[Massachusetts-NFB] Exercise and Fitness - Achilles International Boston Chapter Details Tuesdays 6PM Saturdays 9am

Tue Jun 11 19:29:37 UTC 2024

As discussed in the Cambridge chapter meeting, I am sharing details below about Achilles International which provides free exercise and fitness options for people who are blind, visually impaired, or living with other disabilities. The information below pertains to the Boston chapter, but as an FYI, Achilles International has other chapters throughout the US and some international locations.

Also both Kyra Sweeney and myself have participated in the Achilles program and have found it to be beneficial and a good community. We would both recommend that you give Achilles a try if your interested in exercise, fitness, or spending time outdoors. With the Achilles program you can go at your own pace either walking, jogging or running. There are people that come for an occasional outdoor walk along side  athletes who compete in races and marathons. There are some athletes and guides that attend 1-2 times a week, and others attend occasionally. The program works very well regardless of where you are in that fitness and time commitment continuum.

You can use the page below to register as an athlete with Achilles International:
https://achillesinternational.rosterfy.com/register
You will first fill out basic details, then be sent an email by a third party company to do a background check which should process in 2 days or so, and then you can officially join the Boston chapter. The web site, powered by a platform called Rosterfy,  is useable but some parts were not as streamlined as they could be with accessibility. For example, the web site has an accessibility overlay widget.

Once you complete the above registration process, then you can participate in any Achilles International programs and activities in any location including Boston.

If you have difficulties completing the online forms, you could among other things reach out to the Achilles headquarters program office in New York at:
212354-0300
info at achillesinternational.org<mailto:info at achillesinternational.org>
or use a visual interpreting service like Aira to complete the forms with you or on your behalf.

Once you are associated with the Boston chapter they use a tracking tool called Rosterfy to RSVP for the twice weekly events. You can use this rosterfy tool to also sign up for other Achilles events in other locations that you may visit etc. You also get certain incentives like free t-shirts or other merchandise when you complete certain milestones logged in rosterfy, including at certain times  your first logged workout. Also Rosterfy is the web based tool that you would be using when you do your initial registration and online setup of your Achilles athlete profile.

Achilles Boston - Achilles International
Landing page for the Boston chapter
https://www.achillesinternational.org/boston

Once your athlete profile in the Achilles Rosterfy system is associated with the Boston chapter, you will begin receiving chapter email updates regarding ongoing and special events throughout the year. Special events could include things like races, tandem biking, or community meetups at restaurants.

Boston chapter Meeting Info:
Tuesdays, 6:00 PM Shah Family Foundation 276 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Saturdays, 9:00 AM Achilles Tent  Carson Beach South, South Boston, MA 02127

Newbury Street Location Details:
276 Newbury is an office building for the Shah Family Foundation which provides support for the Boston chapter. There may also be residential space in this building.

If you are standing with 276 Newbury Street in front of you, directly to your right is Faccia a Faccia which is an Italian restaurant that has indoor and outdoor seating with an address  of 278 Newbury Street.

Newbury Street is a oneway so generally the businesses on the even numbered side will be on your left (including the Achilles meeting spot)  and odd numbers on your right as your driving down the street in a rideshare or car. It's a pretty narrow street and easy to cross even in the middle of the street.

Inside the Shah Family Foundation building at 276 Newbury there is space if you want to leave items during your workout, and also there are restrooms on the 2nd floor.

Carson Beach Location Details:
The summer 2024 Saturday morning workouts take place along the Boston Harbor walk. The harbor walk is a paved walkway that stretches for miles along the Boston waterfront. There is an Achilles tent located on the beach side of the road across from the Moakley Park. I have only been to this location one time, so I don't yet have a more precise set of directions and landmarks that you can look for when arriving at the Carson Beach harbor walk area. You can also contact Joe LeMar, see below, for more directions or help finding this location. Its possible the location may be designated in Lyft as Carson Beach South.

Boston chapter Contact:
For information on joining as an athlete with a disability or volunteering as a guide runner, please contact
Joe LeMar
Boston chapter leader
jlemar at achillesinternational.org<mailto:jlemar at achillesinternational.org>
or call/text him at
508-345-5485.
Follow Achilles Boston on:
Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/AchillesInternationalBoston/>, Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/achillesboston/> and Twitter<https://mobile.twitter.com/bostonachilles>.

Joe can answer questions you might have about the Boston Achilles chapter programs. He can also provide an orientation the first time you attend in person.

Both Kyra and myself hope to see many of you out on the Achilles walks this summer. The programs are very easy to access, offered free of charge, and operated with a similar mindset and philosophy relating to capability and full participation in society for people who are blind or who have other disabilities. Both locations can be accessed via MBTA, The Ride, Uber/Lyft, Ride Flex, etc.

I can also answer any questions you have via email at:
Mika.pyyhkala at envisionus.com<mailto:Mika.pyyhkala at envisionus.com>

Best,
Mika

Mika Pyyhkala
Dir. of Digital Accessibility - BVI Workforce Innovation Center
Envision, Inc.
610 N. Main St.
Wichita, Kansas 
67203
Direct: 316-440-1573
Mobile: 617-308-1114
www.envisionus.com

Envision Mission: To improve the quality of life and provide inspiration and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education and research.

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