Celebrating the ADA in Kayaks!

It was almost 100 degrees today - just a shade cooler in Gardner, Massachusetts, than the "feels like" temperature of 108 degrees in Boston. At Dunn Park an annual celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) brought out over 100 people to enjoy the outdoors.

The ADA helps prevent discrimination against Americans with disabilities and was signed into law on July 26, 1990. As one woman said to me today, "the ADA is what I refer to if anyone questions me when I request tutors for my son in school."

Despite the heat advisory forecast today, the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council held the outdoor picnic with live music and DCR's Universal Access Program offered kayaking and hiking with All Out Adventures and Stavros Outdoor Access facilitating the activities.

Lots of people with a wide variety of disabilities kayaked for short half hour tours on Dunn Pond, many for the first time. A lively breeze kept paddlers relatively cool for a refreshing experience. Big thanks to All Out Adventures and DCR park staff for providing this opportunity.

Join All Out Adventures for more paddling this summer!! Here is a quick list of program opportunities in state parks. Call AOA at 413-527-8980 to sign up for one hour time slots and a relaxing paddling lesson. Celebrate the 21st anniversary of the ADA out on the water!!!!

Concord: Walden Pond State Reservation, Mondays: July 25, August 1, 8, and 15

Worcester: Quinsigamond State Park, Regatta Point: Thursdays: August 4, 11 and 18

Goshen (Berkshires): DAR State Forest: Wednesdays: July 27, August 3, 10 and 17

Westfield: (canoes): Tuesdays: August 2, 9 and 16

Family Camping Fun and Tips for Success

It’s that time of year again – camping season! This is a Guest Post from Peter Chase, co-parent of three kids, one of whom has a disability, all of whom love camping. Peter volunteered with our REC Connect Skating Program in Worcester this winter and now provides his personal story and expertise on family camping in New England. He also kindly offers himself as a resource to families interested in camping. Thanks Peter!

Peter and Everett enjoying the water together.

Our family loves to go camping from spring through Columbus Day. I am grateful that our parents took us camping when were kids – there’s nothing I looked forward to and enjoyed more.

Now that I have three children of my own, the tradition continues. My kids love it as much as I did. Some trips are just our immediate family, some are with extended family, where family members bond with each other while enjoying a refreshing dips in the pond, playing ball, or exchanging stories by the campfire. All without the distraction of electronics – imagine that!

Seven years ago, we welcomed our son Everett into the world. Everett has a form of Menkes disease, leaving him non-verbal and without the ability to walk or even sit up. Nevertheless, he is an engaged, fun loving kid who takes a back seat to nobody in his love of camping and the outdoors. He has always been his happiest when outside. His favorite activity is swimming. Anyone who is at the campground beach or pool quickly know that Everett is there by his loud hollers of joy when my wife Michele or I take him in the water!

Everett also now enjoys bike rides on his new Duet Bike thanks to the Make A Wish foundation that was kind enough to furnish us with this spring. He loves it.

He has an older sister Meredith 10, and a younger sister Heather, 5. They both eagerly count down the days to our next camping trip.

I would encourage and family that has a member with a disability to give camping a try if you haven’t already. It can be great fun for the whole family creating wonderful lifelong memories.We camp in a pop up camper, and we often have 2 adults and 5 kids when we take nieces and/or nephews. Most of the time, we have a large tarp set up if there’s any chance of rain. I like to go to the campground ahead of time- sometimes the night before, and return home the same night, so everything is ready when the family arrives.

If you have a family member with a disability, I strongly recommend doing some advance scouting before booking a trip. How level are the roads? If they’re not paved, are they firm enough for a wheelchair? How easy is it to get into the pool area, or down to the beach? State Park campgrounds typically have handicapped sites, near the bathrooms, but they may not be the site you’re looking for. Do your homework to ensure your camping trip is a successful one. Never book a trip based on a brochure or a website, you really need to see it in person.

Peter and Michele and their three very happy campers at
Harold Parker State Forest.

