What is a Beach Wheelchair?
A beach wheelchair is a special type of wheelchair that is designed to help people with physical disabilities move over sand. Standard wheelchair wheels aren’t meant for sand and normally sink. This makes a fun beach day simply impossible. To keep from sinking, beach wheelchair wheels are very wide and large, increasing the surface area. Ideally, they also have good traction. There are two main types of beach wheelchairs: power (battery powered wheels) and manual (no power).
Power Beach Wheelchairs
Experiencing the beach and ocean with family and friends is a wonderful thing. If you’re someone who uses a wheelchair for mobility, it can be very difficult or impossible to cross the sand without specialized equipment such as a roll out beach mat or beach chair. Motorized or power beach wheelchairs are a great option for accessing the beach independently. They have battery powered wheels and a way for the user to steer (like a joystick). There are a few things to consider when looking into purchasing or using a motorized beach wheelchair.
Power beach chairs are often very heavy, expensive and require ongoing maintenance. The battery life must always be checked when leaving the house so you don’t run out of power while out and about. This is just like any powered wheelchair. Also, it may be tempting to go close to the water or the beach showers, but almost no power beach wheelchair can get wet in order to protect the battery. Overall, just be aware of your battery life and any water and you should have a great beach day!
Manual Beach Wheelchairs
Manual beach wheelchairs are chairs with large wheels that require either the user or someone else to push the chair through the sand. They come in a variety of styles and seating positions. Some even come with an umbrella holder for shade! A person’s specific abilities and preferences will guide the decision on exactly which style chair to get. For example, if you want something that allows you to lean back and have your feet straight out in long-sitting, there’s a chair for you. There are even versions that float and can go straight into the water! This style requires you to have one or two people pushing the chair, however.
There are only a few manual beach wheelchairs that allow the user to propel themselves, and this requires a lot of upper body strength. The Freedom Grit chair is one example that is designed for outdoor terrain. Just be aware that moving over soft sand is still pretty difficult even with the Freedom Grit Chair. The hard pack sand closer to the water typically takes less effort to move over. A few more things to consider with manual chairs is the cost, seat height for transfers, and the ability to transport in your car.
Wheelchair Mat for the Beach
If you aren’t loving the cost or functionality of a beach wheelchair, there is another option for beach access! A portable beach access mat is a great solution that allows you to stay in the comfort and safety of your own wheelchair. Sometimes transferring into a beach wheelchair simply isn’t safe or practical. A wheelchair accessible beach mat like Access Trax provides a stable walkway that allows you to access the beach with family and friends. Plus, a beach mat can be used by multiple people at once! With Access Trax, you only need a few of the 3 foot square mats that connect to each other to go as far as you want. You simply reuse the mat you just rolled over and bring it in front of you for a cost-effective and quick temporary beach pathway.
Envision this scenario: you are going to your favorite local beach on a warm summer day with your family. You already have the portable access mat stored in the trunk of your car, so you’re ready to go. When you arrive, a family member carries the beach access mat from the parking lot to the sand. As you wheel up to the boardwalk, the pathway is already laid out on the sand for you! Your 2 kids run behind you as you wheel out to your ideal hang out spot. The umbrella gets set up and you transfer to the beach blanket to catch some rays and help your kids build a sand castle. You can wheel yourself to the beach bathrooms because your pathway is still set up. You notice other people using the pathway, but it doesn’t bother you one bit- you’re happy to share accessibility for all!
Wheelchair Access Mat
The most ideal type of wheelchair access mat for a family is one that folds up and can even be checked as luggage on a plane! This type of folding portable beach access mat is the invention of 2 occupational therapists in California. Access Trax is a true innovation in the outdoor accessibility space, allowing everyone to have access at their fingertips. To learn more about Access Trax, check out the product here. Access Trax is proud to serve families, adaptive sports organizations, and government entities across 15 countries and counting! Plus, the portable mats can be used for more than just the beach: imagine accessible camping, gardening, and more. To learn 6 common uses for a portable access mat, check out this informative article.
