0 out of 5 stars
Boston Harbor Cruises
One Long Wharf
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: 617-227-4321
http://www.bostonharborcruises.com/codzilla/

As my mom, Amanda, Ric and I were heading to our Boston Harbor Whale Watch, a brightly colored boat with a monster-like cod fish face painted on it caught my attention. This boat called the Codzilla is operated by Boston Harbor Cruises. It’s a cool boat that speeds through the harbor up to 40 mph for 40 minutes.

We saw a ramp leading down to an accessible sloped access onto this Codzilla yet we didn’t see any room to fit a wheelchair because of all the seats on the boat are very crowded together. We asked one of the crew members if a person in a wheelchair can take a ride on the Codzilla and were told there is NO room for a wheelchair and ONLY if the person is able get out of their wheelchair and sit on a seat.

My mom then asked if there are any seatbelts on the seats and was told there are only seatbelts on the front row of seats. She then asked if there are any age restrictions and was told a child can ride on the boat if they can sit in a seat.

The only way I and many others in a wheelchair would be able to take a ride on this boat was if it had a space for my wheelchair with wheelchair tie downs to secure my wheelchair to the floor of the boat like the seats on the boat are secured. The crew member told us he didn’t know if the U.S. Coastguard would allow wheelchair tie downs on a boat. My mom, friends and I are quite sure the U.S. Government would allow wheelchair tie downs on a boat because the U.S. Government allows wheelchair tie downs on all other means of transportation.

Later as I was on the Boston Harbor Whale Watch I saw the Codzilla pass us. The passengers all seemed to be having a fantastic time and I could hear music blaring. I was really disappointed I wasn’t able to take this entertaining ride through the Boston Harbor.

I give Boston Harbor’s Codzilla ZERO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn any Stars they would need to remove a few seats in the rear or middle of the Codzilla to make a space for a wheelchair with tie downs so a passenger in a wheelchair can enjoy a ride on this exciting boat trip.

Before leaving Mashpee Commons Ric, Amanda and I stopped at Ghelfi’s Candies & Ice Cream and were pleased to find it wheelchair accessible. This shop has lots of treats if you have a sweet tooth ;) They serve ice cream, homemade candy, fudge, hand dipped chocolates, peanut brittle, mints, sugar free candies and much more!

There are plenty of handicap parking spaces in the Mashpee Commons parking lot.  The entry door is wide enough to fit my chair but not automatic so Amanda held it open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside. I found plenty of space to wheel my chair along the main aisle where customers line up to choose their flavor of ice cream. I could easily view all the flavors of ice creams and sweets for sale.

The employees are very kind, friendly and helpful; they even let me taste a sample of some ice cream flavors before I chose one to order.  I ordered a small dish of the ‘lobstah swirl’ ice cream which has small red colored pieces of pure milk chocolate and it was delicious! The cashier counter is of a good wheelchair accessible height and I had no problem handing the cashier my money.

Upon leaving, I found the last aisle too narrow to fit my chair because there isn’t enough space between the display counters. We felt bad because we had to ask all the customers standing in line to move so I could exit through the front aisle.

I give Ghelfi’s Candies FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic entry door so a customer in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently;  and move the displays in the last aisle just a little so there is enough space for a customer in a wheelchair to exit.

4 out of 5 stars
Mashpee Commons
11 Steeple Street
Mashpee, MA 02649
Phone: 508-477-0090

While shopping at Mashpee Commons with my mom, Ric and Amanda, we came upon Suits You Swimwear, a unique store that sells bathing suits, beach attire and accessories. We all love going to the beach so we went inside to check it out and were pleased to find that Suits You Swimwear is a very wheelchair friendly and accessible shop.

There are plenty of handicap parking spaces in the Mashpee Commons parking lot close by. The main entry door is wide enough to fit my chair with ease yet not automatic so Amanda held it open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside.

Upon entering we were warmly greeted by the saleswoman; she kindly showed my mom where the woman bathing suits are hung and showed me to the rack of men’s bathing suits. The suits are all easy to access and reach for the aisles are wide enough between all the racks of displays.

This store has bathing suits, beach attire, sunglasses, hats and every kind of item you would need on a beach. The dressing rooms are spacious and wheelchair accessible; each stall has a bench, full length mirror and a lower hook to hang the suits you wish to try on.

The cashier counter is of a good accessible height. The saleswoman was very kind, courteous and helpful.