We camp at Harold Parker State Forest in Andover a couple of long weekends a year, and we like the deep forest setting and large sites. Everett’s two sisters love the playground, and the roads are fairly level for taking Everett on his bike rides. At Harold Parker, we like sites 74, which is an accessible, large and level, mostly free of roots site near the bathroom, and the field is right behind it. Site 66 is a management site which can’t be reserved, but it is next to the playground, and is a flat, large wooded site and a favorite of ours when we can get it.

If I think bugs are going to be bad, I set up a screen house. (camping in early and late in the season is great, because we don’t have to worry about bugs with Everett - he can’t protect himself from them.) We also have a hat with side flaps that we spray with repellent with DEET to keep them away from his face, and of course spray his clothes when they’re really out. This is all necessary only at dusk generally.

We also camp at NH, MA and VT state parks, and a couple of campgrounds in ME – Papoose Pond and Cathedral Pines. Our favorite campgrounds are Lorraine Campground in Harold Parker State Forest, Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown, NH, Mt. Ascutney State Park and Wilgus State Park in VT the fall.

Read more about these campground options and get Peter's contact info by clicking "Read More"!

Rustic Appalachian Mountain Club Facility Goes Green - and Accessible!



The modernized accessible bath house at Noble View.

I've been hearing about Noble View for years now. It is an 350+ acre outdoor center in the Berkshires that is surrounded by 117,000 more acres of forest, rivers, and rural solitude reminiscent of times gone by. Situated high on a hillside in Russell, MA with breathtaking views of the Pioneer Valley, Noble View is owned by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and managed by volunteers. I just found out that an 8 year accessibility project has recently been completed, making Noble View an exciting new option for outdoor enthusiasts with disabilities.

Two cottages and a bath house have been upgraded to make them ADA accessible and feature green technologies. A farmhouse and campsites are also available. Hiking, nature study, and winter activities are some of the activities enjoyed on 34 miles of trails. Keep in mind that staff are on site only for scheduled events - otherwise it is self service. It sounds like a great place to go if you are independent or with a group. I think you probably need your own recreational equipment.

Outdoor Explorations, a Medford-based accessible recreation organization, uses Noble View for their outdoor programs. "Noble View is one of the few places in Massachusetts that can fully accommodate our outdoor trips for significantly disabled children and adults, so when we use Noble View, accessible outdoor recreation and lodging is never a worry," said Merri Pearson, Executive Director of Outdoor Explorations, a nonprofit offering outdoor activities to people of all abilities. "We've greatly enjoyed our trips there and our participants love to go snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, and kayaking in the nearby areas. Plus Noble View's green features are perfect for helping to support our teaching of environmental stewardship principles."

For information about Noble View, including a trail map, suggested hikes and walks, and area attractions, visit www.nobleviewoutdoorcenter.org. For reservations, contact the registrar at 413-572-4501 or email forgary@comcast.net.

I have to make my way to Noble View!! If you get there before me, let me know how you like it!

65 Year Old Veteran Handcycling Across America!

Bob cycling through LA.

Bob Wieland of Arcadia, CA just left Los Angeles on July 3rd on an inspirational journey to Washington, DC. - by handcycle! (A Top End Excelertor XLT Pro for those who need to know!) He'll be traveling across country and back for a total of 7000 miles to raise awareness and donations for the Los Angeles Dream Center - an organization that rescues people in crisis, including those who are homeless and victims of human trafficking. Bob has been a long-time supporter of the LA Dream Center which serves 40,000 people per month with living, educational and rehabilitation support to help them achieve independence. Donations made to his ride effort will also support wounded war veterans.

What an amazing guy! Bob lost his legs while attempting to save another soldier during an ambush in the Vietnam War. He ended up in a body bag but luckily became conscious in time to attract attention. Sounds like he's been going strong ever since, with a powerful zest for life and helping others. "I lost my legs," says Bob, "but I didn't lose my heart!" He is an inspirational speaker and marathoner who raises money for charities. In 1986 he completed a 3000 mile journey across the United States on his arms. In 1996 he handcycled 6000 miles across country and back. This year, he's doing it again! Go Bob!!!!!

