The Impossible Dream Inc

The Impossible Dream Inc is a 501(c)(3) established in 2014 by Deborah Mellen, a paraplegic who sustained a spinal cord injury in 1989. The Impossible Dream is a one-of-a-kind wheelchair-accessible fifty-eight-foot sailing catamaran that utilizes universal design to provide a barrier-free environment for disabled sailors.

Every summer since 2015, Impossible Dream has traveled the East Coast of the United States on a five-month summer voyage visiting over twenty ports from Miami to Maine, sharing the joy of sailing with over 1,000 disabled persons and their families, at no cost.  The organization is committed to improving the lives of disabled persons through sailing and building awareness of the benefits of universal design.  We believe the water is healing, it creates community, independence and improves the quality of life for everyone onboard.

Traditionally boating is nearly impossible for wheelchair users. The Impossible Dream is changing perceptions of what is possible.  With its unique barrier-free design, the Impossible Dream is an equalizer, creating a community that works together to sail our boat.   A unique aspect of the program is that the vessel is sailed by a mixed ability crew.  In this innovative approach, disabled Guest Crew members mentor new sailors with respect to the challenges of living, working and sailing the vessel.  Guest Crew also instructs program participants on the use of many assistive technologies such as hydraulic lifts and automated systems incorporated throughout the boat.  There is a revolutionary moment on every cruise when a sailboat with people in wheelchairs sails into port and the community has a glimpse of what is possible when universal design and compassion meet.  

In partnership with local community groups and rehabilitation hospitals in twenty ports of call, the Impossible Dream spreads the message that having a disability is a challenge that does not need to limit quality of life.  For many newly injured, a sail onboard is a transformational experience – one that we are committed to providing to as many disabled persons as possible.

By donating to the Impossible Dream you will be directly impacting the lives of thousands of disabled persons. A sail onboard Impossible Dream, a universally accessible sailboat, provides a unique and unforgettable adventure that changes the perceptions of our disabled guests and what they think is truly POSSIBLE in their lives.