Accessible Gardening Resources

While in Michigan earlier this month, I stopped by an Ann Arbor park to see what was growing in their accessible community garden. Not too much except spinach in a few boxes, which made me wonder why this amazing space wasn't showing more visitation and use. I found raised beds a various heights, for use while standing, sitting in a wheelchair, or sitting on bench walls surrounding a raised bed. Short trellises nearby showed me that vine plants like peas and morning glories could be kept within relatively easy reach.

Gardening is one of my favorite outdoor activities. I love growing flowers, herbs and vegetables. Since I live in the woods, I cultivate flowers and kitchen herbs in containers on the deck where the sun shines for half the day. For full sun growing I help a friend in her garden and reap the abundance of fresh air and vegetables throughout the season. The benefits of gardening include mild to rigorous exercise and social time with others. A hands-on connection to the earth, living food, and nature are also a deep part of the experience for me. I also enjoy a sense of connection to my ancestors, who grew much of their own food.

Seniors and those who have disabilities need not be excluded from this spring time reconnection to the earth. Raised beds and adaptive tools are two popular solutions that help facilitate easier access to the soil. Gardening buddies can do the heavier lifting. With a quick search on line to see what is specifically available, I found Accessible Gardens, a Rhode Island based company founded by Ray LaRoque, a wheelchair user who has "raised gardening to a new level" with portable raised garden structures much like what I found in Ann Arbor.

Other resources available to the budding gardener include basic articles such as those offered by the University of Minnesota's Extension Services, a spinal cord injury support site called Apparelyzed, and garden supply companies such as Natural Yards. There are a few good books on the subject as well - just Google "accessible gardening" on Amazon to find out more.

If gardening appeals to you, now is the time to explore your options!

Freedom and Speed

The following is a Guest Post from Alejandra Taco. She is a Nutrition Coach and Founder of Holistic Health Empowerment (www.holistichealthempowerment.com) who has, in the last few years, discovered the fun and health benefits of adaptive recreation through Piers Point Sailing, participating in the Boston Marathon, and DCR's Universal Access Program. Thanks Alejandra, for sharing your words and experience!

Sports to me were for the able bodied. Growing up with cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair meant that sports were not for me. I would tell myself that if I could walk I would have a more active life. That all changed when I got invited to go sailing for the first time.

On my 24th birthday I had the opportunity to sail with Maureen McKinnon-Tucker, a gold medalist in sailing at the 2008 Paralympics in China. It was my first taste of adaptive sports and meeting Maureen opened my world to endless possibilities. The moment we left our chairs behind and got on the boat my perspective of what was possible for me changed. A sense of freedom took over as I experienced the thrill of speed which I love! Watching Maureen sail and be in control of the boat showed me that sports could be part of my life as well. This inspired me to find out what other adaptive sports were out there for me to try.

Growing up in Boston and going to see the marathon each year always stirred something inside me, making me want to be part of it someday. That dream became a reality in 2010! With the support of my family and the guidance of three wheelchair racers I embarked on one of my biggest challenges. With very little training and not much time on my side everyone thought I was a bit crazy but supported me anyway. On May 19, 2010, I raced 11 miles of the Boston marathon. It was an experience that I will never forget showing me what I was capable of.

My adventures didn’t stop there, when I found out about DCR’s Universal Access Program and their adaptive skating program in Revere. I decided to give it a try and see what it was all about. Marcy and Heidi welcomed me with open arms, and the next thing I knew I was on a sled with short hockey sticks skating! It took three sessions for me to get the hang of it and I felt free once again, to go as fast as my arms could take me! What I love about the program is the way it connects me with others just like me - people who are looking to feel normal for a day and enjoy themselves. The activities include everyone no matter what your disability is. I wanted to do more so I decided to become a mentor for the program so I could share my experience with others and tell them that sports are for everyone.

As a nutrition and health coach, I help people improve their eating habits and teach the importance of physical activities. Not only do they help us be healthy but they empower us to believe in ourselves and know that we are capable of accomplishing far more things than what society expects from us. Once I leave my wheelchair and transfer to a boat, a racer, a sled skate, or a sit-ski I leave the cerebral palsy behind and feel like any other athlete.