You can read more about Bob here and follow him and make a donation at http://www.dreamride3.com/. The closest he'll get to us here in New England is New York City, but no matter, we can cheer him on!

Side By Side with SideStix

This is the first Guest Post to Everyone Outdoors! Dwayne Boyd discovered SideStix All Terrain Sports Crutches through DCR's Universal Access Program. He has worked hard to acquire his own pair. Thank you Dwayne for sharing with us the thrill of finding the right equipment arrive on your doorstep and the new joys it brings to your life!



Sage Korins-Boyd and Dad walking.
Photo by Noa Korins-Boyd.

 It has been less than two weeks, since I left work two hours early to intercept a package on my back deck. The box held more than just my new SideStix. Inside that box was an image of my future self. These crutches are the tools that will allow me to be the person I wish to become after realizing my dream of owning my own pair of high performance crutches.

Upon my arrival at home that day, no one in my family was home to see my first moments of excitement. My next-door-neighbor was taking in her laundry from the clothesline. She was happy for me. I paused and smiled as I read the card taped to the outside of the box, it read, “Oh the places you’ll go…” One’s got to respect a company that uses a quotation from Dr. Seuss.

I began breaking the packing tape with a pair of scissors when my wife and children arrived in the driveway. My wife’s immediate reaction was one of concern, “Why are you home so early?” she asked. “Is everything alright?”

Therapeutic Recreation Day in Boston July 14!

If you can get there, the T.R.E.C. Sports and Recreation Day coming up on Thursday at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Pier in Boston should be a fun event! T.R.E.C. stands for "Therapeutic Recreation Enhances Confidence."

In celebration of National TR Week, the TR Department at Spaulding is sponsoring an afternoon of adaptive sports, crafts, games, refreshments, music and "fun in the sun" on Thursday, July 14th. You'll find a variety of local organizations on site, as well as resources and adaptive sports equipment to try out. The event will take place from 1-4pm at 125 Nashua Street. July 21st is the raindate.

I hope to stop in on this one myself - it is rare for me to get the chance to see how others organize these types of events and I'm always looking for new ideas and equipment!

Big Bikes for Big People

Joan Denizot with her line of Zize bikes.
Photo by Herb Swanson.

Quite a few people who come to our adaptive cycling program are on the large size, so we have introduced a couple of bikes in recent years especially designed for bigger riders. Designed to carry  up to 550 pounds, these heftier bikes make all the difference for people who want to ride - and ride safely. Such bikes allow big people to develop a regular exercise habit and can help with losing weight if that is a goal.

We have a couple of conventional looking two wheeled  bike designs. The "Easy Boarding" Cruiser made by Biria, is easy to use and quite popular - no need to lift your leg over the high bar! Yet it only serves people up to 215 pounds. Our Zize Bike from Super Sized Cycles will carry people up to 550 pounds with an exceptionally strong durable frame, solid seat, and resilient wheels. The Zize ("Size with attitude") comes in several styles to suit various riders and riding styles - and you will have to swing your leg over to get on. With bikes called "A New Leaf" and "Time of Your Life" though, how can you go wrong? There is even a model called the "Big 29er" designed for tall and heavy people - a rare bike indeed.

The Personal Activity Vehicle - a semi-recumbent trike
designed for big riders.

Super Sized Cycles is a Vermont based company that specializes in premium bikes for big riders. They also sell electric bikes and adult tricycles, such as the Personal Activity Vehicle we also use in our adaptive cycling program. The PAV is an excellent sturdy option for anyone who might be challenged by balancing a two wheeled vehicle or just wants an even more comfortable ride. You can also get bike accessories and bicycle clothing for big people from Super Sized Cycles, and their website features a blog for large riders.

Super Sized Cycles was founded by Joan Denizot, who was frustrated when she could not find a bike built for her size. "The people who really understand bikes told me, " she says, "that, in fact, it was very risky to ride a bike that was not built strong enough for my weight. Even bikes that were built for big riders only went up to only 225 pounds. The more I searched for my own bicycle, the more convinced I became that there is no way that I am the only fat person looking for a solid bicycle or adult tricycle. Biking is a great exercise--and it's EASY! Of course big people would cycle if they could buy a bike that's built for them, without having to be sized up by some mega-fit sales clerks who sell equipment made for skinny people."

