Time to Plan a Trip to the Beach!

Summer is fast approaching and as warmer weather gets more consistent, most of us start thinking about a trip to the beach. Sunshine, cooling breezes and being by the water brings a welcome relief from our usual routine.

For people who use wheelchairs as well as others with limited mobility, the beach can be a barrier to the water, but not so for those who pick a beach with a good boardwalk or better yet, beach wheelchairs. Boardwalks in good condition and cleared of sand provide great specific access points to a beach experience and may or may not have places to sit. Beach wheelchairs offer the possibility of traveling on the sand to the water's edge with more general access to wherever you want to go, within pushing range. Those who need a comfortable place to sit and rest in order to enjoy a beach experience with the family will appreciate the roomy comfort and cushions.

Early Birders Catch the Oriole!

I stole out early one morning this week before heading to the office to go birding with Joe Superchi on one of his monthly accessible birding trips in Athol. The day was cold but sunny, after quite the cold snap. Though it seemed like the birds were waking slowly at 8am, by the end of the 2 hour excursion at the water treatment plant, the 10 of us who came together had a good fill of avian action along a wetland.

Joe's trips are a local community affair. The Athol Bird and Nature Club sponsors the accessible birding ventures and there are usually a few members in attendance, including Joe's high school science teacher, Bob Coyle. Joe's sister came, and his brother who is visiting from Washington. I was pleased to see some newcomers who had read about the excursion in the paper. Lori uses canes and has difficulty walking any distance. As a new birder this was a perfect opportunity for her to meet some new people and find out about accessible places to bird. She and her husband Dave followed us in their vehicle along a quarter mile paved roadway through the wetland and birded some from their car and also parked and got out to bird on foot with us.

All Terrain Innovations for Crutch and Wheelchair Users

Two exciting and relatively new products have come to my attention recently, designed by two separate people with similar last names.

Sidestix are the first sports crutch designed for people who want to explore all types of terrain, from sandy beaches and rugged trails to rocky summits and snowy slopes.

The FreeWheel is an add-on front wheel that lengthens the wheel-base of an ordinary wheelchair and provides enhanced travel on all terrain.

Both of these products are designed by people with disabilities who could wait no longer to get out there. That is one of the things I love about the world of adaptive recreation equipment - so often products are user-designed to improve quality of life.

Sarah Doherty, a Massachusetts native now living in Canada, lost a leg at age 13 when struck by a drunk driver while on her bicycle. Already an athlete and outdoors person, Sarah wasn't willing to let go of her adventurous pursuits. She became a more avid hiker as well as an occupational therapist, and feels it is her calling to create better crutches to improve people's lives. Sidestix have been under development since 2004 and were launched this year as a product for sale, after extensive testing by Sarah herself in places like Mt. McKinley and Mt. Kilamanjaro.

Sidestix feature interchangable tips for different types of terrain and shock absorption to protect joints. The tip also pivots like an ankle, swiveling to maintain contact with the ground while the crutch user swings their weight. Already proven on various extreme trails, it looks like it has great potential for sports too. The first SideStix produced are selling for $900 - that may be the

first hurdle for crutch users to overcome in reaching for new horizons - but the investment is no doubt well worth it.

The FreeWheel Wheelchair Attachment is one we'll be testing soon in DCR's Universal Access Program. Designed by Pat Dougherty of Garden City, Idaho, it greatly enhances the range of a typical wheelchair to include trails, grass, curbs, rough road and more. Pat is quadriplegic and confesses he created these so he could chase his kids around the backyard! We are excited to be able to hike with people using their own chairs, instead of our outdated Terra Trek wheelchairs, especially in moderate terrain where the Terra Treks aren't fully needed.

I spoke with Pat on the phone recently and found out that the FreeWheel also makes it much easier for those pushing their friends and family in wheelchairs, as well as for independent users. Pat says he has tons of letters" from happy customers who are thrilled to get into previously off-limits places and feel its the best thing they've spent money on in years. People are getting well beyond their backyards with the FreeWheel! At $499 plus $50 shipping, it certainly beats the price of an all terrain wheelchair!

Photos courtesy of SideStix and FreeWheel.

First Hike of the Season at Mt. Tom in Holyoke

DCR's Universal Access Program started the 2010 hiking season at Mt. Tom State Reservation in Holyoke today. Brenda Davies of Stavros Outdoor Access (wearing white shirt) led the hike around the quarter mile accessible loop trail alongside Lake Bray.

A small group of local people with disabilities gathered for a discussion of beavers prior to the hike. Gini Traub, a DCR park interpreter, passed around a beaver puppet to assist with introductions, then several objects were shared educationally in preparation for seeing more evidence of beaver activity on the trail.

On a beautiful May day, the group moved at a gentle pace, enjoying various elements of nature, including bird songs, turtles and frogs, and new green growth in the forest as well as each other's company. The bugs were merciful, the air was sweet, and the temperature was ideal - a perfect start to spring!

