Last post Sun, Sep 14 2008 4:34 AM by Christopher Hill. 13 replies.
I have FSHMD. I use a powerchair most of the time but can walk with two canes. I cannot walk on uneven surfaces well, one leg is very weak and will just buckle under me so walking on sand or walking in the water is impossible. If I fall, I cannot get up easily and am dead weight if someone wants to try to lift me. All that being said, I want to go to the beach with my grandkids. Any one have any ideas to get me from the car to the beach? I'm sure my Jazzy powerchair would get stuck in the sand! Any ideas? Thanks!
Many beach towns now provide beach wheelchairs through the local parks and recreation department. Some are better than others of course (both the rental options AND the chairs). Some places charge a small fee, others offer it for free, and then I've run into a few that loaned chairs that were just SO heavy and in terrible shape that they weren't much help. Also, depending on where you're going-there might be an accessible beach. We have a few here in Miami but they vary in how accessible they truly are and none are truly accessible for wheelchairs (in my opinion)...we do have one in a state park here that the sand is packed SO hard leading up to the bay that I believe a power chair could make it to the water's edge. Since it's the bay though it's not all that deep (maybe 2-3 feet) and there aren't really waves. It's still nice.Let us know what you figure out and have a great trip!
Check out Daytona...you drive your car on the beach there...My town, Cocoa Beach is only marginally wheelchair friendly
Joe
Not sure what state your in but in Ca (San Diego) The have powerchairs you can use for free and they are pretty cool!
Your right your chair would sink! Fl Daytona you could roll on the beach and even drvie on to it with a car or van.
Just do a google search on city funded beach chair programs.
There is a guy in San Digeo that makes power beach chairs you might email...Hal @Hot Shot products. See if he has sold any to the city your looking to go to.
http://www.accessandiego.com/headline.asp?event=1114&idno=5
http://www.hotshotproducts.org/
http://www.disableddealer.com/item_view.asp?itemid=102104
Good Luck!
Thanks to all of you for responding. I recently moved to Texas so imagine we will be going to either Galveston or Corpus Christi (Padre Island). I guess I should try to call someone there. I looked on some of the websites (guess I sure have been out of touch with being a beachcomber living in WA state). I had no idea things like these beach chairs existed! They sure are expensive to buy, but maybe I can find somewhere here to rent one. That would be so awesome to get onto a beach with the grandkids!
I want to start a "Wish" program...your wish is my command!!!
http://www.galveston.com/beachwheelchair/
Accessible Honolulu Beaches(808) 692-5750www.co.honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/beachBeach Wheelchairs in Californiawww.coastal.ca.gov/access/beach-wheelchairs.htmlDay on the Beach(831) 459-7210www.dayonthebeach.orgwww.EmergingHorizons.comHilton Head Beach Access Informationwww.hhisleinfo.com/beaches.htmOxnard CVB (Rehab Point)(800) 269-6273www.oxnardtourism.comSan Diego Beach Cruzr Wheelchairs(619) 525-8247 (reservations)(619) 221-8852 (Mission Beach - only available when staffed)South Padre Island(800) 767-2373www.sopadre.comBeach ChairsDeming Designs (De Bug Beach Wheelchair Locations)(850) 478-5765www.beachwheelchair.com/locations.htmHotshot Products(310) 533-5911www.hotshotproducts.orgJ-Mac Industries Inc.(386) 437-6539 www.jmacindustries.comJason Marine Enterprises, Inc.(954) 346-5240www.jmeseeker.comNatural Access (Landeez)(800) 411-7789www.landeez.comTiralo(877)-244-2810http://tiralo-usa.com
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To Gaga: You have no idea how great a beach chair can be, and yes, they are quite expensive. You might, however, want to petition your city council, Parks Deparment, Recreation Department or appropriate community agency regarding the purchase of one or two chairs, citing the other cities mentioned in the thread who have done so (I bet the manufactureres might know of more), There is also the local Tourist Board, in a town like your new hometown where tourism is a major industry.
Also, your local advocacy group, like the Center for Indepenent Living, might be willing to advocate at a community level. Good luck!
Hi Farley,
I did a quick search and found this hotel:
It's a Holiday Inn in Portland, Maine.
http://www.innbythebay.com/accommodations.shtml
Looks like they have beautiful views and are accessible....might want to give them a call! There were other results that popped up too...I used google. Let us know how your trip goes-sounds like a blast!
Hi Kara
Holiday Inn Downtown Portland has a view of Portland Harbor, no beach or anything and there is no accessible beach areas in the city
I will look in wells, York etc and get back
There is a new 4 star hotel in Old Orchard Beach that fits the bill, Grand Victorian Old Orchard Beach Maine
Google has a bunch of accessible hotels, if anyone is interested in a particular one I can give you personal details as to beach location etc
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS267US267&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=handicapped+accessible+hotels+old+orchard+maine&spell=1
Have you looked into the X5 Frontier? With the X5, any beach is accessible.
It's an indoor/outdoor midwheel drive chair with aggressive tires.
The beach chair looks great! But if you didn't mind making a spectacle of yourself maybe you could get the grandkids to pull you in a wagon. I used to put my two boys in one when we went to festivals and an older gentleman nodded his head approvingly and said, "Now that's a mode, Ma'am" Maybe I can talk my grown sons into taking me out in one now....lol!
I found a couple cool ones when I researched for a blog last month (inspired by our trip to the beach). Check it out here.
I've tried something like the wagon idea with an inflatable raft and my brother (strong) pulling. It's an option if you're fairly small.
Well good luck with your beach trip. I have only holiday in UK and Europe. In Spain most beaches had a kinda tweed/cain trail path going through the back part of the beach. You would be able to get on the beach that way but not very near the sea. Not sure if u would still sink or not either. My grandad has ventured on the beach and got stuck many a time. The nearer you get to the sea the firmer the sand and the easier it is but you gotta get there first.
I would have a good chat with the hunky lifeguards and see what they suggest hehe.
