In an effort to fulfill its mission of creating inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities, Opportunity Enterprises (OE) purchased a wheelchair-accessible golf cart for use at its Lakeside property with funds awarded by The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation.
Located on 158 acres at Lake Eliza, OE Lakeside houses the organization’s day programs and respite service, as well as Camp Lakeside, a fully inclusive summer day camp for school-aged kids of various ability levels. The accessible golf cart means OE clients with limited mobility can fully participate in activities on the property.
“One of the things we love about the Lakeside property is the land itself. It’s uneven, there are woods, and a long shore along the lake. It’s perfect for fishing and exploring and so many things we do here,” said OE’s Facilities Director Cassandra Dunn. “But it can be challenging for folks with limited mobility. The golf cart we were able to purchase with these funds is wheelchair accessible and opens the property up for everybody. It means mobility is not a barrier to participation.”
Because the diversity of individuals OE serves, Dunn said the organization is continuously thinking of new ways to ensure accessibility. She noted the property’s Markiewicz Center, which opened last year and hosts OE’s respite service. The center is outfitted with windows at multiple eye levels, a sprawling kitchen with lower countertops so individuals in wheelchairs can cook and socialize, and bathrooms with sit-to-stands for guests to shower or take a bath.
“Creating truly inclusive spaces means giving the people who use our services the same opportunities everybody has. It’s easy to take things for granted,” Dunn said. “If we want to take a shower, we can. If we want to take a bath, we can. That choice is not always given to people with disabilities, and fulfilling our mission means figuring out how to provide those options.”
This is the second year The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation has partnered with OE to provide accessible equipment.
“We’re extremely grateful to partners who believe in what we’re doing and understand the need for this kind of equipment,” Dunn said. “A golf cart might seem frivolous, but it’s central to what we do. What good is this property if the people we have the pleasure of serving aren’t able to fully use it?”
About Opportunity Enterprises, Inc.
For nearly 60 years, Opportunity Enterprises has worked to create inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities. OE is in the business of amazing people, with approximately 400 staff serving over 1,000 people each year. For more information, visit www.oppent.org.
Melissa Benedict (third from left) of Cleveland-Cliffs tours OE’s Lakeside property. The wheelchair-accessible golf cart was purchased with funds from The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation and helps those with limited mobility navigate the property.