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Accessible Sightseeing

Traveling on wheels

By Dolores BorzaPublished 3 years ago 12 min read
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2015 Aquinnah Stop with campers from Jabberwocky

It all started the day I met David and realized how much an accessible tour was needed on my magical home, Martha's Vineyard Island.

In 1984, I joined the United States Army and became a 94B - Food Service Specialist... I departed the military in 1986, with an Honorable Discharge... I was young and dumb and should've stayed in but I continued to work and use my schooling as a chef in the civilian world.

After approximately 20 years of cooking professionally, I became tired of the back of the house... I remember that day I walked out of that restaurant, knowing I would be changing my career for good, and looking forward to doing so...

During the interim of looking for a new profession, I still needed an income, and a fast one at that...

Taxi driver! Thats right! I thought it was a reasonable solution and being raised on the island, it would be easy to get people where they want to go and I knew all the shortcuts...

So I started a job as a hack!

By Daniel Monteiro on Unsplash

Martha's Vineyard is one of the most visited destinations in the US (https://patch.com/massachusetts/marthasvineyard/forbes-magazine-lists-marthas-vineyard-top-place-visit) and a great place for a wedding, honeymoon or whatever special occasion you have that you want to add magic to. Tourism is one of the biggest industries and that means thousands travel to the Vineyard, daily... Day Trippers are what we call our visitors. They travel from near and far. Most take a ferry and leave their car. Thats where I came in... waiting, anxiously, to fill my van and take the eager tourists to their destinations.

I was always asked questions about the Vineyard as I taxi'd people here and there... and I was so delighted in answering them. This eventally led to doing tours... You see, since I was a child, I had learned so much about the Vineyard through my grandfather, Pepe. He was born here and everywhere we went, there was a story to be told. I relished in his stories and teachings and soaked them up like a sponge and never forgot them. After being in the food industry for so many years I realized how much I yearned for customer relations in a more personal means and doing tours was extremely satisfying and I couldnt stop researching and finding out more about what I knew and learning about what I didn't. I have to say, I was grateful for that... afterall, it made for a good tour! And not only that, people were paying good money for a good tour from what I learned... Tips included!! LOL...

I was having a great time sharing all the info I knew about this amazing island and the visitors, and they were relishing in it, however, the choice of vehicles for taxi's (at that time) weren't the best... just your normal average van, squeaking doors, rough sounding engines, windows that didnt open very far and stained seats from adults, children and dogs that were transported all over the island.

One day, on my day off... I sat down by Farm neck pond, which is a place I would go to since I was a child, to chase polywogs and watch my grandfather tease HUGE snapping turtles. I love that place ... it was a gray day and I remember it well... something told me to take a photo... I now know why...

2015 FarmNeck Pond, Oak Bluffs

I was with a friend and we were discussing the taxi dilemmas at hand... As we laughed and made judgemental pokes, I started to realize that my vehicle i was sitting in would make a great tour vehicle and that 'I' too, could do a tour and KEEP the money. I was doing many tours and my clients were paying a hefty dollar, and I was only being paid my regular time. My taxi days came to a halt soon after that little 'awakening' and I ventured into the tour business. I researched what it would take to become a tour operator, went to the town officials, applied and became a company.

Me getting my state license at the DPU Gov't Bldg

I needed to come up with a name for this amazing company I was going to bring to fruition. HomeGrown came to mind with ease... afterall, Im homegrown to the island and what better way to get a tour than with an islander! So, HomeGrown Tours it was...

During my research, one of the greatest helps I received was from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) https://www.inc.com/encyclopedia/service-corps-of-retired-executives-score.html. I feel as though I was one of the lucky ones, I was appointed TWO mentors and I became so grateful for all their help.

Mike Adell and Clark Rattet - SCORE

Mike and Clark helped me become who I am today. They helped me create a business plan first before anything. This is what helped me see how my business was going to work and be able to present it to the town officials and state. Mike was the go getter, the idea creator, the one who pushed you to use your strengths. He gathered resources and pulled no punches... his ability to help you use your mind was amazing... Clark was on the financial side of things and taught me how to manage my money. I used to hate numbers, but I have found, through learning with SCORE, that numbers don't lie and they will be used in every facet of my life. Clark gently guided me in the right direction to get help and made sure I had my 'numbers' right... If anyone is interested in starting a business or becoming an entrepreneur, contact SCORE, they will help you at no cost and they are amazing people. They delight in showing their secrets of their success and sharing with newcomer entrepreneurs.

THE WHY

"Excuse me, ma'am!" I heard this voice from afar... across the street from the ferry (https://www.steamshipauthority.com), "Could you please help me?" There he was, the man that changed my mind about the "why" of my business. The guy that showed me how important it is to understand the needs of the disabled, especially those confined to a wheelchair. I believe I can say that most of us know someone, someone who is disable is some way. Someone who needs accessibility to all things, just to live... Well, David is the one that showed me....

Amongst those that travel to this amazing island, there is a high percentage of people who use a wheelchair. According to the WHO World Report on disability (https://www.physio-pedia.com/Wheelchair_Users) "650 million people, have a disability with research available indicating that some 10% or 65 million people of those living with a disability requiring the use of a wheelchair".

By National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

"How can I help you?" curiously I asked.

In a pleading voice he asked, "Could you please take us on a tour?" We are probably never coming back to Martha's Vineyard because of my condition and would love to see all of the island..."