Suits You Swimwear deserves FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic entry door so a customer in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently.

2 out of 5 stars
Mashpee Commons
17 Steeple Street
Mashpee, MA 02649
Phone: 508-477-5929
Website: http://www.siena.us/

Last week my mom treated Ric, Amanda and I to lunch at Sienna Restaurant at Mashpee Commons. We enjoyed our meals yet were disappointed to find it is only partially wheelchair accessible. Sienna specializes in delicious Italian dishes made from fresh, local ingredients.

There are plenty of handicap parking spaces in the Mashpee Commons parking lot. There are two entry doors and neither is automatic so Amanda held it open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside; the first leads into a foyer and the second into the restaurant. Upon entering we were warmly greeted by a hostess who showed us to a table that was of a prefect accessible height for me to comfortably sit and reach my food and drink.

The dining room has plenty of accessible tables and some booths which are not accessible; outdoor dining are all wheelchair accessible and of a good accessible height. Our waitress was very friendly and kind as she took our lunch order. We all ordered grilled chicken salads which were delicious and low calorie.

We saw an upstairs dining area and were told it was used for private functions. We asked our waitress if there is wheelchair access to the upper function room and were told no. If you’re planning a special event and are inviting people in wheelchairs this is not the place for you.

A bar/lounge is located adjacent to the dining room has no accessible seating. The bar is too high and all the tables are tall bar style tables that are too high. A large flat screen TV is hanging on the wall for customers in the lounge to view. You are out of luck if you want to stop for a drink and watch a sports game on TV while your wife or girlfriend shops.

The restrooms are accessible yet we found it extremely difficult to access the restrooms because children booster seats were blocking access in the hall leading to the restrooms. My friend Ric had to move the booster seats so I could get by. The restrooms are spacious yet there is not much room to maneuver your chair because the wastebasket and baby changing station blocks access. The sink is of a good accessible height yet the pipes underneath are not covered as is ADA required.

I give Siena restaurant TWO STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Three Stars they would need to install automatic entry doors so a person in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently; place some accessible tables in the lounge; lower a section of the bar to an accessible height so a customer in a wheelchair can sit and enjoy a drink while watching the large flat screen TV; install an elevator to the second floor function room; remove the booster seats that block wheelchair access; move the wastebasket in the restroom; and place babies changing on the wall which can pull out like many other restrooms have so it doesn’t block access to the toilet.

4 out of 5 stars
Day Boulevard
South Boston, MA
Phone: 617-727-5290
Website: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/castle.htm   

Jowanna, Kevin and I visited Castle Island, a 22-acre Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Park and I was really impressed with the wheelchair accessibility of this beautiful park.

There are plenty of accessible parking spaces located in front of the parking lot. Castle Island is FREE for all to visit; its open year-round and easy to get to because it’s connected to land by both pedestrian and vehicle causeways. A very nice Park Ranger told us that various activities and events scheduled can be found on their website listed above.

Before touring the island, we had lunch at Sullivan’s, a fast food restaurant located on the island. The entrance is wide open making for easy access. The countertops and soda machines are all of an accessible height; the employees were all friendly and kind. We ate our lunch at one of the picnic tables on the patio outside. The picnic table is wheelchair accessible because there is an open space between one of the attached benches for my wheelchair; the height is good and I could reach my food and drink.

After lunch we took a stroll along the Harborwalk. This walkway which goes along the beautiful water’s edge of Castle Island is wide, nicely paved and easy to wheel along. I enjoyed watching cruise ships and sailboats passing by. I also liked seeing the planes landing and taking off from Logan Airport. Kevin told me he was here on the 4th of July and could see the Boston fireworks!

We saw some picnic tables placed along the walkway that are not wheelchair accessible. All water fountains we saw are of a wheelchair accessible height. We came upon a Children’s Playground and were disappointed to find it is not wheelchair accessible; the terrain is of wood chips and there are no accessible play structures for children in wheelchairs. The most wheelchair accessible playground for children I’ve seen is the Mission Hill Playground in Boston.

Though I didn’t bring my beach wheelchair, the larger section of the beach is wheelchair accessible. It would be easy to roll my beach wheelchair right onto the sand. There is one small section of the beach that is NOT accessible because the wheelchair accessible ramp has some pieces of wood broken; and the end of the ramp has a large gap caused by sand washed away. A shower to rinse off the sand is very accessible with a push button to operate. Beach loaner wheelchairs are available on a first come basis.

