For Linda Green James and her daughter Suzi Osborne, a beach vacation is a top priority. However, Suzi, who has a traumatic brain injury and uses a wheelchair, often struggles to access the beach. That was until they visited a friend’s condo in Pompano Beach, Fla. in January and discovered a beach wheelchair available for borrowing from a local beach equipment shack. “It’s not much fun to go to the beach when one of your family members can’t join you,” says Ms. James, a retired college professor from Brownsville, Tenn. Beach wheelchairs have become more prevalent across the US, at a time of growing demand from disabled travelers, accounting for $58.2 billion of the $1.2 trillion US travel market. Many public beaches offer the chairs, usually on a first-come, first-served basis. Some models are motorized, providing greater independence. Despite accessibility becoming a higher priority for customers, finding information on accessible beaches and equipment remains a challenge.
Assistive Wheelchairs Enabling Handicapped Tourists to Delight in their Beach Experience
