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Public and private beaches vary in their accommodations for people with disabilities, so inquire before you go. Some beaches have paved trails for standard wheelchairs. Specialized wheelchairs may be available. These chairs combine features from electric wheelchairs and dune buggies. Their large, inflatable tires make it easy to cross the sand and enter the water. Some parks offer accessible cabins on their campsites. Other facilities do not offer so much as a changing area for people who use adaptive swimwear. The design of adaptive swimwear, including velcro closures, makes changing easier---but a place to change remains necessary. Adults with spine damage and other impairments may experience incontinence and use disposable undergarments. Parents may need to change the specialized diapers in their children's swim suits.The preservation of dignity is a fundamental right.You may want to contact an advocacy group if your personal privacy is not protected.
Adaptive equipment can make swimming at the beach safe and enjoyable.Life jackets, for example, protect swimmers from harm and are also designed so that swimmers can choose their position. A life jacket can keep a swimmer in a vertical position, on his/her back, or facing forward with the swimmer's head raised out of the water.Sectional rafts are another form of adaptive equipment that supports a swimmer's body and can hold a swimmer's head in either a supine or raised position.Flotation swimwear with foam inserts keep children buoyant and stable. Swimming aides can accompany adults and children with physical, hearing and visual disabilities who use adaptive equipment. These aides can encourage new swimmers, improving both confidence and technique.
Swimming is a form of exercise that can improve your body and your mood. The high resistance and low impact of water builds muscle mass with minimal risk of injury.Lack of exercise is identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) as a risk factor for the chronic diseases that result in disabilities. These diseases include arthritis, heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity and diabetes. Exercise reduces the disability that is associated with arthritis, the leading cause of disability in the United States. Exercise has also been documented by the American Heart Association (AHA) to reduce heart disease, the #1 cause of death in American men and women.A trip to the beach can be part of your journey to improved health!
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