Along the way we saw a Fish Pier at Castle Island which would be a cool spot to come and fish. All I would need to do is drop the bait on my fishing line into the water without having to cast far away.

We also stopped at two Memorials which are very accessible; the South Boston Korean Memorial; and the memorial of the late Fire Fighter Robert M. Greene, Ladder Company 23.

Located at the end of Harborwalk is Fort Independence (built between 1834 and 1851). This historical fort is the major feature of Castle Island. Tours are available throughout the summer months and hours vary. I didn’t get to tour the Fort yet was told only the first level is wheelchair accessible. It reminds me of the historical fort I toured at Georges Island in which only the first level is wheelchair accessible.

The Harborwalk around the island took us about an hour to wheel around with stops along the way to take a few pictures. Most of the walkway has a railing or fence along the way. A person in a wheelchair should be careful for some paths felt a little unsafe for there are slopes off the path where the fences are set too far back.

The restrooms are wheelchair accessible with a sloped cement walkway leading to the entrance; it is spacious and ADA compliant except the pipes underneath the sinks are not covered as is ADA required.

Overall Castle Island is an accessible and fun place to visit to take a stroll, fish, swim or take an historical tour of the fort.

I give Castle Island FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. To earn the fifth star they would need to fix the broken ramp leading to the small part of the beach; make the children’s playground wheelchair accessible; place a few accessible picnic tables along the walkway; and cover the pipes underneath the accessible sink in the restroom as is ADA required.

5 out of 5 stars
“Southie” Beaches
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Carson Beach, L Street Beach and M Street Beach
Day Boulevard
Phone: 617-727-8865
http://www.bostonharborwalk.com/placestogo/location.php?nid=6&sid=53

South Boston, also known as “Southie,” has the longest stretch of uninterrupted beach in the Boston area. These beaches include Carson, L Street, M Street and Pleasure Bay; all are owned and maintained by the Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Recently I read the article in the Boston Globe An unexpected hot spot: ‘Southie Beach’ by Billy Baker that these beaches have become a hot spot for young people north of the Cape Cod Canal and remind some of South Beach in Miami.

Even though Monday was a cloudy day, Ric, Amanda and I traveled to South Boston to see how wheelchair accessible these “Southie” beaches are. WOW! These beaches are the most wheelchair accessible beaches I’ve seen and I will definitely come back with my beach wheelchair on a warm sunny day.

In 2006 DCR added a new sea wall, new sand, new walkways, benches, lighting, shade shelters and beautiful landscaping which has made these “Southie” beaches a popular destination that are fully accessible to all! The Harborwalk located in front of this stretch of beaches is a great place to take a jog, wheel or walk.

There are plenty of handicap parking spaces located right in front of each beach. The bathhouse at L Street Beach and Carson Beach has loaner beach wheelchairs you can use. The first beach we stopped at was Carson Beach. The boardwalk along Carson Beach is constructed of maintenance free materials that will last a long time. This boardwalk provides full & equal access to all facilities.

The restrooms are spacious, wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant. The accessible sink is a large round sink that is of an accessible height; the faucets are easy to reach; the soap and hand blower are placed at an accessible height. The outdoor shower is wheelchair accessible and the control is a push button that is easy to reach; the handicap accessible changing room stall has plenty of room for my chair; the restroom mirror is lowered and of a perfect wheelchair accessible height.

A recreational area has some tables for playing games such as checker’s and chess; all tables are of perfect height for wheelchair users. The café for dining was closed when we were here. Yet we could see it is fully accessible as are the tables. The counter to order and pay for your food is of an accessible height; and the tables are wheelchair accessible with room for your chair to comfortably fit.

The water fountain has two heights and one is pefect for me to reach. The wheelchair accessible ramp leading from the boardwalk to the beach is easy to wheel along for the slope is perfect and meets evenly with the soft sand of the beach. We’ve seen accessible ramps at some beaches that have a large gap at the end of the ramp because the sand was washed out by the tides; this makes wheelchair access very difficult; check out the picture of the ramp at Plymouth Long Beach . This is not a problem here as we were told the new sea wall prevents the sand from being washed away.

The beaches of “Southie” deserve FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility! I look foward to coming back on a warm sunny day!

