HAVE you ever stopped to think how delightful it is to walk across a sandy beach to reach the sea? Flip flops, shoes or even bare feet, towel under your arm and you’re away.
Now, stop and think of someone in a wheelchair trying to achieve the same journey, or a mother with toddlers in a buggy or an elderly person with a stick. That’s why an interactive beach is so important and why Bangor woman Kym Lennon is such a campaigner when it comes to access and, as she says, will do anything to promote disability.
“Such a beach would feature board walks, adapted toilets, chairs with big wheels, and a play area suitable for children, with swings adapted for wheelchair use.”
She knows what she’s talking about, having taken a road trip around the USA with her daughter Alex, and says finding such a beach was like finding a little piece of heaven.
Kym (52) was born able bodied but in 1998 she suffered a brain tumour and as a result of surgery survived against expectation. But she can’t walk, has double vision that effects her balance and she’s having intensive speech therapy. She lives in her bionic chair with lithium batteries but finds some freedom of movement in the local swimming pool.
"If I fall over I just swim!”
Typical of a realistic woman with a fine sense of humour.
Her daughter was 18 months old when Kym was first obliged to use a wheelchair.
“After the operation I was told I’d a 40 per cent chance of survival. I would either go blind or deaf; however, walking was never mentioned and I became reliant on anti-depressives as I was told constantly that I should be grateful that my husband had not ‘run a mile’ and that my child was not in a home.”
Then, after five years, she was told she would probably never walk again.
“I had medically retired from a job I loved as head of art at Newbridge Integrated College, Loughbrickland, I’d sold my sporty BMW and I’d accepted that being an advanced horsewoman was a thing of the past.”
She quit the anti-depressants
Now she and her Alex live in an adapted bungalow in Bangor, headquarters for her energies which concentrate on raising public awareness of disability.
“I’m so proud of Alex. I’ve had her on my own since she was six and a half when my husband left me; she’s now 22 and studying international business studies.”
It’s been a hard journey. Ask her the worst thing about her life and she has no hesitation: “I can’t ride horses anymore and that hurts. Nor will I ever drive my 'Beemer' again but I’m grateful I can get to the train station and arrive in Belfast with my bionic chair and do my shopping.”
Recently she travelled alone from George Best airport to Manchester to visit friends – nothing seems to daunt this woman who rates her life eight out of 10. Obviously she’s frustrated that her social life has been curtailed and at difficulties with travel, wheelchair taxis not always available and then charging for the time it takes to load her chair and unloading it at her venue.
The law is due to change to help with this. “A £6 fare is £10 for me so we’re going to rock and roll till we get equality."
Such negative experiences persuaded Kym to start the charity Disability Matters North Down and Ards.
Being a battler, she gave Castle Espie a thumbs down when she visited, reporting that a manager told her he’d walked around it from a wheelchair user's point of view and found it accessible. Now there are mobility scooters available and, as she says, everyone can enjoy a good day out and see the wildlife first hand.
She took a hotel in Portrush to court for a terrible experience, even having explained she needed a room suitable for a wheelchair user. She won her case and laughs recalling the letter she received afterwards saying: "Sorry you didn’t enjoy your stay in Northern Ireland and we hope you’ll come back again." Insult to injury.
The charity has also reported that Shopmobiity NI is again up and running in Bangor and now the interactive beach is in her sights.
We were sitting in Kym’s ‘hangout’ room surrounded by her work – murals, lampshades, cushions, fashion garments. She paints fabrics, designs and embroiders, and sea turtles turn up all round the room – a creature she identifies with, with its vulnerable interior and hard outer shell, poking out when brave, retreating within when necessary.
Among other things, today she’s a volunteer at Mount Stewart. She’s on the board of governors at Bangor Academy and has written books including Disabled Go, highlighting access to entertainment venues.
African Safari Next
“One aspect of life has been cut short but I’m well over the 'why me?' time. It’s tough but you have to get on with living or get on with dying. I’m living for the day Alex and I will go on Safari in Africa.
"Yes,” she says, “I’m happy. I did something I was told I couldn’t do and I’m here to show the public how successful life can be in a wheelchair. I’m an optimist. When it comes to the glass, I’m a half-full type of girl. Once you figure out why you’re here, figure out your purpose in life, just get on and do it.”
As for the beach, this response from Ards and North Down Borough Council currently "undertaking actions" to improve an area at Groomsport beach: “These works will ensure that the area meets the standards required for an accessible beach accreditation thus ensuring that the area may be used by a range of potential users.”
They add: “Preparatory building activity in relation to the toilets at Groomsport beach will begin within the next few weeks.”
I bet Kym will be keeping a close eye on developments.
