You may recall a photo that went viral about a year ago, of a young boy staring in awe at a Target sign featuring a boy in a wheelchair, just like him. Ability Center in Phoenix helped this local boy have a fun-filled birthday weekend by coordinating with local amusement companies and providing a wheelchair accessible van to help the family get around. The effort was such a success that Ability Center was inspired to start the “Family First Program” that aims to help other community members, young and old, have a weekend of fun.
“Oftentimes, people in wheelchairs get left behind by the family for family outings because there’s no room in the car. Sometimes that’s the child, sometimes that’s mom or dad, an uncle or brother or sister. So it’s not just for little kids,” said Lenny Ovadia, General Manager at Ability Center. “Nobody should ever be left out, it’s all about inclusion.”