4 out of 5 stars
221 Patriot Place
Foxborough, MA 02035
Phone: 508-543-2650
https://www.dunkindonuts.com/

After a busy day of seeing Tom Brady and New England Patriots Training Camp 2010, having lunch at Bar Louie at Patriot Place and buying a fun tee shirt at Life is good at Patriot Place, my mom, Ric, Amanda and I stopped for an iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts. This Dunkin Donuts is very wheelchair accessible as are most of the places at Patriot Place.

The entry door is not automatic so Amanda held it open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside. The cashier counter is of a good wheelchair accessible height and I had no problem ordering and paying for my coffee. The condiments are placed on an accessible counter and easy to reach. All the small tables are of an accessible height.

There is no restroom inside this Dunkin Donuts yet there is a public wheelchair accessible restroom close by.
 
I give this Dunkin Donuts FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic entry door so a customer in a wheelchair can independently enter and exit.

4 out of 5 stars
220 Patriot Place
Foxborough, MA 02035
Phone:508-203-9449
Website: http://www.lifeisgood.com/

After my mom, Ric, Amanda and I saw Tom Brady and New England Patriots Training Camp 2010 we had lunch at Bar Louie at Patriot’s Place. After lunch we came upon a store at Patriot Place called Life is good and decided to check it out. It just so happens that we’re going to a Life is good festival in Canton on the weekend of September 11th and 12th and we’ve never been in one of their stores.

Life is good is a very wheelchair friendly and accessible store which sells fun apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Life is good Kids Foundation is a wonderful nonprofit organization that raises money for children in need. Their Festivals are a one-of-a-kind benefit event in which 100% of the proceeds raised benefits children in need. You can find out more about their festivals @ http://www.lifeisgood.com/festivals/.

This Life is good store has one set of entry doors that are not automatic yet plenty wide enough to fit my chair. Amanda held the door open as Ric pushed my manual chair inside. The store is fully wheelchair accessible; all the aisles are wide and spacious and easy to maneuver my chair around. Towards the front of the store I noticed a step up to an area that had some cool t-shirts but wasn’t sure of how I would get up there. Then I saw an accessible ramp leading to that area. The ramp is easy to wheel along and has railings on both sides for added safety.

I picked out a Life is good tee shirt that I think is cool as well as some snuggle socks to wear when the weather in NE gets cool. I approached the cashier counter and found it is fully wheelchair accessible; the middle section of the counter is lowered and of a perfect height. Two employees behind the counter were very friendly, kind and helpful.

I give this Life is good store FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic door so a customer in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently. The Life is good Kids Foundation deserves FIVE STARS for all they do to benefit children in need.

3 out of 5 stars
232 Patriot Place
Foxboro MA 02035
Phone: 508-623-1195
http://www.barlouieamerica.com/home/

After seeing Tom Brady and New England Patriots Training Camp 2010, my mom treated Ric, Amanda and me to lunch at Bar Louie which is located at Patriot Place. Bar Louie is a very wheelchair friendly and accessible restaurant with only a few obstacles. Upon arriving we noticed the outdoor dining area only has tall bar/style tables that are not accessible yet were pleased to find plenty of accessible tables inside.

There are two sets of double entry doors which are not automatic but wide enough to fit your chair. The first sets of doors were left open yet the second set of doors was closed so Amanda held it open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside.

Once inside we were warmly greeted by a very nice hostess. She showed us to an accessible table which was of a perfect height for my chair. The dining room inside Bar Louie has tall bar/style tables which are not accessible yet there are plenty of tables that are fully wheelchair accessible in all areas of the restaurant. One dining area even has an accessible ramp with railings on both sides for a customer in a wheelchair to access this area.

Bar Louie specializes in oversized sandwiches, a wide selection of appetizers, martinis, and an assortment of beers. I had a sip of an apple martini  and it is delish’. Our waitress was very friendly, kind and courteous. Our meals were delicious and the service was fantastic.

The bar is not wheelchair accessible for it is too high for me to reach. Large flat screen TVs placed on the wall above the bar are easy to see from most tables. The ADA does not require a bar to be wheelchair accessible if an accessible table is adjacent to the bar. Yet I think all bars should have an accessible area for a customer in a wheelchair to sit and enjoy a drink like all other customers can choose to do.

We saw an elevator and asked our waitress where the elevator takes you; she told us that Bar Louie also has a roof top that has a bar, accessible dining tables and offers a full menu. It was closed when we were here probably because it was too hot yet it would be a great place to enjoy a meal, especially if the NE Patriot’s were playing because you can see the field of Gillette Stadium from here.

