After a life-altering accident left her son without the use of his legs, one New Brunswick mother found herself facing a world of new limitations. Not just for her child, but for her family. “We didn’t know how we’d ever do the things we loved doing together again,” she says. “Going to the beach, walks on the trail, just being outdoors as a family.”
That changed when her son was introduced to a specialized all-terrain wheelchair through Ability New Brunswick. Beyond restoring mobility, this assistive device, designed to navigate sand, snow and uneven trails, helps restore independence and joy.
“It’s hard to describe what that kind of independence means to him, and to us,” she says. “He can really be with his friends and not feel like he’s stuck watching from the sidelines. He’s not just participating, he’s thriving.”
Removing barriers across the province
This transformation is one of many made possible by Ability New Brunswick, a provincial organization dedicated to promoting autonomy and full participation for individuals with reduced mobility. With personalized programs, an extensive adapted equipment service, and support rooted in accessibility and inclusion, the organization helps people lead more active lives while fully integrating into their communities.
“The barriers people face, whether they’re physical, financial, or even social, are often invisible to the rest of us,” says Michelle Breede, Manager, Sport and Recreation at Ability New Brunswick. “Sometimes a single piece of adaptive equipment can open up a whole world.”
That equipment ranges from hockey sledges to multi-sport wheelchairs, with requests pouring in throughout the province. In just one year, Ability NB responded to nearly 12,000 requests.
Expanding access through partnership
Support from the Medavie Foundation has helped expand this reach.
“Thanks to the Medavie Foundation’s partnership, we’ve been able to reduce wait times, respond faster and more effectively, and increase our inventory of specialized equipment,” says Breede. “It means more people can access what they need, when they need it.”
It’s a collaboration grounded in shared values.
“Because of the nature of my work, I've become skilled at separating my emotions from what I do — but when it comes to Ability NB, I sometimes have to pause,” shares Sara El Rayes, Community Impact Manager with the Medavie Foundation. “I still remember how it felt as a child to be included, to feel part of the team and how it felt to be left out. To me, this partnership is about that feeling and creating the kind of core childhood memories where children can feel like they truly belong.”
The impact goes far beyond the physical. With access to adaptive sports and recreation equipment, participants not only gain mobility but also confidence, social connection, and inclusion. “When your friends go to the beach, now you can go too,” Breede says. “It changes everything.”
Meeting people where they are
Behind the scenes is a passionate team committed to ensuring everyone who reaches out gets support that’s tailored to their needs.
“If someone can’t come to us, we go to them,” Breede shares. “Every request starts with listening. We take the time to understand their reality and offer solutions that are tailored and respectful.”
From site assessments in rural communities to school-based education and online accessibility tools, Ability New Brunswick is addressing barriers at every level, from physical to systemic to social.
“Sometimes it’s just a one-centimetre threshold that stops a wheelchair,” says Breede. “But the real impact is in what that barrier represents — being excluded. Our goal is to break those barriers down, one by one.”
And that effort is personal.
“The first time I delivered a piece of equipment and saw that smile, I knew I was in the right place,” Breede reflects. “When we give someone opportunities for mobility support, we give them back control of their life.”
From a mother’s relief to a child’s joy, from a beach day to a trip to summer camp, one thing is clear: access isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline.