{"product_id":"swinging-into-an-accessible-world-jeffery-sweet-9798547462016","title":"Swinging Into an Accessible World: A SmileMass Story","description":"Small Miracles in Life Exist (SMILE Mass) is a 501 C3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping\u003cbr\u003efamilies raising children or adults with disabilities enjoy happy, healthy memories through vacation\u003cbr\u003eand recreation experiences. Our mission is to create a day trip, a vacation opportunity, or recreational\u003cbr\u003eexperiences without barriers, not only in our smaller communities throughout Massachusetts, but\u003cbr\u003ethroughout New England. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSmile Mass was born out of a simple goal - to get a handicap accessible swing installed in a\u003cbr\u003eplayground in Sudbury so that my son, Nicholas, would be able to enjoy the park alongside his\u003cbr\u003eyounger sister and friends. That simple goal resonated with the people in our town and evolved into a\u003cbr\u003emajor project to construct a playground that children of all abilities could enjoy. Together, we were\u003cbr\u003eable to design, fund and build the first fully accessible playground in MetroWest in less than a year.\u003cbr\u003eThe SMILE playground adjacent to Haskell Field is now a landmark in our community, a destination\u003cbr\u003efor families throughout MetroWest and greater Boston, and a model for towns across the\u003cbr\u003eCommonwealth and beyond. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBuilding on the success of the SMILE playground project, in 2010, SMILE Mass turned its focus\u003cbr\u003etowards the beaches of Cape Cod. Our goal was to donate a floating beach wheelchair to every\u003cbr\u003epublic beach on Cape Cod that requested one. Over the past 9 years, we have donated over 140\u003cbr\u003efloating beach wheelchairs to public beaches in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, \u003cbr\u003eand Connecticut as well as established a loaner program currently based in Sudbury through which\u003cbr\u003eanyone can borrow specially designed equipment (beach wheelchairs, adapted bicycles, snow sleds, \u003cbr\u003ejog strollers etc.) to use for a day or a week, at home or on vacation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 2018, we realized our biggest undertaking to date - we acquired a town house in Truro, MA and\u003cbr\u003etransformed it into a fully accessible, vacation rental on Cape Cod! \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFinding the right facilities that are actually fully handicapped accessible with all the right amenities\u003cbr\u003ecan be extremely difficult for people with mobility or other severe disabilities. If found, these facilities\u003cbr\u003eoften come with many extra fees that make it difficult for many families to afford. The SMILE Mass\u003cbr\u003evacation home has been designed to accommodate people with a wide range of disabilities, with\u003cbr\u003efinancial assistance provided to those who qualify. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSMILE Mass will be opening an adaptive and inclusive gym by partnering with The Fieldhouse in\u003cbr\u003eSudbury. The SMILE Mass\/Fieldhouse partnership will allow individuals of all abilities to work out\u003cbr\u003ealongside each other, creating a community space where everyone belongs, despite disability.\u003cbr\u003eI hope you will consider continuing to support SMILE Mass with a tax-deductible gift. A donation of\u003cbr\u003eany denomination will make a tangible difference - whether it means purchasing new equipment for\u003cbr\u003eour loaner program or funding the construction of a room in the Cape house. Please do not hesitate\u003cbr\u003eto contact me directly if you are interested in learning more about our organization, our projects, or\u003cbr\u003eways to contribute.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Jeffery Sweet\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 8547462015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798547462016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/04\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 28\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.22lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 8.00w x 0.07d","brand":"Jeffery Sweet","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43945199108351,"sku":"9798547462016","price":20.92,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_87765719-2c9e-4cd0-a676-6e109ac96186.jpg?v=1681507353","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/swinging-into-an-accessible-world-jeffery-sweet-9798547462016","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}