The Traveling Wheelchair

Prowse Farm
5 Blue Hill River Road
Canton, MA
Website: http://www.lifeisgood.com/festivals/
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4luBQ3k8Piw

Sunday I had the wonderful opportunity of attending the Life is good Festival which was held on September 11 & 12 at historic Prowse Farm in Canton, Massachusetts. I went with my Aunt Nancy, Liz my cousin and good friends Tony and Justin. We all found the festival to be fun, upbeat and very wheelchair friendly and accessible.

I first heard about this festival from a good friend and learned more about it when I was shopping at the Life is good at Patriot Place. The Life is good Festival is a one-of-a-kind benefit festival in which 100% of the proceeds raised go to the Life is good Kids Foundation which helps kids overcome life-threatening challenges such as violence, illness and extreme poverty.

When we arrived at the Life is good Festival we were kindly directed by a State Policeman to a parking lot which had plenty of wheelchair accessible parking spaces up front. From here we took a wheelchair accessible shuttle van to the fair grounds. I was really impressed that the van had the proper Wheelchair Tiedowns and Occupant Restraint System (WTORS) which will be required in all paratransit vans transporting wheelchair seated passengers if House 3785 and Senate 1948: “An Act Relative to the Transportation of Individuals Seated in Wheelchairs’ passes in Massachusetts.

The fairground terrain consisted of compact dirt and grass which we found easy to wheel on. A person in any chair would not have any problems getting around these fairgrounds.

I was quite impressed with all the accessibility features of this festival. Handicap Port-A-Johns located throughout the fair were spacious and ADA compliant; the accessible sink was of a good height; and the soap and towel dispenser was easily in my reach. Also located near the entrance was an accessible ATM machine that was easy for me to reach. Sign language was available and assistive listening devices were available at the information booth.

Throughout the festival were various food vendors; all the counters were at a good wheelchair accessible height. There were many kinds of foods to choose from hamburgers to Middle Eastern food. I tried a Sambosa which is a flakey triangular dough stuffed with various fillings such as vegetarian, chicken and cheese, steak and cheese, turkey, etc. It was delicious. The picnic tables were accessible so you could enjoy your meal comfortably.

Live performers playing at the festival included Ben Harper and Relentless7, Jason Mraz, Ziggy Marley, Guster, Ozomatli, Corrine Bailey Rae, Dr Dog, OK Go, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and more. I loved dancing and listening to the great music.

There were many stages set throughout the fairgrounds. All the stages had a section specifically for persons with physical disabilities to sit and get a better view of the bands. This area was a raised platform with an accessible ramp leading to it. Located at the end of each ramp was a handicap Port-A-John.

The Life is good Foundation deserves FIVE STARS for helping children in need. The Life is Good Festival deserves FIVE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. The organizers of the festival did a splendid job making sure the festival was fully accessible to all! Thank you!