FORT LAUDERDALE, FL --- A South Florida artist is utilizing the ocean to help amputees and individuals suffering from disabilities to lead more gratifying and productive lives. Norman McMillan, best known for his underwater photography and acrylic marine mammal sculptures, is founder and chairman of the "Free in the Sea Project. " The organizations' mission is to liberate disabled individuals from the confines of their disabilities to become more independent, and lead more fulfilling and productive lives.

McMillan established the Fort Lauderdale-based, non-profit organization in 2003. The Project utilizes the sea to train and inspire people with disabilities, including wounded veterans and those experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and well as their families.

"The Free in the Sea project is a multi-dimensional program encompassing all aspects of aquatic liberation for people with disabilities and those who care about them, " McMillan said. "We employ a full spectrum of programs for their enjoyment, rehabilitation and education."

These programs include underwater exploration and dive training, swimming with wild Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, fishing, water-skiing and kayaking. These activities are conducted off the coast of Bimini in the Bahamas

McMillan's interest in helping those with disabilities goes back to his days in Canada when two friends, who were wheelchair bound from motorcycle accidents and he worked with a disabled paraplegic who had trouble getting to the second floor of his office. He came to realize the difficulties and limitations they faced. Years later, working with underwater propulsion vehicles photographing dolphin in the Bahamas for his sculptures, McMillan had the inspiration that he could use these vehicles to help disabled individuals and terminally ill kids expand their experiences and realize their dreams.

"We were always on propulsion vehicles with cameras mounted to film and photograph dolphins without upsetting their environment," noted McMillan. "Watching the dolphin, I started thinking of my friends and others suffering from disabilities and how they could use these propulsion vehicles to swim with the dolphin."

McMillan's most challenging project to date is to help Trey Kaufman, a Delray Beach resident, realize his dream of swimming with dolphin. Kaufman is a paralyzed veteran suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. He is a quadriplegic, completely paralyzed from the neck down, having movement only in his head and neck. McMillan is working to build a special propulsion vehicle he can drive while sitting in his wheelchair controlling the craft with a joy stick he maneuvers with his chin.

The plan is for Kaufman and his boat to be taken out to sea by the Free in the Sea Float, a barge with space in the center for the boat which will be captained by a paraplegic. Once out in the open water, he will navigate the vessel while sitting in his wheelchair with his dive gear on looking for dolphin, with an assist from divers on wave runners. Once the dolphin are spotted, Kaufman will stop the boat and lower himself into the water a few feet using a hydraulic system and experience the joy of swimming with the dolphin

"I'm excited about the whole scuba diving experience," said Kaufman. "I haven't even been in the water in a while and I'm ready to get back into it and the thought of being in the middle of a bunch of wild dolphins is really fascinating."

"Trey is a pilot project and it doesn't get much more ambitious than this, "stated McMillan. "We have it down working with paraplegics and amputees, but this is our first time working with a quadriplegic."

McMillan is getting some help on the Kaufman project from Chuck Fitzgerald, owner of Sailorman, the world's largest and most unique marine store, and boat architect Paul Berry, but he is still seeking assistance with engineering and funding.

"We expect to have Trey in the water by October, but we could still use some help from an engineer and with funding for the project,' said McMillian. "Up to know I have been supporting the Free in the Sea Project."

McMillian envisions more ambitious projects for the Free in the Sea Project in the future. He is working with engineers and architects on a Dream Chamber Submarine, which is wheel chair assessable and has room for two- or four disabled individuals; and Free in the Sea Explorer, envisioned to be a 125 foot , universally accessible vessel designed and built to advance the Free in the Sea Mission. The boat will transport the Dream Chamber Submarine and have special interactive exhibits designed in cooperation with Miami's Museum of Science and Art

The largest project on the planning boards is a Free in the Sea Aquatic Center. The conception for the center is for a 400 foot barge with a futuristic design to be permanently docked near Bayside in Miami. The center will have an Olympic-size swimming pool, a hydro therapy center, medical clinic and art gallery.

For more information about Norman McMillan and The Free in the Sea Project go to www.normanmcmillan.com