"We had to carry Michael through the sand and it became increasingly more difficult to transport him. I could no longer do this alone."
Summer Fun With Lightweight, Easy-to-Use Beach Wheelchair - Joy on the Beach Wheelchair, like an ATV for individuals with mobility needs, moves easily over sand and other beach terrain.
For many, summer means fun in the water, whether it's at the beach, the pool or on a cruise. For individuals with limited mobility, water and sand can be challenges. Now, a new lightweight Italian-designed beach/sand wheelchair, Joy on the Beach (JoB) from Special Needs Group (www.specialneedsgroup.com), presents an easy and enjoyable way to access the beach or pool.
That was the case for Michael and Nicholas Hadler, 11-year old twins from Florida who love swimming and building sand castles at the beach. Nicholas is a physically normal young boy. Michael, however, was born with cerebral palsy and confined to a wheelchair since early childhood. Still, the twins like to romp and frolic in the water. JoB proved to be the perfect solution for this family.
"As much as we all love the beach, going to the beach became less and less enjoyable as Michael got older and heavier," says the twins' mother, Luky Hadler. "We had to carry Michael through the sand and it became increasingly more difficult to transport him. I could no longer do this alone."
The Hadler family let Michael try out the JoB beach wheelchair, and it was an immediate "hit," giving the twin brothers new freedom to play in and out of the water and easing the weight of responsibility for the parents. Like an "all terrain vehicle" for those with physical disabilities, JoB is equipped with air-filled balloon tires that roll easily from the beach into the open water for swimming. Additionally, with its lightweight aluminum alloy frame and protective finishes, the JoB wheelchair can be lowered into any swimming pool, alleviating the need for a wheelchair lift.
According to the Hadler family, who used the chair for the first time during a July Fourth holiday weekend, the colorful, stylish JoB doesn't look a wheelchair. It is much more "cheerful." They point out it is practical as well, and with a 220-pound capacity, will accommodate Michael now and as he grows. The Hadlers look forward to increased freedom and more occasions to use the wheelchair at the beach, pool or on a cruise - or even in the snow: "We traveled on a cruise last year and this would have been great. We can't wait to use it again!"
Special Needs Group is the exclusive supplier of the Joy on the Beach wheelchair in the United States. The JoB is lightweight, sturdy and suitable for both children and adults. For more details or to purchase a JoB wheelchair, call Special Needs Group toll-free at 1.800.513.4515, email info@specialneedsgroup.com or log onto www.specialneedsgroup.com.
Special Needs Group is a one-stop resource for special needs travel around the world. We offer a broad range of special needs equipment, including wheelchair, powerchair and scooter rentals with capabilities to support 500 pounds or more; oxygen rentals (liquid, cylinder, and concentrator); hearing impaired equipment; Braille printing; baby cribs; and more. Recommended by the world's major cruise lines and hotels for superior service and value, we also provide consultation services regarding special needs policy and new-build design. Special Needs Group, a U.S. company, is not a travel agency and does not compete in any way with travel agents.
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