Kudos to Joan Denizot for taking the bike by the handlebars and fulfilling an important need! Now large sized riders can fulfill their biking dreams! Thanks Joan!

Legendary Lifeguard - Leroy Colombo

Having spent the past week training new lifeguards to our program, I can't resist sharing here the amazing story of a deaf  lifeguard I came across in recent months.

Leroy Colombo was a well known resident of Galveston, Texas. Born in 1905 to Italian immigrants, Leroy contracted spinal meningitis at age 7 and lost his hearing and the use of his legs. His brothers helped him regain his ability to walk, apparently by dragging him in the alley behind their house and perhaps also with swimming lessons. Deemed "ineducable", he attended the Texas School for the Deaf  in Austin for six years -where he was rarely seen away from the pool, breaking records for speed and distance. He was also an avid surfer, one of the first in Galveston. By age 18 he qualified to become an official lifeguard by swimming for 3 hours continuously, though he had been been saving lives on the beach there since he was 12 years old! Leroy singularly dedicated himself to patrolling the beach and watching out for people. Over the course of his life he saved over 1000 lives both on land and in the water.

Some accounts refer to Leroy as deaf and mute, others say he could lip read well and speak clearly. When someone strayed too far from shore he was reported to have blown his whistle and beaten his chest vigorously to get the swimmer's attention. He was well known along the beach as a friendly guy with a sense of humor, according to Donald Mize who researched Leroy's life and recently convinced the city council to name a street after their legendary lifeguard.

Stories about Leroy's swimming and lifesaving feats were featured in the Galveston Daily News over his life though it also seems many of his rescues went unacknowledged. He was a superb long distance swimmer and won many endurance races. In 1927 he completed a 15 mile swim in the Gulf of Mexico in 11.5 hours - only his brother also finished, 3 hours behind Leroy - all the other swimmer dropped out due to muscle cramps and jellyfish stings. Leroy finished a 10 mile race with one hand in Mississippi River when his shoulder was dislocated after 8 miles. In perhaps his most dramatic rescue, he swam beneath burning oil to rescue two crewmen from a tugboat on fire.

In the last year of his life, at age 61, Leroy saved 38 people. After his death in 1974, the City of Galveston put up a plaque in his honor. Pictures of him can be found at the lifeguard stations along the beach he patrolled and there an annual fundraiser is named after him. The Texas School for the Deaf built a new swim center which now bears his name.

What a remarkable American hero - more people should know about Leroy Colombo!

Adaptive Recreation and Summer Fun is Here!

Summer has officially arrived! A broad spectrum of adaptive recreation opportunities is available throughout New England. Here's a sampling of just some of the fun you don't want to miss out on:

I have to toot our own program horn first: DCR's Universal Access Program is already in action with hiking this month. Our statewide trail outing program, facilitated by Stavros Outdoor Access, visits parks across Massachusetts from the coast to the Berkshires with plenty of educational themes and fun activities mixed in. Check the Summer Program page to the right in the sidebar to see when we'll be at a park near you! Sailing on the Charles River is underway daily with Community Boating. In July we'll be up and running everyday of the week with a program somewhere - kayaking, canoeing, cycling and rowing all take place on weekdays!



Next - Northeast Passage! Based in Durham, NH, this long-standing barrier-free recreation organization expands outward into Maine and Massachusetts as well as covering the ground in New Hampshire this summer. If you want to play golf, tennis, cycle, kayak, or waterski, give them a call. They also rent adaptive recreation gear for you to use on your own! Everyone who works there is a certified therapeutic recreation specialist so all the fun they provide comes with a great deal of expertise. Their full summer season culminates in September with a 100-mile ride through the White Mountains for those who seek an athletic challenge.