My next stop was skiing and once again I fell I love with it! Brenda from Outdoor Access greeted me with a funny hat and a big smile. She helped me into a sit-ski and taught me all I need to know about skiing that day. With the help of great volunteers I took to the snow at the Weston Ski track. I’ve been skiing two years now and it’s the best part of my winters. Another great thing about these programs is that you don’t need to have any prior experience or skills, all you need is to show up, and they will take care of you by adapting to your needs. The important thing is to have fun, and if you fall try, try again.

In Universal Access programs I skate, ski, hike, sail and much more. In the end I didn’t need to walk to enjoy sports and the thrill of speed. All I needed was to meet the right group friends and mentors and the right toys!

Abilities Expo In New York May 4-6

The Abilities Expo is a national trade show event that showcases assistive technology in major cities and is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities. For the past 30 years, Abilities Expo has opened new doors for people of all ages with all kinds of disabilities, their families, health car providers and service professionals. The event offers the latest products and services relating to home, auto, travel, health, fashion, sports, recreation and more. The 3 day trade show is held in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York each year.

These FREE events feature workshops, demonstrations, assistive technology and retail pavilions. In recent years the Abilities Expo has expanded its offerings to include career fairs, artists markets, performances, animal demonstrations and people with disabilities as ambassadors to link local folks to the regional event. If you haven't been to one in awhile, you might be surprised. It looks like a fantastic opportunity. I've been to locally organized assistive technology expos and they are wonderful community events where new connections thrive. Such an event on a regional scale could have a whole lot more to offer. One benefit is that there are great discounts for attendees on products.

This year's Abilities Expo in New York is coming up May 4-6 at the New York Metro in Edison, NJ. Some of the highlights for this particular show include wheelchair dance performance and workshops, quad rugby demonstrations, assistive dog demonstrations, and the Horse Boy method of working with kids with autism.

I got intrigued by this last entry, never having heard of the Horse Boy. Turns out The Horse Boy is both a book and a movie chronicling one family's journey with a son with autism and how working with horses improved his ability to communicate. From their backyard to Mongolia and back, they pioneered a new dimension to therapeutic riding now known as the Horse Boy Method, which helps those with neuro-psychiatric disorders improve their lives. Demonstrations will be offered by Allie's Kids, a horse riding stable in New Jersey that specializes in working with kids with disabilities and their siblings.

Adaptive recreation and sports organizations presenting in New York this year include Freedom Concepts (adaptive bikes), KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now), SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality), Action TrackChair (all terrain wheelchair), and Journey Forward (SCI exercise program). There are many more - check it out!

Walking on the Wild Side at Rachel Carson NWR

Just returned from a few days in Maine where I checked out the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells and discovered a beautiful accessible nature trail. If you are looking for a dose of nature by the sea, this is a great place to view birds and wildlife. My partner Meb and I enjoyed the trail on a very windy day, so our sightings were limited to a few pairs of Canada geese, windblown crows, and a newly arrived phoebe with a huge bee in its beak. Having explored the Landholm Farm property adjacent to this one on other excursions, we can vouch for otters in the river and marsh hawks over the wetland. One of these days we'll have to go back for the rich experience of May, when bird migration is in full swing.

The trailhead with a modest visitor center is located on Old Port Road, just off of Route 1, where a sign indicates the refuge nearby. Its a shaded trail in and along a forest edge made of packed stone dust with side boards. The mile long trail travels the edge of the salt marsh in a big loop, with stunning views of the surrounding wetland and a river heading to the sea, which is visible at a distance. Eleven stations along the self-guided path offer numbered stops, most of which are viewing platforms with spectacular views of the meandering marshland and river. If you bring the trail brochure from the box at the parking lot, you can read about natural highlights at each stop.

The trail is in great shape, but be aware that several of the platform edges have experienced slight erosion so if you are using a wheelchair, there is a minor threshold-like bump up onto the deck in some spots.  We met some locals who said the trail gets submerged quite a bit in winter and that the other three seasons see regular use by people with disabilities. Other trail users reported seeing an exceptionally large otter.

If I lived nearby I'd be visiting there a lot.The place is a real tribute to Rachel Carson, whose writing made the complexities of ocean science understandable to the general public in the 1950s. Her controversial book Silent Spring, in which she exposed the threats of pesticide use to the natural world and humankind, launched a new era in conservation 50 years ago. Her courageous educational efforts inspired a public outcry that lead to the banning of the pesticide DDT and saved many bird species from extinction. Something to appreciate when listening to the songs of robins in your neighborhood this spring - or taking a walk on an accessible trail!

