March 25, 2016 (Raleigh, NC) - New beach wheelchairs that provide beach access to individuals with mobility disabilities were showcased at A Day at The Beach: Sun, Sand and Fun for All at Fort Macon State Park at Atlantic Beach, NC on March 19, 2016.

The beach wheelchairs are a great step forward in inclusion for people with disabilities to enjoy the beaches of North Carolina as over 645,000 North Carolinians have a form of mobility disability.

Fort Macon State Park received four new beach wheelchairs from ACCESS North Carolina, a program that also offers an online travel guide in coordination with Visit North Carolina for people with disabilities, people who are aging and parents with child and infant strollers.

"As the 2015 State Park of the Year, our park only got better with four new beach wheelchairs that arrived last November, and we are grateful to ACCESS North Carolina for presenting these to the park," said Randy Newman, superintendent of Fort Macon State Park. "It is important to us that the park is accessible to all people, regardless of ability, and that everyone can enjoy the outdoors of North Carolina.'

The weekend event, supported by the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD), welcomed families with and without disabilities to participate in the weekend event and also to celebrate March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

NCCDD supported the event as a part of its mission to promote integrated and inclusive communities through its Five Year Plan and initiatives across the State of North Carolina.

"This accessibility is important in North Carolina, and it is important that we continue to work to make all parts of this State accessible to give people with disabilities opportunities for full participation in their communities," said NCCDD Executive Director Chris Egan.

Guests from Raleigh, New Bern and Swansboro attended the event to show support for this access.

New Bern resident Lois Blanchard, who uses a wheelchair, was thrilled with this new accessibility. "I haven't been to the beach in 10 years because I couldn't get down to it," she said. "This is a liberating experience and I am so glad that these chairs will be available so everyone can enjoy the beach."

Check out the stories from A Day at The Beach: Sun, Sand and Fun for All:

About Fort Macon State Park:
Fort Macon State Park was named the 2015 North Carolina State Park of the Year by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation, and holds that distinction throughout the yearlong centennial celebration of the state parks system. The park was chosen for its "exemplary contribution to the North Carolina state parks mission of stewardship, public service and education," and specifically recognized for initiatives in expanded recreation opportunities, volunteerism, interpretive programming and sustainability.

About the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities:
The North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) works to assure that people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity and inclusion in all areas of community life. Through its Five Year Plan, the Council identifies and funds innovative projects and initiatives that promote the goals of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (DD Act) for all North Carolinians.