Patrick Standen, NDAA co-founder and Board President, has been a driving force for organizing recreational programming and competitive opportunities for people with disabilities. Pat holds a Masters Degree and teaches Philosophy at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1988 and did his graduate work at Boston College, Harvard University and Harvard Law School. Pat is a US Sailing certified Level II Coach and sailing instructor, and has taught sailing, hockey, wheelchair basketball and coached junior high football.

Mr. Standen became a paraplegic 25 years ago from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Prior to the accident, He was a three letter varsity athlete competing in football, hockey, baseball and wrestling. He was also an avid skier and watersports enthusiast.

An accomplished  wheelchair athlete, Patrick has competed in international sailing regattas, played sled hockey against the U.S. and Canadian National teams and competed in over a dozen triathlons. 25 years ago he took first place in the Winston Prouty Race and he continues to participate in wheelchair sports. In addition to his passion for sailing, he skis both Nordic and Alpine, swims, kayaks, handcycles and enjoys court sports.

Apart from athletics, he enjoys reading, writing and learning. He lives in Burlington with his wife and two Maine coon cats.

Heather Berg, NDAA co-founder and Board member, is a Physical Therapist in the Burlington, VT area. Born and raised in Vermont, Heather attended the University of Vermont, graduating with honors and a degree in Physical Therapy in 1995,. She has been a guest lecturer for UVM's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and is an OSHA certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist.

Heather has been sailing for about seven years, out of the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (LCCSC). She also volunteers in the LCCSC Adaptive Watersports Program. She has been racing the one-design Martin 16 sloop since 2001, traveling as far as Victoria, British Columbia to compete, all at her own expense. Heather holds a US Sailing certification in Keel Boat Sailing in all wind conditions.

Heather was born with congenital Colobomas in both eyes, resulting in incomplete development of the retinae. She has some functional vision in her left eye, and no vision in her right eye. Heather is also an accomplished athlete and competitive sailor. She is a certified weight trainer through International Weight Lifting Association.

"To me, sailing equals freedom.  Freedom from the daily concerns of working and living with a visual impairment, freedom to compete on a level playing field, freedom from the  judgments and assumptions of others, freedom to push the envelope and lay it on the line, freedom to express myself, freedom to know that I am in the driver's seat and that my decisions matter. I feel whole when I am sailing, like what I do and how I perform is a product of my knowledge and skill not of what others think or how they label me."

Heather has served on the boards of the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Special Services Transportation Agency, and the NDAA. She volunteers in her faith community's food pantry and thrift shop. Heather lives in Colchester with her partner Murray and her service dog, Echo.

Additional NDAA Board Members