I was somewhat taken aback because I hadn't thought about this situation, as I had never been approached. It was still early on in my business beginings, so the chances were slim. I had obtained all of my licenses and authorizations to begin about a third of the way into the season. The Vineyard is a seasonal resort and my time to work is approx. May to Oct, although I operate year-round, those are the most busiest of months.

Obviously my answer was yes, otherwise, I wouldn't be writing this.

With some finesse, we were able to get the heavy wheelchair into the back of the car and get David into the front seat. I don't think I ever helped pick someone up before this. He needed a special cushion for his spine. He was completely dependent on his wheelchair and he probably spends most of his life in it. Once we got him, which actually took a lot longer than I had ever anticipated, we were on our way. There were two women that were also along.... I was guessing a nurse and a friend, mainly because of the way they conversed.

Martha's Vineyard has a ton of history, but I'll save that for another story. I mention it now because there are plenty of places that we go to where we normally get out and see the sights.... The first two were quite challenging as we needed a lot of time and effort to get him in and out of the vehicle... I have to say I think, no, I know, that it was much more difficult for him than it was for us. About half way thru the tour, we were in Aquinnah, the west end of the island, which is mainly Native American land. The Gay Head Cliffs that are made of clay and have history of thousands of years are one of the most spectacular sites to see here. The car was shut off, I turned to look at David and asked, " are you ready?" and he looked at me with uncertainty and dismay and said, " naw, its too much trouble, you guys go ahead and take pictures, and I'll look at those...."

ABSFreePic

I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.... The disappointment, the tiredness in his voice, the wishing... I immediately felt so much empathy for this man. I sat with him while his nurse and friend went to "take pics".

For the rest of the tour, I rattled off the history but my mind was racing with ideas on how to remedy this dire problem. I realized for the first time, how difficult it is to get around, especially without accessibility, and I became much more grateful for some of the ease I have in my life. We finished the tour and I dropped them back off at the ferry. David told me that someday he would reach out to me. Ive never heard and I never thought to take a number... I also never got a photo of him, but I remember everything about him. What he looked like, what his chair looked like, the clothes he wore, his hair, his voice and especially his eyes... And I really remember what he said, which nearly broke my heart. We said our goodbyes and that was the last time I saw/heard from David.

WE ARE A GO!

It didnt take me long to get into action. With the season being just about over and I taking a deep long breath and happy with my first year, I had some time to implement what it is I wanted to really do... My most important step was to inform my mentors from SCORE so they could help rebuild my business plan. When I knew where to go from there, I reached out to a man on the island that is well known and happens to be in the trucking industry. He happened to have just obtained a vehicle that was an old transit bus. We discussed what it was i wanted to do and he sold me the bus. (Like it was meant to be)

the old girl

IT HAD A WHEELCHAIR LIFT IN IT!!

It was white (my car and logo and colors are blue/green/yellow), that meant paint. It was a passenger bus, that meant more people. But the most important part of this lovely vehicle was that it had a working wheelchair lift in it. That meant accessibility!! I was beside myself. I was extremely happy that I was going to be an accessible tour company. BUT, there was one problem: I needed a special license to drive it. It happened to be a diesel with more than 15 seats, and it weighed more than a certain amount. So I went to the RMV and they gave me the book and an appt and I passed the test, but I passed the driving test the second time... it was ok to have to jump through the hoops to get this idea rolling. It was needed. And I needed to do it.

ACCESSIBLE TOURS ANYONE?

I ran a survey amongst many people who I searched for that were traveling by chair. The answers were pretty much the same all around. To travel by transit bus to the "sites to see" spots on the Vineyard are long and exhausting... To get to the other side of the Vineyard in a transit bus takes approx 2 hours or so. Mainly because the need of changing buses happens three times. For one in a wheelchair, takes a much longer amount of time. Now, don't get me wrong, the transit buses of the Vineyard are great and get you where you need to go, but they do NOT tell the history of the Vineyard and they don't offer door to door service for a day of fun.

paint and logo

accessibility is in the house

Paint and Logo and we were off and running. I did the painting myself since it was a bit expensive to have it done professionally. The logo was professionally done. Outside in the backyard... how HomeGrown can you get? Pics to follow:

sand, paper and tape

primer

Because of this new idea filling the gap in the tourist industry here, I have been able to help offer nonprofit tours for the campers at Camp Jabborwocky (https://www.campjabberwocky.org), help with disabled vets that come to the Vineyard for a stay thru the DAR (https://gomarthasvineyard.com/directory/mv-seacoast-defence-chapter-daughters-american-revolution) and a number of different organizations that deal with disabled patrons.

I am now moving forward into my sixth year. Of course this last year was extremely difficult, for most of us, but I have had the pleasure of seeing the smiles on many faces and thats pretty much what sums up my why of what I do and the good deed of helping make Martha's Vineyard a more accessible island to explore. Our past clients have really made an impression upon me and I have never forgotten any of them.

Here's a few:

summer 2016

Summer 2017

Summer 2018

I can't describe in words the feeling I get when they finally don't have to look at pictures instead!

Not to boast, but I love what I do and when I can make another smile and make it possible for them to see the Vineyard and experience the magic that I have, I've done what I was put here to do.... and I get to do it over and over again... the wrinkles from smile and laugh lines are so well worth it!

a gift to me from a friend when I started the business

success
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About the Creator

Dolores Borza

I am a third generation islander that lives on Martha's Vineyard. .. During my mid years, i chose a trodden path that wasnt that pretty, but am grateful to know who i am today and what i can do and how strong i am because of it...

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