Spring Into Cycling with Northeast Passage

Spring is springing so early this year! The weather is already great for cycling. I've seen people out on bikes everywhere I go and am looking forward to getting out on my bike this weekend.

If you are looking for adaptive cycling opportunities in New England, Northeast Passage is one of the best organizations around for cycling expertise and experiences. They offer a great selection of quality handcycles and recumbent bikes, including tandems and bikes for kids. Most, if not all, of their staff are certified therapeutic recreation specialists. Over the years I have always been impressed by their ingenuity and ability to support people with physical disabilities in competitive sports and amazing adventures, including summit hiking in the White Mountains.


Northeast Passage offers cycling clinics and rides throughout spring, summer and fall. Coming right up Saturday, March 24, is an Introductory Cycling Clinic in Durham, NH - a perfect chance to jump start into spring and try out a variety of bikes to see what works best for you. They'll have Top End and Quickie handcycles; Greenspeed, Hase and Trailmate foot-powered bicycles; tandems; and the new Lasher ATH handcycle designed for off road riding. This is a rain or shine event - indoors or out depending on the weather. The $20 fee is well worth it for the expertise and variety of quality bikes involved. Families and friends are welcome!

There are a couple other chances to ride with Northeast Passage coming up this spring. They will do another introductory cycling clinic in Cheshire, CT, on May 12 in conjunction with the Gaylord Sports Association.  

Northeast Passage will also host a clinic on Cape Cod with Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and CapeAble Adventures in Sandwich on May 19, followed by a ride on the Shining Sea Bike Path on May 20.

To find out more and sign up, contact Northeast Passage at 603-862-0700 or northeast.passage@unh.edu

Thanks to Dave Lee and Keely Ames for photos!

Adaptive Swim Lessons - Get Ready for Summer!

 "I am amazed with how comfortable my child has become in the water!! When we first introduced him to the water he had only fear and tears - now he looks forward to swimming!"

So says the parent of a current student of Courtney Buckley, a resident of Natick, Mass., who specializes in providing private swim lessons for people with disabilities in the Boston metrowest area. She has been offering swim lessons since 2006 and works with clients at the local pool or pond of their choice. Courtney uses adaptive teaching methods to accommodate individual needs at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Courtney has also served as program staff for several years with Stavros Outdoor Access, working one-to-one with hikers and skiers. I've noticed her consistently friendly presence makes everyone feel comfortable. Her swimming lessons are such a unique and wonderful resource I am passing this info on so more people might benefit!

"Most commonly I have used backyard pools, YMCA's, local hotel pools, state parks and town ponds", says Courtney. "I have experience with both adults and children - with anything from physical disability, TBI, developmental delay, autism, and plenty of high functioning individuals with a fear of water. I like to be in contact with my participants beforehand so I can bring materials that may help them swim. I love to have families and friends participate so that I can teach them the skills to practice, and my presence won't be necessary each time they are in the water. I do charge a small fee, mostly for transportation and material costs. If someone is looking for continuing lessons I can provide those too!"


"I like that Courtney never pushed me to do things I was uncomfortable with. She figured out a way to get me to swim independently and safely, and put up with my picky-ness", says Kara, another former client.

"All I wanted was for my kids to be safe at our lake home, now I am confident in their abilities in the water and I feel that they have the safety skills to join in water activities and parties with their friends as well!" reports the parent of twins, also former clients.

Courtney has taught 25 or so individuals with disabilities how to swim. If you live in the Boston or the surrounding area and want to learn or boost your swim skills, contact Courtney at

court.j.buckley@gmail.com

Go Get the Sweet Stuff!

DCR Maple Sugaring Programs


Tap into Nature during the Maple Sugar Days at Massachusetts State Parks!

This March, join the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and learn how maple syrup is made. Visitors will learn how the sap is collected from maple trees and boiled down to produce pure maple syrup! See below for a complete listing of programs. For all maple sugaring programs please wear sturdy footwear and warm clothing. Some fees apply as noted.

