Inclusive Hiking

Tourism and leisure are essential aspects of life, and the right to enjoy them reflects living standards and inclusive social participation—just like access to education or employment. Leisure as a holistic experience—physical, psychological, and social—is vital for well-being. For people with functional diversity, it becomes a key factor in achieving full inclusion.

The Cabildo Insular de La Palma provides specialized equipment (joëlettes) free of charge so that people with reduced mobility can enjoy hiking on the island. These all-terrain adaptive chairs are offered to residents and visitors alike, ensuring no one stays behind due to accessibility barriers.

The Joëlette

The Joëlette is a vehicle built by the French mountain guide (and founder of the association Handi Cap Evasion) Joël Claudel at the end of the 1980s. It consists of a chair with arms mounted on a wheel (see pictures). It allows all those who are unable to walk to negotiate almost all types of paths. The aim of the device was to enable the inventor’s niece Stéphane, who had myopathy, to go hiking in the Alps with the rest of the family.

Construction-wise, the Joëlette consists of a seat mounted on a motorcycle-type wheel. Two 120cm-long arms extend from the front and rear. The Joëlette is equipped with accessories for safety and comfort: supporting legs, safety belt, footrest, disc brake, suspension, cushions, head rest. In addition, it can be easily dismantled and fits in a car boot without difficulty. From the initial handmade prototype, a manufactured model gradually evolved, presently marketed by the company CDRD (France).

Operation

Operation of the Joëlette implies a team of 3 to 4 people, depending on the terrain. Those involved are: the passenger, two operators, and a third operator acting as a reserve and aid to security. The weight of the vehicle itself, plus the passenger, should always be borne by the wheel axle. To this end, the rear operator is able to adjust the seat inclination by means of a lever, and thus achieve correct balance. Once the right balance has been reached, none of the team members bears any weight on the arms or shoulders. The front operator steers and supplies pulling power.

Communication between all team members is an essential factor for the successful operation of the Joëlette . Half a day’s practice is considered sufficient to acquire the basic technique. Given the technical features of the vehicle, almost all types of terrain can be negotiated. It is easier to walk along a path with a Joëlette , than it is to push a bicycle. The limitations lie not with the equipment, but rather in the technique and strength of the whole team.