By Jennifer Russo

As we go about our daily lives, many things become routine. We get up, get in our cars and drive to work. We drop the kids off at school and sports activities or take them to playgrounds to enjoy some swing time on a sunny day. And when summer arrives, we load our things up and drive to the beach or go on a little family time away down on Cape Cod, Maine, or Rhode Island. 

As a native New Englander, the beach has always been a part of my summer. We are fortunate to live in a coastal state, where we have tons of options for cooling off in the ocean. For some though, getting down to the beach isn’t as simple as that. In fact, many of these things aren’t very easy at all.

For families who have a member who is in a wheelchair, beaches are often inaccessible. The wheels don’t go through the sand, the bathrooms are too small to fit and/or change in, and wheelchair users can’t get into the water without someone carrying them through the beach and into the ocean. Rental properties are usually not equipped for all the needs of the family, so it can be challenging to find something that is truly adaptive.

Lotte Diomede, President and Co-Founder of SMILE Mass, was experiencing this firsthand. Her son has been in a wheelchair his entire life and requires assistance from others for that and other challenges he faces daily. She and her family found it almost impossible to enjoy something as seemingly effortless as a day on the beach.

 

“The world is simply not set up for kids like my son,” says Lotte. “Now, I could sit there and complain and cry about it, or I could do something to change that. I chose to act. So, I started with creating a fundraiser for a completely universal playground in my hometown of Sudbury and everything blossomed from there. (That effort is underway at Stallbrook Elementary in Bellingham, too, see www.ourplayability.com.)  

“In 2009, Susan Brown and I created SMILE Mass with the mission of enabling families who are raising loved ones with different abilities to be active, enjoy recreation and relaxation time, and create happy memories. We strive for true inclusion.”

When the pandemic turned the world on its head in 2020, they launched Club SMILE Mass, which offered programs online like storytelling and music therapy and then small group or individual sessions for swimming and gym time, working with contracted coaches. That program grew exponentially and now serves almost eighty clients. 

In addition to wellness programs like this, SMILE also provides floating wheelchairs to local beaches so children and adults with disabilities can experience the beach like anyone else would. These specially designed chairs can move through sand and float in the water without tipping, allowing those who cannot walk to get down to the ocean and cool off. It can also lay down flat to allow for easy changing of clothing. To date, SMILE has donated chairs to over 100 beaches across New England. 

Towns can request floating wheelchairs, but there are some criteria that need to be met. There needs to be available locked storage, handicapped parking, running water to rinse the chairs, and lifeguards or staff available to immediately provide a chair to a family asking to use it. 

“Imagine having a family of 4 kids and one is in a wheelchair,” says Lotte. “You don’t want a situation where they get there and there isn’t a floating chair readily available – it could derail the whole day to have to wait for one to arrive.”

“Additionally, the chairs need to be maintained. Towns need to create an annual budget line item (minimum of $75) to help support the maintenance schedule and upkeep,” Lotte shares.

For a completely inclusive beach vacation experience, Lotte also purchased and renovated a condominium unit in Truro, MA that is available to be rented. The accessible beachfront home can sleep six people and has a fully equipped kitchen, extra space in the floorplan, widened doorways, roll-in shower, adjustable bed, ramp access and a deck. A floating wheelchair is provided as well. 

Lotte plans to continue creating more and more meaningful ways to normalize accessibility. Currently, they are looking at a Framingham property that would enable them to have an in-house space that people can “go from 0 to 99” in – to use for their wellness and educational programs, large get-together’s, accessible trails to walk and wheel on, and to be a true community hub.

“I won’t be here forever. My goal is to do as much as I can, for as long as I can, in order to create a better and more inclusive world, and hopefully inspire others to stand up and fight for this community, because right now people do not get all the services they need,” Lotte shares. 

“Inclusion is so much more than just doing the right thing. Access equals independence for people with physical challenges. Just because someone needs support doesn’t mean they should just accept less or even the bare minimum. This is about quality of life – EVERY life. I believe that everything is possible if you change your mindset and make it happen.”

A list of accessible beaches in Massachusetts can be found at https://www.mass.gov/accessible-beaches-and-pools, however please note that just because a beach is listed as “accessible” does NOT mean it has a beach wheelchair. It may just have a mat to wheel out to the water line or a sand chair. For a list of beaches where SMILE Mass has provided chairs, information about the accessible beach house, adaptive equipment rental, and to see the other inclusive services they provide, visit their website at www.smilemass.org.