SEAFORD, Del. -The City of Rehoboth Beach posted on social media that a company, who chose to remain anonymous, donated 400 feet on mobi mats to the city to make it easier for wheelchairs to travel on the sand. The Tull Family of Seaford, spoke with CoastTV about the importance of making the beach more accessible for individuals who face mobility challenges.
Stevie Tull, was diagnosed with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease when he was 18 months old. Despite being in a wheelchair his whole life, Tull has enjoyed many thrilling activities, from zip lining to riding horses, but limited wheelchair accessibility has prevented his family from enjoying the beach.
"We haven't been on the beach in years, and it's not just us, anyone with any type of mobility issue, whether it's someone like Stevie that's in a power wheel, which him and the chair together is over 500 pounds, so it doesn't go in sand, it doesn't go in mud, it doesn't go in a lot of places, but a manual chair wouldn't go either," explained Steve Tull, Stevie's father. Tull continued, "Even so much as using a walker, or someone that's using a scooter, or someone that's using a cane, anything that requires a little bit of assistance, you can't get on the beach."
Stevie's family is excited abut the gift donated to Rehoboth Beach, but they say there is much more that needs to be done because everyone should be able to enjoy the beach.
"Individuals with disabilities, whatever types, just want to enjoy life, like you and I and everyone else, and going to the beach is part of that," stated Steve Tull.
Stevie's family encourages city and town officials of beach areas to continue to search for ways to make sure beach accessibility is available to everyone.