By Beth David, Editor
The Fairhaven Commission on Disability (COD) held an Inclusive Beach Day on Friday, 8/7, at the Town Beach to give people with mobility issues a chance to see what the town has to offer to get people in the water.
The first thing is the long mat that goes from the parking lot to the beach. That one is there all season. Then there is the chair mat that goes on the beach, close to the water for wheelchairs to park while their owners take dip.
Then there is the special wheelchair (the town has two), with big wide tires and a fast-drying fabric than can traverse the sand and sit right in the water.
Full time Lifeguard, Brett, helps people get in and out of the chair and keeps an eye on everyone while they are in the water.
Anyone who needs special assistance just has to let the parking attendant know and they will alert Brett who will help the person in and out of the chair, and will set up the chair mat.
Pam Roy, a member of the Fairhaven COD who uses a wheelchair, said she had not been able to go the beach for years, until Fairhaven got its beach chair.
Now, she gets in the water several times a month.
Without the chair, and Brett’s help, she said she would not be able to go to the beach at all.
“So, it’s a really good thing,” said Brett. “Just to see the smile on people’s faces who had not been in the water for 20 years.”
Ms. Roy’s sister, Paula Rego, said they did not know about the chairs until last year at the COD’s first Inclusive Beach Day event.
“We didn’t even know the service was out there,” said Ms. Rego.
“Last year was my first time at West Island Beach in my entire life of living in Fairhaven,” said Ms. Roy, 56. “All because of the Commission on Disability.”
“Because the town invested in the right equipment,” said Ms. Roy’s cousin, Donna, who is the one who usually drives her to the beach.
If you need assistance to access the beach, especially on weekends, call the Fairhaven Board of Public Works 508-979-4030, and tell them you need beach assistance. During the week, just go to the parking lot and tell the attendant. The Council on Aging has a few passes for the parking lot.
To learn more about the Commission on Disability, visit the town’s website at https://fairhaven-ma.gov. Contact the Council on Aging/Senior Center to learn about other services and programs available (see page 9), 508-979-4029.
-
- Fairhaven Commission on Disability member, Pam Roy (CENTER RIGHT), completely free of her wheelchair while in the water, poses with family for a picture with the local free sheet during the Inclusive Beach Day at the town beach, sponsored by the Fairhaven Commission on Disability on 8/7/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- A special beach chair is ready for duty, able to traverse along the sand, during the Inclusive Beach Day at the town beach, sponsored by the Fairhaven Commission on Disability on 8/7/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- A wheelchair and a beach chair share the special mat for wheelchairs during the Inclusive Beach Day at the town beach, sponsored by the Fairhaven Commission on Disability on 8/7/26. Photo by Beth David.
-
- People make their way off the beach using the beach mat that is easier to walk on than the sand during the Inclusive Beach Day at the town beach, sponsored by the Fairhaven Commission on Disability on 8/7/26. Photo by Beth David.
•••
Click here to download the 8/13/26 issue: 08-13-26 InclusiveBeach
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