The restrooms are easy to access for there is no door to open. Once inside I found it to be spacious and fully ADA compliant. The faucet, soap and hand towel dispenser are automatic and easy for me to reach.

Bar Louie offers a $2.00 burger every Tuesday night from 5pm until close. The burgers are delicious and for $2.00 it is well worth the trip and you’ll love the atmosphere too.

I give Bar Louie THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Two Stars they would need to install automatic entry doors so a person in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently; lower a section of the bar to an accessible height so a customer in a wheelchair can sit at the bar and enjoy a drink; and place a few wheelchair accessible tables on the outdoor patio. Our waitress deserves FIVE STARS for great and friendly service and the atmosphere at Bar Louie is certainly deserving of FIVE STARS. I really like Bar Louie!

5 out of 5 stars
Tom Brady and New England Patriots Training Camp 2010
One Patriot Place
Foxborough, MA 02035-1388
Training camp: 508-549-0001
Administration: 508-543-8200
http://www.patriots.com/

Yesterday my mom, Amanda, Ric and I went to see the New England Patriots practice at the New England Patriots Training Camp which is located right behind Gillette Stadium at Patriot Place. It was fun and exciting to see the Patriots practice at this very wheelchair friendly and accessible training camp. Last year when I went to the New England Patriots Training Camp 2009 I met Randy Moss and the NE Patriot cheerleaders. This year I had the pleasure of meeting Tom Brady and found him friendly, kind and sensitive.

There are plenty of handicap parking spaces located in the front row of the parking lot. A wheelchair accessible sloped walkway at the end of the parking lot leads to a wide paved road. The pavement is smooth and easy to wheel along. At the end of this road you’ll see the Training Camp below. A wide sloped walkway leads down to the entrance of the Training Camp. The entrance is wide open and easy to access. There is no cost to enter. Admission is FREE. Located in front of the training field are some food concession stands and a tent selling official NFL NE Patriots merchandise. All are fully wheelchair accessible.

Port-a-Johns are located behind the concession stands. A wheelchair accessible restroom for staff members and fans in wheelchairs to use is located in a building near the Cheerleader’s building. A wide wooden ramp leads to the entry door. A kind attendant held the door open while Ric pushed my manual chair inside. The door to the restroom is automatic with simple push of a button. Braille is located on the sign for the Blind and visually impaired. The restroom is spacious and fully ADA compliant.

After using the restroom, a kind employee pointed us in the direction of the wheelchair accessible ramp that leads to the training field. This ramp has railings located on both sides for added safety; it leads to the front of the bleacher stands. The stands have cut-out sections in the front row for fans seated in wheelchairs with bench seating located on both sides so your friends can sit next to you. The attendants are all very kind and helpful and will help you get to an accessible seat.

My mom, Ric, Amanda and I chose to sit in the shade under a tent located right up front because it was so hot and humid sitting in the sun. We sat with some other folks in wheelchairs and all had a great view of the players practicing on the field. We got some great pictures of Tom Brady throwing and handing the ball off to teammates.

This morning practice was only an hour and a half long because it was a walk-thru practice and they weren’t dressed in full uniform.

A few minutes before practice ended, Tom Brady came right over to say hi to me! He was very kind and sensitive. He signed his name on my NE Patriot’s pendent and even took the time to let my mom take a picture of us. I could see that Tom was really hot and tired after practicing on this very humid and warm sunny day and I really appreciated he took the time to say hi to me.

It was wonderful to meet Tom Brady. Tom Brady is a wonderful guy and donates a lot of his time to Best Buddies ( http://www.bestbuddies.org/) a nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

If anyone is interested in going to a New England Patriot’s Game, the ticket windows are located in front of the Gillette Stadium near The Hall at Patriots Place and Pro Shop of the New England Patriots. There are still some wheelchair seats available for the last three games. My mom bought me wheelchair accessible tickets to the NE Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins which is the last game of the season on January 2, 2011 :)

I give the New England Patriots Training Camp FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility! The Kraft family has done a spectacular job making their facilities fully accessible to all.

Tom Brady also deserves FIVE STARS for his sensitivity, kindness and the wonderful charitable work he does that helps to make the world more sensitive, respectful, safer and accessible to all. Thank You Tom!