Battle of the Beach Wheelchairs

I grew up a water baby.  Swim lessons turned to swim team as I got older.  It wasn’t until high school that I quit swimming competitively.  It became too difficult for me to balance on  the starting blocks.  My family would also always take an annual summer vacation to the beach.  I am fortunate to have grown up with a love and respect for the water.  I think it’s important to  grow up without fear of  the water.  Part of that is knowing my limitations in the water.  Like everything else in life, I came to realize how I could still, as a wheelchair user, enjoy the beach.  Once I learned about the world of beach wheelchairs I found enjoyment and inclusion once more.

My family has been vacationing to Sanibel Island, Florida for the past 8 years.  From the shell filled beaches to the wildlife refuge J.N. Ding Darling, Sanibel is a dip into “old Florida” that offers a haven from the hustle and bustle of the mainland.  We stay at Pointe Santo resort which is landscaped beautifully and offers a nice flat entry to the beach.

One of the first things I do before leaving Atlanta, is call Billy’s Rentals to reserve a beach wheelchair for the length of my stay.  For an additional $10, they will deliver and pick up directly from your resort.  I’ve been doing it this way for a couple of years now.  Tip: Try to get one where the feet can be propped up.  Some are immovable and it’s more comfortable for your feet to have the option to be propped up!  

Getting into the ocean is tricky with this type of chair.   I have to rely on enough people being around.  Then we get close to water’s edge.  Then someone lifts me into a float.  I can still get in the water but it’s a process. 🙂

One summer, instead of our beloved Sanibel vacation, we went further South to the Florida Keys.  This was a fabulous vacation where I got to swim with the dolphins.  I’ve written a post already about that and suggest you check out the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon Key.  On our last day in the Keys we went to Bahia Honda State Park where I could rent a beach wheelchair for free.  They introduced me to the mobi chair, a beach wheelchair that could go directly into the water.  This chair revolutionized the way I experienced the beach.  Now anyone could push me right in and I could feel more included since it wasn’t quite an ordeal to get me into the water.  Tip-WEAR SUNSCREEN!  Not that you shouldn’t always wear it, but if you’re going to spend time floating on the water you may want to double or triple layer.  My legs got tomato red that day. :0

Anyone with mobility concerns should check out the different types of beach wheelchairs out there.  Whether or not you choose to get in the water, a beach wheelchair allows you to be included in a family day at the beach. I want to find one that gives me more independence in the sand.  They have power beach chairs out there too!  Because I love the water so much, the mobichair is my favorite.  That afternoon in the Keys is one of my best memories.  I hope all state parks and rental shops have more options  for people with disabilities.   Let me know in the  comments below what things you do at the beach for fun.

Talk next week! 🙂