Breaking Beach Barriers: Couple Designs Beach Wheelchairs

For most people, a day at the beach isn't a big deal, but for some, it's easier said than done.
Coolers, bicycles, even cars, regular wheels and tires sink into the sand, often getting stuck. The same thing happens with wheelchairs, but one Pensacola power couple is changing that, one chair at a time.
Karen Deming loves the beach.
"I crave to go to the beach," said Karen. "I'm a water person; I'm an Aquarius!"
In 1990, however, life changed drastically for Karen. A car crash injured her spinal cord, leaving her a quadriplegic.
"It took many years for me to get my mind wrapped around the fact that this was not going to be something that I was going to overcome," Karen told Channel 3's Hannah Mackenzie
She had to learn to do things differently, and trips to the beach were difficult.
"Michael tried carrying me," said Karen. "We tried different methods and finally I just got disgusted with it."
That's when Michael, Karen's husband, decided to take matters into his own hands. Several prototypes later, the De-Bug Beach Wheelchair was born.
"The chair frame is all made from 316-L stainless steel, which is much higher than standard grade stainless steel," said Michael. "Then we've incorporated a number of special seating and positioning for people who are more profoundly disabled."
It's not just for the beach, Michael said it's for all-terrain, designed to go wherever a traditional wheelchair isn't able to. It didn't take long for the idea to catch on.
"We had some local park rangers ask us to make them, then hotels, then municipalities started to catch on," said Michael. "It turned into a business from there."
An international business. Karen and Michael make chairs for people all across the world with different types of disabilities, even custom-designing them for some as young as three years old.
"It is extremely rewarding to be able to have a business that provides people with lasting memories, final memories and everyday enjoyment that anyone should be able to experience," said Karen. "I mean who wouldn't want to come out and enjoy our beautiful beaches?"
The De-Bug Beach Wheelchair comes apart for easy transport and is put back together without tools. With the ability to tilt and turn on a dime, the chair is designed with every aspect in mind. Karen and Michael are constantly reconfiguring and upgrading each model to better fit the needs of more and more people.
For more information about the de-bug beach wheelchair, visit www.beachwheelchair.com