On St. Patrick’s Day this year (2026), through the efforts of dedicated people at Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources, Indiana’s State Parks took a significant leap forward and set a new bar for statewide recreational accessibility. Through the support of a grant from the Eli Lilly Endowment, each of Indiana’s State Parks now has one Track Chair…parks with Inns have two! I had the honor of taking the first one out for a test drive! (Despite the bitter cold wind and the freshly fallen snow, several media outlets were present to document the moment…here are links to stories by WFYI and WRTV).
Now, last summer I experienced a Track Chair for the first time while at the beach in South Haven, Michigan. It allowed me to go wherever I wanted on the beach, without needing to rely on a family member to push a beach wheelchair with big inflatable wheels and no personal control. However, while it was easy to transfer to from my wheelchair, it was difficult to get out of (if I wanted to get down on the sand or go in the water) and it had to be recharged every two hours…which would take about 45 minutes.
The Track Chairs that Indiana’s DNR purchased are a newer model, with a different type of battery that lasts up to 8 hours, and has additional features. These are made to go over most minor obstacles, and can easily support people who want to go for a hike with their friends and family, or spend the day in nature themselves! The chairs have an attachment for fishing poles, and also a rack for…let’s say crutches and canes (at least that’s how I’ll use it). They have an optional harness attached to the backrest and a seatbelt. Several pockets for anything you need to take with you, and a comfortable seat that tilts as needed for weight distribution…providing increased stability when going up or downhill. (This tilt will also come in handy for getting in and out of the seat when not transferring directly to a wheelchair). I had no issues maneuvering the Track Chair; it turns on a dime and easily climbed up and down hills that my prosthetics legs would not easily (or safely) address.
The Track Chair enhances the independence experienced by people with disabilities who want to access nature. For many, this will restore a natural connection to our world that many people with disabilities feel they can no longer access. For others, it will help them maintain their connection to Mother Nature as they develop conditions of aging, or acquire disabilities through trauma. Supporting vital activities of daily living in new and engaging ways…activities that help the body, mind, and spirit, enhancing the health of individuals and community!
