Context

Strategies for Creating More Accessible Beaches

PLM face unique challenges with accessing beaches and while this is a less explored concept, there are a number of different methods to improve accessibility. Using a social framework many disability scholars emphasize how physical barriers; such as bathrooms, transportation, parking spaces, and pathways, exclude PLM from accessing these public spaces.1 Some scholars have analyzed the design, layout, and condition of waterfront recreational facilities to advocate for ways to remove the physical obstacles that preclude PLM from using them.2 ​

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 Poor maintenance of beach facilities due to budgeting and financing issues is a common problem with shoreline access for PLM. In many cases creating equitable access to beaches is reliant on carefully crafted budgets and interest from investors to both create and maintain their accessible features.3 This can become complicated in situations where the organizations or people responsible for creating and maintaining beach accessibility are not clearly defined.4 An additional consideration when looking at cost is the travel cost to access the beaches, something that can be impacted by the availability of parking and public transportation, as well as the location of beaches relative to where people live.5​
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 In addition to infrastructure issues, the availability, usability and quality of assistive technologies that enable PLMs to access the beach present other challenges. Commonly found solutions would be beach matting, which aids in navigation over soft sand surfaces and rental services for beach wheelchairs and other such specialized mobility equipment.6 The main issue with these features is that they are often only available during the on season, limiting the access to beaches for PLM during the other parts of the year.7 

Footnotes

1. (Lee et al. 2020, Wiesel et al. 2022, Job et al. 2023, Groulx et al. 2024)

2. (Job et al. 2022, Wiesel et al. 2022, Job et al. 2023)

3. (Lee et al. 2020)

4. (Wiesel et al. 2022)

5. (Lee et al. 2020, Wiesel et al. 2022, Job et al. 2023)

6. (Job et al. 2022, Wiesel et al. 2022, Job et al. 2023)

7. (Wiesel et al. 2022)