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Like I said in my Welcome page there are activities that are more difficult for those with disabilities, but not impossible. In this post I want to share some of those with you.
Backyard and local activities
Badminton– this was one of my favorites when I lived at home. I would stand with my walker with the racket in one hand and wait for the birdie to be hit my way and then I would do my best to hit it. I was never very good, but I had fun.
Croquet– I only tried it a couple times, and although a lot more time consuming it is possible.
Horseshoes– I never tried them but it would be possible from a wheelchair.
Corn hole– Again, I have never tried, but it would also be possible from a wheelchair.
Bowling– I’ve only bowled on the Nintendo Wii, however, I would like to try bowling in person.
Ping-pong/table tennis– I loved playing this when I was a teenager and would love to get back into it now as an adult.
If you need a corn hole, croquet or badminton set you can order them from Amazon.
Excursions requiring travel
One place we went to often when I was growing up was the zoo. I’m not an animal person when it comes to having them as pets. But I like going to the zoo. If you don’t own a wheelchair most zoo’s have them available to rent for the day.
Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia– This one’s a little difficult if you’re a full time wheelchair user and not able to climb steps. ( More in a later post on how I climb steps). You take a train ride to the top of one of the highest peaks in West Virginia called Bald Knob. Make sure you take a jacket because it can be pretty chilly up there even in the summer.
Niagara Falls– According to niagarafallsusa.com they do have several attractions such as Maid of the Mist, the Observation Tower, Niagara Adventure Theater, Niagara Scenic Trolley, Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, the Niagara Falls Visitor Center and Top of the Falls Restaurant that are wheelchair accessible.
The beach– I’m not much of a water person but, my family likes going to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Their Fire & Rescue Departments have beach wheelchairs you can reserve that can actually maneuver on sand. However, the user cannot maneuver them on their own and they are difficult to turn because the front wheels don’t turn like a normal wheelchair.
Amusement Parks/Sporting Events
Morgan’s Wonderland– San Antonio, Texas is still the first and only theme park in the world where all of the rides are fully accessible and sensory-friendly.
Holiday World– located in the middle of a corn field in Santa Claus, Indiana, 3 hours south of Indianapolis and 90 minutes west of Louisville.
MarineLand Canada– Niagara Falls, Ontario offers a discounted admission fee to individuals with disabilities.
Knoebels Amusement Resort– A family owned and operated theme park in the beautiful forested hills of Elysburg, Pennsylvania, just off Interstate 80 about 2.5 hours northwest of Philadelphia.
Six Flags– There are 18 Six Flags theme parks and water parks in North America, and all of them offer a Rider Access Pass or Equal Access Pass for guests with disabilities.
Magic Kingdom park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom park– I have only been to Walt Disney World once, and that was back in 1994. From their website it sounds like they will do whatever possible to accommodate people with disabilities. Check out their website: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/guests-with-disabiliti
Progressive Field– I’m a big Cleveland Indians fan and have gone to several games. When you order tickets tell them you need wheelchair accessible seats. Or if you have already purchased tickets that are not handicap accessible go to Fan Services and you should be able to exchange them for accessible seats.
For these excursions you need a purse, wallet, sunscreen, beach towels, sunglasses and a GPS to make sure you reach your destination safely. Or if you are using your cell phone as your GPS you might want a cup holder for your phone. After all those activities you will probably want a nice refreshing drink. Don’t forget your cooler to keep them cold!
Traveling can be challenging when you’re handicapped and takes a lot of planning and preparing. Click here for a checklist of things to pack and what to do when traveling alone.