Regarding accessibility, Breakheart Reservation and Blue Hills Reservation/Brookwood Farm are   accessible sites for wheelchair users, including the visitor centers. At Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, the visitor center is wheelchair accessible and the sugar house (very short distance) varies depending on snow cover. The Botume House at Middlesex Fells is not wheelchair accessible, nor is the Krug Sugarbush. Definitely call in advance to ask about accessibility and mud conditions!!!!


Saturday, March 3rd, noon

Middlesex Fells Reservation, 4 Woodland Road, Stoneham

The Tapping of the Trees!

Come to the Fells ‘sugar bush’ to tap maple trees for the upcoming Maple Sugaring’ event at Breakheart Reservation. Meet at the Botume House Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located at 4 Woodland Road on Spot Pond. This program is free. For more information please call (781) 233-0834.

March 3 and 4th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park, 287 Oak Street, Uxbridge

Maple Sugarmakers Open House!

Join the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association and learn about the maple sugaring process. Please visit www.blackstonevalleysugaring.org for more information or call 508 278-6486.

Saturday, March 17th, 9:00 a.m.-noon

Breakheart Reservation, 177 Forest Street, Saugus

Pancake Breakfast!

Join the Friends of Breakheart Reservation at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center at Breakheart Reservation for their annual Pancake Breakfast. Visitors can eat delicious pancakes and watch DCR staff working in the Sugar Shack to see how syrup is made. There is a $5 admission fee. For more information please call (781) 233-0834.

Sunday, March 18th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00p.m.

Breakheart Reservation, 177 Forest Street, Saugus

Maple Sugaring!

Learn about the history of maple sugaring, participate in a tree identification activity, tap a maple, watch the evaporator at work in the Sugar Shack, and best of all taste the results! A $4 admission will support the program, used directly for the equipment you will see in action. For more information please call (781) 233-0834.

Saturday, March 10 & Sunday, March 11, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Brookwood Farm in the DCR Blue Hills Reservation in Milton

Maple Sugar Days!

It’s sugaring time in the Blue Hills! Join us as we make maple syrup in the traditional way at beautiful Brookwood Farm in Milton. Put on your boots and flannel shirt and join in the outdoor fun! Learn how to identify a sugar maple and see the sap drip into buckets from the trees. Travel along the trail of time and meet costumed characters demonstrating the changes in maple sugaring methods from Native Americans to Yankee farmers to modern day technology. Smell the wood smoke as you watch clouds of steam rise from the bubbling sap. Savor the taste of real maple syrup. Enjoy a free shuttle ride on the Maple Express Trolley. Activities are appropriate for all ages. Program admission is $6.00. Children under 2 are free. Maple Sugar Days is a joint program of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Massachusetts Audubon’s Trailside Museum. The program admission fee is charged to benefit the Trailside Museum. This program is wheelchair accessible. For details or more information call (617) 698-1802 or (617)333-0690

Weekdays during March

Krug Sugarbush, Chesterfield

Maple Sugar Tours!

Join the Park Staff at the Krug Sugarbush weekdays during the month of March to see how maple syrup is produced. Visitors will learn first-hand how the sap is collected from maple trees and boiled down to produce pure maple syrup. Operation is based on weather, so please call one day prior to your visit. Advanced group reservations are welcome. For more information please call (413) 268-7098. (D.A.R. State Forest)

All events, programs and activities are subject to change. Please take a moment to call ahead to confirm and check on accessibility.

Young Nordic Skiers with Autism Have Fun in Weston

Despite our snowless winter, we've seen some wonderful progress at our winter program on the Weston Ski Track. Its the only place in Massachusetts that makes snow for cross country skiing. This year we've enjoyed watching several participants with Autism Spectrum disorders build confidence and skills while having fun coming each week.

Some parents are able to take a little respite time while their children are with recreation staff on the snowfield by finding a spot nearby and being available by cell phone. Other parents ski with their children, or push them on a kicksled, or vice versa. Kicksleds are useful as an alternate way to be on the snow to get used to a new place and can serve as a break from learning to stand ski. Offering ski poles gives the seated person an opportunity to physically engage and gets them used to the arm exercise.

Brenda Davies, who leads the Universal Access Program on Sundays, says "It's great to get families out together on the kick-sleds and skiing alongside!" It provides the chance for family members to have fun and learn together in the context of a program experience with the built-in opportunity to meet and make friends with similar families. Some kids have found a new friend this winter on the ski track!