Accessible kayaking opportunities in the Boston area have taken a leap forward this year! Outdoor Recreation of Hopkinton with the help of Waypoint Adventure is offering adaptive programs at 2 new locations besides Hopkinton  - Spot Pond in Middlesex Fells Reservation and UMASS Boston. Check these out at their new website: Boating in Boston.

In the Pioneer Valley, a wonderful program has been gaining momentum on the Norwottuck Rail Trail for a few years now. All Out Adventures provides Cycling for Seniors! I glimpse this program in action while passing by and it is great to see people 60 years and older enjoying a wide variety of supportive bikes. AOA also offers Kayaking for Seniors. It's great to see more focused recreation activities available now for this age group!

A little bit of rain did not deter these hikers from a recent
exploration of Mt. Tom State Reservation in Holyoke!

And don't forget DCR's REC CONNECT program - if you live in Boston, Worcester, or Holyoke, and surrounding areas, we can help you meet your recreation dreams and goals and build your skills in a wide variety of activities. Check out our facebook page linked above to see what's going on and give Heidi a call at 413-577-3840 to find out more! We are looking for mentors, volunteers, and more people who just want to have fun! We also need your input: What activity would you like to see us turn into an adaptive recreation program next? Please vote on the sidebar poll and talk to Heidi!

There's more - look around here and stay tuned!

Wheelchair Accessible Cape Cod!



Crosby Landing beach on the bayside of Nickerson State
Park. A beach wheelchair is available with advance notice.

Planning a visit to scenic Cape Cod? If you need wheelchair access in order to consider Massachusetts' premiere vacation destination, here's what you need to know!


Basic Services: You can cover a lot of planning basics with one stop on-line research at Cape Cod Days featuring accessible travel planning. This site is being expanded in 2020 beyond the excellent information on lodging and beaches it already provides. (This paragraph updated in 2020.)

Accessible camping at Nickerson State Park.

Camping:  Two state parks offer wheelchair accessible yurt camping - Nickerson State Park in Brewster and Shawme Crowell State Park in Sandwich - both are primarily inland forested parks, a nice reprieve from the hot sun. Yurts are built - in tents so no need to bring your own! They sleep either four or six people and feature beds, chairs and a table, with a deck outside and a raised fire circle with cooking grate. Nickerson features several freshwater ponds and a lot of shaded trails. The Cape Cod Rail Trail passes through at the front entrance. Nickerson also has a bay side beach that is quite lovely, and park staff will deliver a beach wheelchair if you like. The park is wildly popular with long lines to get in during the summer - don't plan to arrive without a reservation. If you prefer a quieter park, Shawme Crowell is a fantastic alternative, without ponds, trails or beach - a lovely base from which to explore outward. Reservations start six months in advance via Reserve America so its late in the game for this year, but always worth a check just in case, with availability most likely at Shawme Crowell.

Beaches: Many beaches feature beach wheelchairs from town beaches to the National Seashore. Use the CCDAD to look up beaches in towns you plan to visit.

Adaptive cycling along the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

Cycling: There are choices! The 22 mile long Cape Cod Rail Trail runs through six towns from Dennis to Wellfleet in the mid-Cape area. You can rent a DCR touring style handcycle at Rail Trail Bike and Blade in Brewster near Nickerson State Park. On the upper Cape, the Shining Sea Bikeway travels almost 11 miles through woodlands, salt marshes, and along the seashore between Falmouth and Woods Hole. In Provincetown, the outermost tip of the Cape, a 5 mile Provincelands Loop through the dunes offers a hilly ride with extensions to beaches. Bike paths are generally great for wheelchair jaunts too!


CAPEAble Adventures has 6 of these wheelchair accessible
tents available for their camping programs.

Adventures: I just met Craig Bautz of CAPEAble Adventures at DCR's annual Adaptive Recreation Fair in Boston last weekend. What a nice guy! And he's got toys! CAPEAble offers organized adaptive recreation activities including cycling, golf, kayaking, curling and kite flying. They work with the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands (RHCI) and put together a Wounded Warriors Project Weekend each September. Craig uses a wheelchair himself and lives on the Cape, so he is a great resource!

Cape Cod is becoming more accessible over time and that is a nice thing to be observing!