Beach Day For All
Donation protected
I am a mom of 2 special needs children. Both of my children are mobile however, many families have children who are not and they are in a wheelchair.
I graduated in 85 from Seaside Park Elementary School. The beach was a huge part of my life growing up and still is today. The beach is someplace that brings me peace and serenity. It upsets me that so many families of children with special needs cannot take their child to the beach. There is no easy access on the beach for a child in a wheelchair. What some beaches call handicap accessible is a ramp leading to right below the dunes where it's 100° That is where they want you, your family and your child in a wheelchair to sit. After doing some research, I realized the lack of "functional" handicap accessible beaches along the Jersey Shore. When I envision a functional handicap accessible beach. I see a beach where you can bring your child closer to the water so they can feel and smell the ocean just like you and I. As I posted this on my Facebook where I promote a lot of inclusion and special needs resources. I got a tremendous amount of feedback from not only families of special needs children but amputees, vets, elderly and others who just simply cannot get down to the beach. I am not re-creating the wheel but I do see a bigger picture. We need to get these families onto the beach where they too can enjoy the Jersey shore. We are known for our beaches we need to get everyone there.
As for the beach wheelchairs that are made out of PVC. They are wonderful for a person who can sit upright. However, many of the families that I am talking about their family member cannot sit upright. They need to be semi reclined and those chairs as you know do not recline. In this day and age inclusion for all is extremely important. I have made it my mission to make sure that we as a society make inclusion an important part of our community. I will make it my mission to go up and down the Jersey shore to get all families on the beach.
I'm currently in the process of opening up a nonprofit organization. This money will purchase reclining wheelchair's, the access mats that are needed and umbrella for the families to use once they are on the beach. These families are bringing enough to the beach, one less thing to cart the easier we can make their lives.
Thank you for listening.
It has only been less than two weeks since this article broke on Jersey Shore Hurricane News, the response has been overwhelming.
We have received a donation of 5 beach wheel chairs, from SMILEMass (a 501c3 non profit from Massachussettes that does the same thing in the North east that we are trying to accomplish here in NJ) that are reclining and able to go into (a small depth) the water.
We have many construction companies, and business committed to building beach accessible PVC wheelchairs, specifically Andrew K. Knox & Company, Northeast Remsco/ Caldwell Marine, Ocean Pipe Works, 33 East Car Washes, and Annese Mechanical have committed to build at least 10-12 beach/ sand accessible wheel chairs for transportation across the sand.
We have spoken with both Mobi Mats & Access Rec, who have committed to assist us with our projects!
We are working on forming a 501c3 here in NJ to provide sustainability & longevity to this project.
I graduated in 85 from Seaside Park Elementary School. The beach was a huge part of my life growing up and still is today. The beach is someplace that brings me peace and serenity. It upsets me that so many families of children with special needs cannot take their child to the beach. There is no easy access on the beach for a child in a wheelchair. What some beaches call handicap accessible is a ramp leading to right below the dunes where it's 100° That is where they want you, your family and your child in a wheelchair to sit. After doing some research, I realized the lack of "functional" handicap accessible beaches along the Jersey Shore. When I envision a functional handicap accessible beach. I see a beach where you can bring your child closer to the water so they can feel and smell the ocean just like you and I. As I posted this on my Facebook where I promote a lot of inclusion and special needs resources. I got a tremendous amount of feedback from not only families of special needs children but amputees, vets, elderly and others who just simply cannot get down to the beach. I am not re-creating the wheel but I do see a bigger picture. We need to get these families onto the beach where they too can enjoy the Jersey shore. We are known for our beaches we need to get everyone there.
As for the beach wheelchairs that are made out of PVC. They are wonderful for a person who can sit upright. However, many of the families that I am talking about their family member cannot sit upright. They need to be semi reclined and those chairs as you know do not recline. In this day and age inclusion for all is extremely important. I have made it my mission to make sure that we as a society make inclusion an important part of our community. I will make it my mission to go up and down the Jersey shore to get all families on the beach.
I'm currently in the process of opening up a nonprofit organization. This money will purchase reclining wheelchair's, the access mats that are needed and umbrella for the families to use once they are on the beach. These families are bringing enough to the beach, one less thing to cart the easier we can make their lives.
Thank you for listening.
It has only been less than two weeks since this article broke on Jersey Shore Hurricane News, the response has been overwhelming.
We have received a donation of 5 beach wheel chairs, from SMILEMass (a 501c3 non profit from Massachussettes that does the same thing in the North east that we are trying to accomplish here in NJ) that are reclining and able to go into (a small depth) the water.
We have many construction companies, and business committed to building beach accessible PVC wheelchairs, specifically Andrew K. Knox & Company, Northeast Remsco/ Caldwell Marine, Ocean Pipe Works, 33 East Car Washes, and Annese Mechanical have committed to build at least 10-12 beach/ sand accessible wheel chairs for transportation across the sand.
We have spoken with both Mobi Mats & Access Rec, who have committed to assist us with our projects!
We are working on forming a 501c3 here in NJ to provide sustainability & longevity to this project.
Organizer
Chris Aldrich
Organizer
Toms River, NJ
