A whole new experience for wheelchair users in South Carolina.Ford’s Bronco Wild Fund donated battery-powered chairs to Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, South Carolina, in January. Tuesday morning, clients with Beaufort County’s Disabilities and Special Needs Department tried a new, independent way to enjoy the park.”I feel good. I just have to get used to it,” said Sylvia Washington, a client with DSN.Similar to riding a bike, Washington had a few hiccups trying to get the hang of the park’s new track chair, an “adventure-ready wheelchair” designed for all-terrain travel. Although they’ve had the chair since January, one hill still gave Washington some trouble.”I thought I was going to tip over!” said Washington.Leonard Dilbert, another client with DSN, experienced the Ford-powered track chair for the first time and also dealt with that same hill.”How were you dealing with that first incline?” asked WJCL 22 News’ AJ Sisson. “I was like, ‘Oh!’ and it was a little bump like that,” said Dilbert.Both Dilbert and Washington tell WJCL 22 News they’ve always enjoyed spending time at the beach with their family, whether in Florida or South Carolina, but they needed assistance to do so. With these new chairs, they can experience it independently.”This will be cool for the individuals that’s independent that will make them feel more independent,” said Washington. “They can come out and have fun like any one of us, anybody else, and enjoy life!””I have lived and worked with special needs people and all that, and more people join this and is glad to be in stuff like that,” said Dilbert.The chairs themselves are free of charge to park pass holders. All you need to do to ride one is purchase a pass, reserve a chair and enjoy the park. Follow this link for more information.”I love the outdoors. I love nature,” said Hunting Island State Park ranger Alexander Kellner. “I think it’s great that these people are allowed to get out here and experience that.”Kellner tells WJCL 22 News that the park wants to expand its inventory of track chairs. Hunting Island State Park was one of 18 parks around the country to receive the chair.”We would like to work with other companies and see if we can get some more off-road wheelchairs at the park and kind of get them in different locations,” said Kellner.For Roeshelle Smith-Sampson, a human services specialist with DSN, this is an opportunity to expand on inclusion in the county.”For all the individuals who are independent, who have never been able to come out and enjoy the beach independently, or haven’t had access to come out to the beach, this is going to be a great opportunity,” said Smith-Sampson.”I advise you to experience it more. Let other people, individuals, experience it more because that gives them life,” said Washington. “We only have one life on this Earth. So, I advise other people to come out and try and get used to it, like individuals like myself and just enjoy life.”
A whole new experience for wheelchair users in South Carolina.
Ford’s Bronco Wild Fund donated battery-powered chairs to Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, South Carolina, in January. Tuesday morning, clients with Beaufort County’s Disabilities and Special Needs Department tried a new, independent way to enjoy the park.
“I feel good. I just have to get used to it,” said Sylvia Washington, a client with DSN.
Similar to riding a bike, Washington had a few hiccups trying to get the hang of the park’s new track chair, an “adventure-ready wheelchair” designed for all-terrain travel. Although they’ve had the chair since January, one hill still gave Washington some trouble.
“I thought I was going to tip over!” said Washington.
Leonard Dilbert, another client with DSN, experienced the Ford-powered track chair for the first time and also dealt with that same hill.
“How were you dealing with that first incline?” asked WJCL 22 News’ AJ Sisson.
“I was like, ‘Oh!’ and it was a little bump like that,” said Dilbert.
Both Dilbert and Washington tell WJCL 22 News they’ve always enjoyed spending time at the beach with their family, whether in Florida or South Carolina, but they needed assistance to do so. With these new chairs, they can experience it independently.
“This will be cool for the individuals that’s independent that will make them feel more independent,” said Washington. “They can come out and have fun like any one of us, anybody else, and enjoy life!”
“I have lived and worked with special needs people and all that, and more people join this and is glad to be in stuff like that,” said Dilbert.
The chairs themselves are free of charge to park pass holders. All you need to do to ride one is purchase a pass, reserve a chair and enjoy the park. Follow this link for more information.
“I love the outdoors. I love nature,” said Hunting Island State Park ranger Alexander Kellner. “I think it’s great that these people are allowed to get out here and experience that.”
Kellner tells WJCL 22 News that the park wants to expand its inventory of track chairs. Hunting Island State Park was one of 18 parks around the country to receive the chair.
“We would like to work with other companies and see if we can get some more off-road wheelchairs at the park and kind of get them in different locations,” said Kellner.
For Roeshelle Smith-Sampson, a human services specialist with DSN, this is an opportunity to expand on inclusion in the county.
“For all the individuals who are independent, who have never been able to come out and enjoy the beach independently, or haven’t had access to come out to the beach, this is going to be a great opportunity,” said Smith-Sampson.
“I advise you to experience it more. Let other people, individuals, experience it more because that gives them life,” said Washington. “We only have one life on this Earth. So, I advise other people to come out and try and get used to it, like individuals like myself and just enjoy life.”
