MARTHA’S VINEYARD – Small Miracles in Life Exist, also known as SMILE Mass, is expanding its beach wheelchair program to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
The Sudbury-based non-profit which helps families with disabled children or adults create happy memories through vacation’s and recreation has donated more than 120 floating wheelchairs to beaches across the state.
SMILE Mass recently donated five chairs on Martha’s Vineyard with plans to soon bring more to Nantucket.
“If you are a family who have a loved one with disabilities, especially if they are confined to a wheelchair, trips to the beach, trips to the playground or trips to the local park just going for a walk really becomes not an option unless you have the right equipment,” said Lotte Diomede, the president of SMILE Mass.
The organization was created in 2009 out of a basic need for a handicap accessible swing at a playground so everyone could participate.
SMILE Mass quickly turned its attention to beaches and providing the chairs at locations across the state, especially Cape Cod.
Diomede said the organization is looking at starting a loaner program on the two Islands which would be run from one location.
“So When families are over there that live there or families that are visiting for the day or for the week they can call the loaner program and take out a beach wheelchair for the day,” Diomede said. “Moving forward that loaner program could potentially include strollers, bikes and other equipment that a family would need for a loved one with disabilities to comfortably visit the island.”
When SMILE Mass started purchasing the chairs they cost around $2,500 each but Diomede said the price is now around $2,000.
“Because we are getting better at what we are doing and we kind of put this company on the map, as far as beach wheelchairs go, we are good about getting negotiations down,” she said.
SMILE Mass is also looking to expand the floating wheelchair program to New Hampshire and Maine.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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