large groups on short cruises. During the excursion, a boy started to cry. Oddo let him steer the boat with close supervision.
“You are such a good captain,” he told the boy, while setting to play from a speaker Sea Shanty, an old sailor song. The boy was soon smiling.
Being able to not just sail around the Biscayne Bay, but also be friendly and entertain kids is an important part of the program. On the boat tour, several other children got to play captain and steer the Pearson with Oddo.
“I enjoyed the boat ride, it was fun,” said Nazareth “Naz”, an elementary-school boy who helped pilot the boat. “Also liked getting wet because of the splashing water. And I got to be captain.”
After the boat tour ended, Oddo made sure everyone exited the boat onto the pier. Then, he took his wig off his bald head.
“The wig was my idea,” said Oddo. “Using Jack Sparrow to entertain kids, to entertain the parents, makes them more trusting. And it’s easier if they see me as a character they already know.”
For families with autistic children, Shake-A-Leg, not only provides a joyful time but gives friends and relatives an opportunity to give back, too.
“I’ve been volunteering with Shake-A-Leg for one year, though it was three years ago when I first brought my kids here,” said Cynthya Lopez, as she served hamburgers and hot dogs at the lunch table under the hangar. She has four children, two girls and two boys, and both boys are autistic.
“Once I learned about their (Shake-A-Leg’s) inclusive approach,” she said. “I decided to give them a chance. After seeing firsthand how truly inclusive they are, I knew we had found the right place. I brought my kids here today. I love it.”
About 60 people attended a recent Sunday event. Co-founder Horgan, looking at the hanger full of families having lunch, said he was glad to see children and adults enjoying the day..
“Not just children, but whole families too,” he said. “So that they can all learn to sail together.”
To learn more about Shake-a-Leg events and support the organization, visit the website.
