First came the sand wheelchair.
Next was the Mobi-Mat.
Then Parks & Rec added picnic tables with cutouts for wheelchairs, and handicap-accessible barbecue grills.
On Tuesday (August 6, 12 noon, pavilion), Compo Beach adds another amenity: floating wheelchairs.
They’re donated by SMILE (Small Miracles In Life Exist) Mass. The organization has provided over 130 floating beach wheelchairs — but these are the first in Connecticut. Fairfield and Norwalk get them too.
A floating beach wheelchair.
The devices look like beach recliners. Yet in addition to maneuvering over sand — like the chair donated in 2012 by the Westport Rotary Club — these allow children in wheelchairs to float comfortably in the ocean.
They also allow therapeutic movement in water. Because salt water is more buoyant than fresh water, people who use beach wheelchairs in the ocean move more than in a pool.
On Tuesday, the saying “everyone into the water!” will really be true.
Yay!!! This is fantastic! I don’t know if I’m allowed to attach a link in my post, but I wanted to share a “Modern Love” column from the New York Times a few years back (10? Yikes.) that specifically mentions chairs like these and will hopefully highlight why they can be so meaningful: https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/fashion/08love.html
Love this. Great progress happening. #inclusion
This is so great. My guard friends have checked in, and we all agree, we wish we had these. Great job!
What a great story!
This is awesome! Another reason Westport is an amazing place to live…
FANTASTIC
So great!!!
Thank you, Mara. Excellent “Modern Love” column. Floating beach chair great idea. Mary Condon
Absolutely fantastic!!