Beach Accessibility
Creating Accessibility at Short Beach with SMILE Mass Floating Beach Wheelchair
In memory of Beverly English, the Miles family in partnership with SMILE Mass have donated a floating Beach Wheelchair to the Nahant Community. Located at the Nahant American Legion Post 215 the beach wheelchair is available for public use. Prior to using the wheelchair, it is required that a town waiver be signed and partake in a brief training (approximately 15min) To schedule a time to use the wheelchair please reach out to 781-731-5966. While using the chair a life vest must be worn at all times. Below you can find access to an online pdf of the waiver and additional instructions. Please note that in the event where the beach is closed for swimming, the floating beach wheelchair will be unavailable for use. For a comprehensive list of beaches in Massachusetts that also offer floating beach wheel chair access please visit (https://smilemass.org/initiative/beach-wheelchairs/).
Recommendation of Use for Beach Wheelchair
Beach Wheelchair Dedication Ceremony
On Saturday June 29, 2024 at the Nahant Life Saving Station there was a gathering to celebrate the donation of a floating beach wheelchair for Short Beach.
The beach wheelchair, the first of its kind in Nahant enables beach access for those in need. It provides the elderly, persons with disabilities, and people with temporary physical limitations the freedom to access the beach and/or the water thanks to the chair’s sand friendly wheels and flotation. The beach wheelchair breaks down barriers and allows opportunities for shared experiences, making the beach a place where everyone can come together and create lasting memories.
The beach wheelchair was requested by Dawn & Ed Miles in memory and honor of Dawn’s mom, Beverly English and was awarded by SMILE Mass, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families raising children or adults with disabilities enjoy happy, healthy memories through education, vacation, and recreation experiences.
The community thanks the Miles Family for spearheading this project along with Lynda Fields of the Nahant Preservation Trust. Together they have coordinated the placement and volunteer operations to make the beach wheelchair accessible. Additional thanks to Emily Potts of the Nahant Preservation Trust, Town Administrator Tony Barletta, the Board of Selectmen, the American Legion and American Legion and Auxiliary of Post 215, and Fire Chief Austin Antrim for their coordinated effort with SMILE Mass to work out all the issues to quickly make the chair available for people to more easily access Short Beach.
Members of the Miles family, the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, and other community members will be volunteering to support the accessibility of the beech wheelchair on an appointment basis.
Please consider donating to SMILE Mass to support the wonderful work that they are doing. Their name says it all, Small Miracles in Life Exist (SMILE Mass) is a 501 C3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping families raising children or adults with disabilities enjoy happy, healthy memories through education, vacation, and recreation experiences.
More information can be found at their website: smilemass.org