Universal Access Conversations

A Universal Access Program outing at Halibut Point State Park

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Universal Access Program sponsors special events and provides adaptive recreation equipment to expand access to State parks for people with disabilities.

Everyone Outdoors, the DCR Universal Access website blog, features articles such as "The Power of Play!," "Paragolfers," and "Want to Learn to Steer a Kayak? No Vision? No Problem!"

LeeAnn LaRue in hat

"We come to Halibut Point State Park for the accessible trails. It's one of those unique opportunities to see something different from other places in the State," says DCR staffer LeeAnn LaRue. "It's visually appealing....One of the things you hear over and over again is people say, 'I never thought I'd be doing this ever again.' Or as parents, 'I never thought my child would be able to do this.' And here they are, out here doing it."

LeeAnn's own daughter, partially disabled by a brain tumor at three, is thirty years old now. "In the wintertime we go to Wendell State Forest where they have a program. She sits in the ski seat. One way or another they pull her up that hill. When I can get her outside doing things with me it's awesome."

Matt Mitchell lending a hand

DCR Equipment Specialist Matt Mitchell delivers and maintains adaptive equipment across the Commonwealth with a mission of helping people do "what they once were able to do, or what they normally wouldn't be capable of. That's the coolest thing. I think everyone deserves that opportunity."

He recalls stories about submersible beach chairs that enable people with disabilities to cross the sand on inflated tires for their first ocean experience. "Huge smiles! From some nonverbal participants, a lot of yelling, and that is yelling out of excitement. Little things like that really, really matter. They're life-changing things for some people"

Park Interpreter Ramona Latham recounts the Halibut Point story

Matt notes "one of the special things about Halibut Point is this place has history. We love to be interactive in our hikes. We look for the social aspect and the sociability for the whole group. We look for the exercise. We take a step back and enjoy nature."

A Freedom Chair

" One gentleman who comes to our programs a lot was injured when he was 20 years old. He's 29 now. He said that for nine years he never went outside because he didn't know what to do. Then he jumped in one of these Freedom Chairs. Now he's taking his nieces and nephews hiking. The guy's life is officially changed. He's a vegan now. He's healthy. He exercises. His motivational level has increased through the roof."

"I would say that a lot of the people we work with have a better understanding of life and more appreciation for life because of the limitations they have or how they are looked upon. This is a way of embracing their disability, of proving everybody wrong, or proving themselves wrong in some cases."

_____

For more information or to see the calendar of upcoming events please visit the website www.mass.gov/dcr/universal-acccess.