Marianna native's invention given to Sunland

Post-polio syndrome in his adult years cost John Swett the ability to take a leisurely walk down his favorite Panhandle beaches.
Now, an invention by him and his brother have made walking in the sand possible for Swett and many others.
John and Tom Swett’s Beach Scoot Accommodator II, with a patent pending, was recently donated to Sunland by their friend Ed Gee of Snellville, Ga.
“The scooter is an all-terrain mobile assist vehicle, designed to be handicap user friendly. It will go over all terrains, including the softest beach sands, snow, ice, mud and through woods. It’s a green all-season vehicle that is very easily operable and runs on a 24-volt electric system,” John Swett said.
He said the scooter holds an average of two people at a time, and is narrow enough to fit through a 36-inch door frame. It can go for a stretch of about six miles down the beach at a time, Swett said. The fastest it can go is about six miles per hour.
The device will be located at the ADA-accessible William J. Rish State Park, operated by Sunland. Attendance at the park is limited to Florida citizens who are handicapped or disabled and their guests, according to residential services supervisor Russell Register. It is located on Cape San Blas in Port St. Joe.
“Our park is specially designed for Florida citizens who are developmentally disabled and may use a wheelchair to ambulate. It gets tough go to the beach with a regular wheelchair or crutches, especially for those with poor ambulatory status. This scooter will afford many of them an opportunity to walk on the beach, so to speak,” Register said.
The scooter is classified by the ADA as a mobility assist vehicle, and therefore does not require a license or permit to operate, Swett said.
Register said a friend of Sunland’s Dr. J.R. Harding introduced Gee to the Accommodator II. Gee decided to donate one to Sunland, and the Swetts provided the $7,900 vehicle at a $2,000 discount. They also threw in an $800 topper and a lifetime warranty for free.
The Swett brothers, who grew up in Marianna and graduated form Chipola Junior College, are also working on another invention for Sunland.
“We are designing another vehicle for them, called the Freedom Wagon,” John Swett said. “For disabled people who can’t get out of a wheelchair, with this they’ll be able to drive the wheelchair into the wagon, be locked down, and a caregiver can ride along also.”
Swett said they are currently looking for donations to help pay for the creation. He said the state has agreed to put up a matching grant for the project.
“We at Sunland have a horse-drawn wagon that affords our residents a chance to have some social leisure time riding through our acreage. When you have a person that uses a wheelchair, it can be difficult to remove them and assist them up into a seat, but with this device will be low to the ground, pulled with a motorized vehicle and will allow for a wheelchair to be rolled up onto the wagon.” Register said. “That way they can even get it up there themselves. It’s a great idea and I’m anxious to see what they pull off,.”
Sunland’s Accommodator II Beach Scoot will make its debut during the grand re-opening of Rish State Park sometime later this year or early next year, Register said.
“Dr. J.R. Harding was instrumental in helping with funds to renovate the park. It’s currently in the latter stage of the renovation process, so we’re currently unable to rent it to anyone,” Register said. “But when we are ready, it will be great. The boardwalk that runs throughout our park was wood and will be replaced by a very durable recycled vinyl material. We renovated our six main dorms with siding and new roofs. We re-outfitted the lodge and made over the swimming pool.”
Once the park re-opens, those interested in making reservations may call (850) 482-9386.
Those interested in trying out the Accommodator II before Rish Park opens may do so at St. George Island, John Swett said.
“We currently have a pilot program at St. George Island State Park. The friends of the park organization there donated an Accommodator II to the park for the program. So it’s there available to anyone who wants to go to the park and check it out for four hours at a time, for free,” John Swett said.
John, his wife Vicki Swett and brother Tom are officers of Accessible Beach and Bath Products LLC. Their web site is www.beachscoot.com.