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<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can use the page below to register as an athlete with Achilles International:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://achillesinternational.rosterfy.com/register">https://achillesinternational.rosterfy.com/register</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you complete the above registration process, then you can participate in any Achilles International programs and activities in any location including Boston.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:white;background:white">212354-0300<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:white;background:white"><a href="mailto:info@achillesinternational.org">info@achillesinternational.org</a></span><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:white;background:white">or use a visual interpreting service like Aira to complete the forms with you or on your behalf.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Achilles Boston — Achilles International<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Landing page for the Boston chapter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.achillesinternational.org/boston">https://www.achillesinternational.org/boston</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Boston chapter Meeting Info</span></strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Tuesdays, 6:00 PM Shah Family Foundation 276 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white;margin:1rem 0px;line-height:var(--body-font-line-height);overflow-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;white-space:pre-wrap;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Saturdays, 9:00 AM Achilles Tent Carson Beach South, South Boston, MA 02127<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white;margin:1rem 0px;line-height:var(--body-font-line-height);overflow-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;white-space:pre-wrap;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Newbury Street Location Details:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">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.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">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.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Newbury Street is a oneway so generally the businesses on the even numbered side will be on your left (including the</span></strong><span style="color:black">
</span><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">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.<o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Inside the Shah Family Foundation building at
</span></strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">276 Newbury there is space if you want to leave items during your workout, and also there are restrooms on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">Carson Beach Location Details:</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:black">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 </span></strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">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.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Boston chapter Contact:</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">For information on joining as an athlete with a disability or volunteering as a guide runner, please contact</span><span style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Joe LeMar</span><span style="font-family:proxima-nova"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="color:black">Boston chapter leader</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black"><a href="mailto:jlemar@achillesinternational.org">jlemar@achillesinternational.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">or call/text him at<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">508-345-5485.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white;margin:1rem 0px 0px;line-height:var(--body-font-line-height);overflow-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;white-space:pre-wrap;text-decoration-thickness: initial;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black">Follow Achilles Boston on:</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white">
<span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:black"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AchillesInternationalBoston/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:blue;text-decoration:none">Facebook</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova">,
</span></strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/achillesboston/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:blue;text-decoration:none">Instagram</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova"> and
</span></strong><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/bostonachilles" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova;color:blue;text-decoration:none">Twitter</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:proxima-nova">.</span></strong></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I can also answer any questions you have via email at:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Mika.pyyhkala@envisionus.com">Mika.pyyhkala@envisionus.com</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mika<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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