Beach Wheelchair: The Joy on the Beach (JoB)
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2010/07/09 - Updated: 2025/07/02
Publication Type: Product Release, Update
Category Topic: All-Terrain Wheelchairs - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This article highlights the Joy on the Beach (JoB) wheelchair, a lightweight, Italian-designed mobility device that allows individuals with limited mobility to navigate sandy beaches and even enter water for swimming. Its air-filled balloon tires ensure smooth movement over challenging terrains, making beach outings accessible and enjoyable for both children and adults. The information is authoritative, drawing from the expertise of the Special Needs Group, the exclusive U.S. supplier, and is useful for people with disabilities and their families seeking practical solutions for outdoor recreation. The article's clear focus on the wheelchair's design and real-world application, as exemplified by the experiences of users like the Hadler twins, makes it a valuable resource for those looking to enhance their mobility in recreational settings - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
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 , presents an easy and enjoyable way to access the beach or pool. The JoB is lightweight, sturdy and suitable for both children and adults.
Main Content
Michael and Nicholas Hadler are 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!"
Insights, Analysis, and Developments
Editorial Note: The Joy on the Beach wheelchair represents a meaningful step toward inclusive outdoor experiences, breaking down barriers that sand and surf often pose for those with mobility challenges. By blending innovative design with practical functionality, it invites users to rediscover the simple pleasures of a day at the beach, fostering independence and connection with nature. As more public spaces adopt such adaptive technologies, the hope is that accessibility becomes not just an option but a standard, ensuring everyone can share in the joys of our natural landscapes - Disabled World (DW).
Author Credentials: Ian is an Australian-born writer, editor, and advocate who currently resides in Montreal, Canada. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.