Our First Ever Beach:Ability Event!
As the summer begins to wind down and the hot days of August continue, many people are drawn to the beach to escape the heat and humidity. In Eastern Massachusetts, we are lucky to have access to countless beaches with warm sand and refreshing waves. Unfortunately, for many people, taking advantage of all that the coastline has to offer can be difficult. Since sand can be tough to walk through and standard wheelchairs are not equipped to handle the beach, some people with disabilities aren’t able to enjoy a day out on the water. Thankfully, in Massachusetts, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)’s Universal Access Program puts in the effort to ensure that public beaches are stocked with beach wheelchairs, mats, and floating wheelchairs, in order to provide the best possible experience for everyone.
In order to celebrate the accessibility of our local beaches, we partnered with DCR and local nonprofit Save the Harbor / Save the Bay to host Beach:Ability at Constitution Beach in East Boston. On August 10th, over 100 individuals with disabilities enjoyed a beautiful day at the beach – playing games, taking a dip in the water, and relishing treats from the snack bar. In the words of Coleman Nee, Triangle’s CEO, “This weekend’s event gave our participants the chance to enjoy a beautiful summer day at the beach with their friends and family. Watching so many of them get into the ocean – some for the first time in their lives or in decades – really encapsulated what the day was all about.”
We are grateful to our partners at Save the Harbor / Save the Bay and DCR for allowing our community to have this wonderful opportunity. Continue reading below to check out some photos from the event!