The young woman pictured here gets assistance while setting up to ski with a ski walker - an interesting balance tool that can serve as a transitional element for new skiers. Adding a gait belt around her waist can make it easier for helpers to assist with balance and help her test skiing without the walker. She is now able to fit her boots into the skis independently.

Many of the steps of skiing take time to learn, such as clicking your boot into the binding using a ski pole, learning to balance on skis while moving slowly without poles, learning to use poles and increase speed, turn, and fall. Each aspect can be broken into short steps and built upon, offering opportunities for improvement on a week-to-week basis.

Only one program left coming up this Sunday March 4!!! Call Brenda at 413-259-0009 to sign up! The program will run from 12-4pm. Might be a nice chance to check it out for next year and embrace some fun on the snow before this "winter" is over! The adaptive ski program also offers seated cross country skis and snowshoes.

Winter Fun Indoors and Out!

Program Increases Access at State Rinks from Chris Lovett on Vimeo.

We are still snowless in most of Massachusetts, but our skating programs at indoor rinks are still going strong! This week 65 people joined us in Brockton and 50 joined us on the ice in Revere. The Neighborhood Network News (Channel 9 Boston) showed up to do a film feature of our program! The reporter and cameraman stay on the ice for well over an hour and got some great footage of the heartwarming happenings that occur during a typical adative skating program. Check out both the NNN feature above and the youtube version below set to music!



Join the fun! Here's a list of the rest of our skating programs for this season!

Holyoke: Sundays February 26, March 18 and April 1:  12-2pm

Worcester: Thursdays March 1 and 29 from 2-4pm

Revere: Tuesdays March 20 and April 10 from 11:30am  - 1:30pm

Call Heidi Marie-Peterson at 413-577-3840 to register for the above programs.

Brockton: Sunday, February 26 from 1:30-3:320pm during public skating.

North Boston: Tuesday, February 28 from 1:30-3:30 during public skating.

Call All Out Adventures at 413-527-8980 to register for these last 2 programs!

You can still play outdoors on the snow at the Weston Ski Track outside Boston where snow is made overnight (thank goodness the temperature is dipping below freezing!). We have three more programs coming up:

Monday, February 20
Sunday, February 26
Sunday, March 4

Each Weston program runs 12 noon to 4pm. Call Stavros Outdoor Access to find out more and pre-register at 413-259-0009.

Adaptive Skaters - More Images and Techniques

In honor of faraway adaptive skating friends Oatie and Mel, and those in Massachusetts who are coming out to our adaptive skating programs, here are a few more photos from recent programs celebrating a variety of skaters enjoying the ice! There seems to be no end to the possibilities for creative support techniques!

Power chair users can spin, slide, do donuts, and even simulate bilateral skating if they can lean side to side while in motion.

Members of a high school hockey team assist sled skaters in playing hockey.


Stroller bar handles allow for assistance as needed and can be removed easily for those who can propel themselves independently.

Skilled ice skaters can push a sled or skate alongside for company, or even get in a sled themselves to model techniques. Skating backwards in front of a sled skater can offer face to face instructions and help focus those with attention challenges.

For some who are learning to skate on conventional ice skates, pushing someone else in a sled allows for mutual support!

We've seen strong sled skaters pushing other sled skaters in a train.

I have done my fair share of both conventional and sled skating and even received a ride on a sled as shown here. Some new variation is revealed in almost every program.

A young man in a wheeled stander gets to test out his skating legs.

It is always nice to have families enjoy the ice together! We also see groups from day care facilities, group homes and even rehab hospitals at our programs.

A variety of medical equipment can acquire a sense of fun appeal out on the ice. Last week I observed a young man in a wheelchair, with skates on his feet, alternate between playing hockey from his wheelchair and trying out skating using a walker, with the assistance of a few skaters.

Kids fit fine in adult sized sleds - just make sure to fasten the seat belt! A sliding foot tray is moved to the position closest to the seat so this young boy has a place to rest his feet. A piece of foam could also be strapped or taped to the frame for leg positioning support and also serve as insulation from the cold of the ice below.

A chest strap can help keep a child, or anyone who might need additional torso support, in an upright position.

Blankets can be wrapped around the legs of sled skaters and cover people in wheelchairs to help keep them warmer.