Cade Lucas
Being able to go to the beach on a hot summer’s day is something most Australians take for granted, but not Imogen Newhouse.
Years of chronic illness has left the 34-year-old North Melbourne woman with limited mobility, making trips to the beach a rarity.
When Ms Newhouse has managed to make it onto the sand, she’s been restricted to dipping her toes in the water while those around her splash about in the surf.
But that all changed late last month, when Ms Newhouse visited Williamstown beach and made use of a new beach wheelchair.
“It was fantastic,” she said of the Mobi Chair floatable wheelchair device which is now available as part of Hobsons Bay council’s accessible beach program.
“It’s the type of beach wheelchair that allows you to be submersed in the water,” said Ms Newhouse of the Mobi Chair.
“It took a lot of organising but once I was in the water it was like doing things on easy setting rather than the usual, which is very hard.
“I was able to use my available energy to enjoy the experience rather than having to preserve it in order to push accessibility barriers.”
Ms Newhouse brought along two friends to help her use the beach wheelchair, which can be booked, free of charge, for up to two hours at a time.
The accessible beach program is seasonal, and with summer over, Ms Newhouse may have to wait until the end of this year to use it again.
However, she said the fact such a device was available to disabled people at all, was a sign of progress.
“Programs centred around accessibility are a sign that we’re welcome,” Ms Newhouse said.
“Often we have to fight just to find out accessibility information and it’s often a risk to try new places because you don’t quite know what you’re getting yourself in for until you get there.
“Accessibility isn’t just about physical access, but physical access is still such a huge barrier in most suburbs and programs that target this have a tangible and significant impact on the inclusion of people with physical barriers to participation.”
For more information on the accessible beach program and to book a beach wheelchair, visit:
