Floating wheelchair now available at Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club after success of accessible ramp
ADELAIDE’S first disabled accessible beach now has a new addition to make it even easier for everyone to have a splash in the sea.
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A NEW floating wheelchair at Seacliff will help some people with disabilities take a dip in the sea for the first time.
The aluminium wheelchair with inflatable arms will be available from this weekend, after the Seacliff Surf Life Saving Club won a $5000 State Government grant for it late last year.
Seacliff beach was the first in the state to become disability accessible, when a $10,000 beach access mat was rolled out in January last year.
Surf life saving club president Andrew Chandler said the Mobi-chair would give some people their first experience swimming in the ocean.
“Once we got the disability access mat in last season, we looked at what other opportunities there were to provide a better service for the community and this was a suggestion that came from our members,” Mr Chandler said.
Seaview Downs girl Allira, 7, tried out the wheelchair last Friday.
It was the first time she had been in the ocean since she was two years old.
“Friends and family go to the beach all the time, so for her to be able to just enjoy being around friends and family and do a normal activity is amazing,” mum Remiko Prosser said.
The wheelchair will be available from the club’s patrol tent at the corner of the Esplanade and Wheatland St from noon to 5pm Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until the end of March.
People wanting to use it will need to bring two carers to assist them. Details: call 8377 0788
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