The Scuba Sports Club of Westchester County, New York

September 2021 Speaker

Title: Member Meeting

Speaker: Rosemary Ciotti

Description:

Rosemary Ciotti is currently the Vice President of Therapeutic SCUBA Institute, a non-profit

headquartered in Miami, Florida. Therapeutic SCUBA Institute strives to work with recreational therapists and universities to establish adaptive SCUBA as a recognized therapy for individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Therapeutic SCUBA Institute collaborates with the University of Miami Medical School and

the school of rehabilitative medicine, known as the Miami Project. Their key mission is to

educate people in the academic and SCUBA world about the myriad benefits of adaptive

SCUBA.

The hallmark program within Therapeutic SCUBA Institute is Camp Open SEAS. Camp was

founded by Rosemary Ciotti and Kay Pearson in 2018. In 2017, Rosemary and Kay started a free“try SCUBA” program for people with disabilities in the mid-Atlantic region. Several childrenbecame avid in-pool SCUBA divers and the idea of camp arose from wanting these kids to be able to dive in the open ocean. Camp Open SEAS is the first science and adaptive SCUBA camp in the Country for kids with disabilities. Camp Open SEAS is designed to focus on marine science education and adaptive SCUBA for kids with disabilities ages 10-16 and is held every summer in Key Largo, FL.

Rosemary has lectured widely on inclusive design in housing and healthcare and participated

as a litigant in important ADA cases. She is currently Chair of the Arlington County Virginia

Disability Advisory Commission and advises the Arlington County Board as well. As a nurse practitioner Rosemary Ciotti cares for people with spinal cord injuries who live independently in the community. Rosemary has been a wheelchair user since 1990 from an auto

immune disease that caused permanent neurological damage. At this time Rosemary, along with her husband, reside between Arlington, Virginia and Key Largo, FL.

Past Speaker Programs