Caroline’s Carts: How Huntsville Businesses are Making Shopping More Inclusive
Community Living Huntsville Resource Consultant Karis Sinnema (left), Manager of Children and Youth Services Stacey Bullock, and Family Support Worker Amanda Coysh demonstrate how to use the Caroline’s Cart newly arrived at Walmart in Huntsville.
What may feel like a quick shopping errand to some can feel physically difficult and emotionally exhausting for people with disabilities and their families.
That’s why a new addition – the Caroline’s Cart – is making such a big difference for shoppers at 2 Huntsville stores.
“These carts are not just for children – they can also assist adults with disabilities to come shopping with a family member or a support worker,” said Emily Kouyoumjian, a former Resource Consultant with Community Living Huntsville. “These carts are about the dignity of social and community inclusion as much as they are about physical accessibility.”
A Caroline’s Cart is a modified shopping cart that features a full-sized, caregiver-facing seat, an extra set of wheels for easy maneuverability, and plenty of space for products.
The carts create a more disability-inclusive shopping experience for older children, adults, or seniors with disabilities, and their families, caregivers, or support workers, so they can easily shop together.
Emily Kouyoumjian says accessibility includes customer resources, like Caroline’s Carts, and much more.
The push for Caroline’s Carts in Huntsville started when a local mom reached out to our Children and Youth Services team. She explained how difficult it was to shop with her older child, who has medical and mobility needs. Pushing both a wheelchair and a shopping cart at the same time was exhausting and made even quick errands overwhelming.
Our team stepped in to advocate for more accessible shopping options. They connected with local stores, highlighting the benefits of the Caroline’s Cart for both families and businesses. Thanks to their efforts, Bullock’s Your Independent Grocer and Walmart Huntsville now have Caroline’s Carts available for customers.
Kouyoumjian hoped more businesses would build on this momentum and ensure Caroline’s Carts and other enhanced accessibility features, like ramps, for their customers into the future: “Shopping is part of every-day life, and being included in both the experience and the decisions is really empowering,” she said. “Even a single step into a business can be a huge barrier.”
She added that the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act had a deadline for certain accessibility standards to be met in Ontario by 2025: “There is a lot left to be done.”
First Caroline’s Cart Rolls into Huntsville
Bullock’s Your Independent Grocer co-owner Alycia Simmons (left), former Community Living Huntsville Family Support Worker Emily Kerns, and former Community Living Huntsville Resource Consultant Emily Kouyoumjian celebrate the arrival of the store’s Caroline’s Cart.
Bullock’s Your Independent Grocer announced on Facebook in May 2024 that its newly purchased Caroline’s Cart had officially rolled into the store. While there were Caroline’s Carts in other communities, including Bracebridge and North Bay, this was the first one in Huntsville. The announcement on Facebook earned 124 reactions, 10 comments, and 27 shares in a matter of hours.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” commented one parent. “It will be so much easier to take my son shopping with me now.”
“Oh, my goodness. Thank you for this. This has been a concern for me as my son gets older and doesn’t fit in the baby seat anymore,” commented another parent. “You have no idea how helpful this will be for our family.”
Darcy Bullock and Alycia Simmons, co-owners for Bullock’s Your Independent Grocer, said the decision to purchase the cart was easy to make once brought to their attention. “I hope it makes a difference for our customers and the community,” said Bullock. Families were already putting the cart to use. “Kudos to Community Living for making us aware,” said Simmons.
Second Caroline’s Cart Arrives in Huntsville
Walmart Huntsville and Community Living Huntsville team members celebrate as the store rolls out its Caroline’s Cart for shoppers.
Walmart Huntsville then rolled out its Caroline’s Cart in May 2025. “We are excited to have the cart available for our customers,” said Angie Dean, Assistant Manager of Consumables for Walmart Huntsville. “It was used for the first time by a family who has an older child with a disability.”
“This is great news!” said one commenter on social media.
“So excited to see that it is finally here!” said another.
Dignity, Inclusion, and Equal Access to Daily Life
A Caroline’s Cart.
These carts aren’t just about convenience – they’re about dignity, inclusion, and equal access to daily life. Roughly 27% of Canadians identify as having a disability, and when you include their families and caregivers, that number rises to roughly 53% of Canadians. That is a lot of customers. Accessible resources like a Caroline’s Cart remove barriers and make everyone feel welcome – and businesses benefit.
Everyone on our Children and Youth Services team – both past and present – has worked hard on behalf of area families to promote the carts to local businesses. The team continues to champion the carts to more businesses.
If you own or manage a business, consider how small changes like this can have a big impact on your customers and your business – and make your community more inclusive for everyone.
Community Living Huntsville is a not-for-profit, registered charity that supports and advocates alongside more than 300 children and adults, and their families, to promote and advance meaningful choice and real inclusion for people with developmental disabilities, so people, families, and our community can thrive. Learn more at clhuntsville.ca. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.