Mt. Tom State Reservation is a noteworthy park for enjoying an accessible outing in the Pioneer Valley. There is a building at Lake Bray (off Route 5) with accessible parking, bathrooms and both indoor and outdoor picnic spots. From there, an access route brings you to a small fishing platform with a bench at the water's edge. The scenery is tranquil and quite nice for photography. The quarter mile accessible trail starts from the parking lot nearby and travels along the water to another fishing platform before circling back through the forest.

Upcoming hiking programs will take place at Wendell State Forest (CCC celebration), Lake Park in Worcester (letterboxing), and Halibut Point in Rockport (seaside stroll). Each hike usually has a theme and associated fun activities. For a full schedule call DCR's Universal Access Program at 413-545-5758 or Stavros Outdoor Access at 413-259-0009.

Adaptive Recreation Fair on Cape Cod

Today while driving I passed a young man on a bridge overlooking a river. His wheelchair was empty next to him alongside the rural lane and he was standing, leaning over the railing, fishing. That was quite an image on a summery hot spring day for me to contemplate as I continued on my way.

His wheelchair was a straightforward institutional style. He had probably wheeled to this spot from a small town center a quarter mile away. He looked to be enjoying his solitude in a beautiful spot, yet I wondered about his possible isolation. Does he know about the growing availablility of recreational options for people with disabilities? Would he be able to take advantage of adaptive recreation programs nearby? Would he want to? I know from my work that there are still many people who are "stuck at home" - limited by real barriers such as lack of transportation and low income, and even perceptions about what is within personal reach. I hadn't wanted to disrupt him, but I also regret not stopping for a quick chat to see what was biting - and what he knew about adaptive recreation opportunities.

Meanwhile, introductory adaptive recreation events are popping up all over this spring. Discovery Night is taking place Tuesday, May 4 in Wallingford, Connecticut - the subject of a previous posting here. DCR is hosting a Recreation Fair in Boston on Saturday, June 5 - see the sidebar for info. And coming up on Saturday, May 15th, is yet another adaptive sports fair on Cape Cod.

If you live on or near Cape Cod, here is a great opportunity to attend such an event, meet people involved in adaptive recreation, and check out equipment! From 11am - 2pm at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Cod and the Islands (RHCI) in Sandwich, join in on the fun! RHCI is located at 311 Service Road East. Sponsored by RHCI and CAPEable Adventures and other regional organizations, this free event will open doors to sailing, kayaking, cycling, golf and more!

Bike-on, Northeast Passage, Bourne Community Boating, Disabled Sports New England, and the Cape Cod Curling Club will join CAPEable Adventures in presenting a variety of demonstrations. Don't miss out! For further information, call 508-566-3298 or email cbautz@capeableadventures.org.

Photo courtesy of Craig Bautz.

Think Sailing!

This month, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick paid a visit to Community Boating, Inc. on the Esplanade in Boston. Plans are afoot for a new dock on the Charles River with funding support from the Commonwealth and private donors. Although arrangements are not final, the Governor's presence indicates a level of commitment that is promising, and it is possible that a new dock might even be in place next year.

In the meantime, adaptive sailing will continue as usual at Community Boating this summer. The program will get underway daily starting June 15 and run through August 30. If you live in the greater Boston area or are planning a visit, consider a sailing lesson or experience as a new adventure in the city! If you think sailing is a sport only for those who can afford it, think again! It only costs $1 to participate! If you are already an experienced sailor, you may be able to get out on the water sooner as Community Boating has already been taking advantage of our beautiful spring weather to get their boats out on the Charles. Several sailors with disabilities have obtained various sailing certifications through CBI's classes, and hundreds have enjoyed sailing on the Charles River in the past few years.

To sign up for sailing, contact Marcin Kunicki at CBI at 617-523-1038 or visit http://www.sailcbi.org/

Partially shown in the photo is a modified Mercury sailboat for one or two sailors, rigged for use by a person in one position on the boat, with hand controls and believe it or not, a steering wheel. The program also makes use of adapted Sonar sailboats which can seat about 8 people. Charlie Zechel, president of CBI, discusses adaptive sailing with the Governor while, Gigi Ranno, seated, looks on. Gigi, who works in DCR's Universal Access Program, was instrumental in helping Community Boating to develop the adaptive sailing program. The Governor met several people with disabilities who sail with Community Boating during his visit.

"The Esplanade and Community Boating - the oldest and biggest public sailing program in the nation - are two Massachusetts treasures," said Governor Patrick. "I am happy to pledge the state's support in this public-private effort to ensure that the pleasure of sailing on the Charles River remains available to all."

Adaptive Recreation in Connecticut - One Stop Shopping!

Connecticut residents take note!

The Gaylord Hospital Sports Association is offering a Discovery Night on Tuesday, May 4 from 6-7:30pm. Here's a great chance to learn about statewide adaptive sports and recreation opportunities -golf, tennis, quad rugby, kayaking, cycling, archery, skiing, soaring, and more! I am particularly intrigued by "soaring". What is that?

The Sports Association offers a variety of indoor and outdoor workshops and clinics for individual and team activities throughout the year. Most of their events are free and open to adults with physical disabilities. Discovery Night will feature all their programs and more adaptive sports and recreation opportunities from other providers around the state. Call 203-284-2772 to register for this event located in Wallingford. Say "hi!" to Todd Munn for me - he is the Sports Association Coordinator and will be happy to answer any questions and sign you up.

The Sports Association is on facebook too - log on at http://www.facebook.com/ and become a fan of "Sports Association, Gaylord Hospital".

Photo courtesy of Todd Munn.

More Ducks at Montezuma

If you are driving across New York state on the Thruway as I was this week, a nice diversion to break up the drive is the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge near Syracuse, which is bisected by I-90. In an easy hour or so, you can stop in at the accessible visitor center, take a road tour of the refuge with a few stops to view the expansive wetlands, and use the accessible viewing scope at May's Point before getting back on the road.

My timing couldn't have been more perfect in mid-April to hit a nice wave of ducks in migration. It was a glorious sunny afternoon. Tree swallows were cavorting on the wind around the visitor center and checking out the bird boxes. These and the osprey soaring over the center were the first sightings of these two species of the year for me. After a quick pitstop, I took the road tour and stopped at the first open wetland I came upon.

At first glance, there appeared to be zero waterfowl amidst the emerging grasses on a breezy day. With optics, a wide array ducks became apparent. For 20 minutes I oogled over blue-winged and green-winged teal, northern shovelers, northern pintails, and redhead ducks. The redheads were the bird of the day for me. They rarely if ever show up in New England. The males were glossy with water from dunking their heads underwater, so much so that they looked glazed in clear lacquer. Their gold eyes gleamed metallic against their coppery heads. It was a visual feast to take in a selection of ducks in great lighting.

By the end of my diversion, back on the highway, I had added wood ducks, lesser yellowlegs, Wilson's snipe, an American Kestrel, great egrets, ring-necked ducks, mute swans, a bald eagle nest and osprey on the nest to my lengthening bird list. Spring has sprung!

Redhead photo courtesy of photographer Tom Reichner and Ducks Unlimited.

Help Me Raise Money for Athletes With Disabilities!

Recently I was contacted by Plastics Makes It Possible to help raise money for the Athletes With Disabilities Network. This is an invitation to bloggers to support a great cause - the blogger who raises the most money will have $5000 donated in their name by Plastics Makes It Possible to the ADN.

The ADN is a successful Michigan-based network of recreation partners that offers team sports, extreme sports, and mentoring for youth, in addition to a wide variety of recreation activities. The ADN is seeking greater national awareness and has recently opened its eleven year old Hall of Fame to include people with disabilities from across the country.

If you make a donation from my blog by April 30th - there is a place in the sidebar - your support of a terrific adaptive sports and recreation program might also increase visibility for Everyone Outdoors.

Plastics Makes It Possible is an initiative of the American Chemistry Council, which strongly supports ADN's mission to promote better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with disabilities. Plastics are crucial to so many of our everyday medical and safety products and they also are vital components in the innovative sports and recreation equipment and prosthetic devices used by many people with disabilities.

Two-time Paralympian and Desert Storm veteran John Register is working with Plastics Makes It Possible to help ADN raise over $25,000. John is a track and field athlete who lost a leg due to the complications from an injury sustained while hurdling. After rehabilitation he qualified to swim in the the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, then won the silver medal in the long jump at the 2000 Games in Sydney. He continues to support athletes with disabilities through inspirational speaking, direct work with veterans, and managing the Paralympic Academy Youth Outreach Program. Thanks John!

And thanks for YOUR help in supporting athletes with disabilities!!! Please visit the sidebar and make a donation!

FestiFools Celebration in Ann Arbor

April Fools Day can extend well into the month in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the 4th annual FestiFools Parade took place on Sunday, April 11. This one hour parade on Main Street is rapidly becoming a community spring frolic, celebrating foolishness of all sorts with puppets of all sizes and interactive play between the parade and the audience. Advertised as "free and accessible to all", the event attracted not only my mother, brother and I, but thousands of people who crowded the downtown sidewalks for the spirit lifting experience.

Before the parade started, I noticed an empty wheelchair pushed by a woman who's older mother walked alongside to wherever they were going to station themselves. Otherwise I didn't see any other wheelchair users until later in the parade when a long line of kids who had built robot costumes out of cardboard boxes appeared. I think they had all participated in a costume making party at the library prior to the event. Mixed in was one child in a wheelchair, who thankfully made the event truly visibly inclusive.

With so much energy going into the immensely fun aspects of the event, I couldn't tell how much thought has gone into developing greater inclusion. The streets were so crowded that attendees with physical disabilities need to arrive early to get good curbside spots. Event organizers might consider designating some sections for specific use by people using wheelchairs to view if these don't already exist. I hope to see more wheelchair users and other people with disabilities in the parade in future years. As we left I noticed an ambulatory teen aged girl with developmental delay alongside her mother on the sidelines. People with disabilities were certainly present! I hope their attendance will grow as FestiFools does.