Accessibility Review: Clearwater Aquarium

Accessibility Grade: C

Made famous by the popular film "Dolphin Tale," featuring the late Winter the dolphin, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is home to a variety of sea life. Focused on rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured animals, this aquarium is a wonderful place to learn, and even teach your kids, about the importance of wildlife conservation. But you're not here to simply read about the animals! You want to know about the facility's accessibility, right? There's a lot to go through, not all of which is sunshine and rainbows. So, let's dive right in! And yes, that pun was totally intended.

To starts things off, even though we couldn't get any pictures, the parking garage was a pretty tight fit. If you have a larger vehicle, I'd proceed with caution. Next to the building's entrance was a pay station, potentially making it easier for wheelchair users to pay; however, upon exiting the garage, you must be able to reach out of your vehicle's window, and feed your ticket into a machine. Since I'm a quad-amputee, I couldn't do this on my own. So, I'm certainly glad that I brought a friend along!

After navigating the garage, we took an elevator to the main entrance of the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The wide, automatic doors made the entrance pretty accessible. After getting into the building, we paid the entry fee of $41.95 for an adult ticket. I thought this was pretty pricey, but was slightly OK with that price, only because the aquarium does such great work with animal rehabilitation and conservation. If you'd like some additional information about admission rates, click here to view their website.

After taking the elevator, I immediately checked out the Ruth & J.O. Stone Dolphin Complex. From above, you can look over the entire expanse of the dolphin exhibit. From above the water, it wasn't necessarily easy to see the dolphins; however, you can totally see them as they surface to breath. Here, there was plenty of room for people who use mobility equipment. For those who are a bit shorter than I am in my chair, glass makes it possible to see the water within.

When I attempted to go out to the dolphin complex, the automatic door opener didn't work. To the right, you'll see the only button that we could find; however, when we pressed it, nothing happened. There was no other option. So, yet again, I was lucky that I brought a friend who could help me open doors.

After taking the elevator down, we found the entrance for the Dolphin Complex's viewing area. The ramp was wide enough to accommodate the width of my wheelchair, though not much more than that. I imagine that this pathway could get congested during busier hours, so please keep that in mind.

On the way to the Dolphin Complex, you'll find yourself rolling or walking along a corridor. There, you'll see some displays that'll tell you about the different dolphins who have called the Clearwater Marine Aquarium home.

Once you get to the big tank, you'll get a chance to watch the dolphins as they swim through their enclosure. Since I was a child, I've always loved marine animals. Getting the opportunity to tend to my inner-child, and have the chance to come face-to-face with a bottlenose dolphin, was a wonderfully nostalgic experience. As we go through the rest of the aquarium, you'll recognize that this part of it is really accessible: the paths are typically pretty wide and are at a good height for wheelchair users to see. I have to point out that this section of the aquarium is much newer than most of the other exhibits. You'll see that this exhibit isn't necessarily reflective of the rest of the aquarium's accessibility, which was lacking in a lot of ways. But we'll get to that in just a second.

Continuing into the rest of the aquarium, where most of the animals are held, was a little confusing. In the area shown above, you'll see a caution sign, which sits over a large bump. I was actually surprised at how jarring the uneven floor actually was. For wheelchair users, I'd definitely recommend being very careful, and treading over this bump very slowly. This bump is a lot steeper than it looks in the picture.

At the stingray enclosure, we met a number of their staff, all of whom were extremely friendly. This area had lower areas, made of glass, so that children can easily see into the tank. For wheelchair users who are a bit short, this exhibit will be a bit easier to see the creatures in the exhibit.

As we meandered through the surrounding exhibits, we actually got a bit lost. Here, we saw some more of the animals that they had on exhibit. Here, there were a number of different sharks, fish, and crustaceans. These enclosures sat pretty low to the ground, making them a bit easier for children and wheelchair users to see into the enclosure. There was also an area that showed their operating rooms, where they treat their sick animals. 

In what appeared to be the old part of the aquarium, it was much more difficult to get around. Firstly, it was really difficult for us to find the elevator. I aimlessly searched for what felt like hours and ended up getting lost. After finally finding the elevator, we took it to see the other, remaining exhibits. To the left, you'll see a picture of me, going through this tiny space, to try and get to the other exhibits. Though my power wheelchair fit, the opening was really narrow. In fact, I didn't think I would even be able to make it through the opening. Additionally, to the right, you can see a staircase. For a child, or somebody who may not have the best driving skills, I feel like this space is honestly dangerous.

Once I made it through that treacherous corridor, I was able to get to some of the other enclosures with relative ease. There are "wheelchair access" signs placed around these exhibits, which I assume is a way to tell visitors that they should leave space for wheelchair users, who may need to get close to the railing to see the exhibit below. I didn't have much trouble seeing over the railing, but I also stand pretty tall (for a wheelchair user, that is!). For people who are a bit shorter, you may experience some difficulty seeing into these exhibits. If you are a power wheelchair user and have a seat elevator, now may be the time to use it.

Similarly, you'll find other, accessible viewing spaces for other exhibits. Located on the opposite end of the room, which we've shown above, is an area that allows visitors to take a peak into their otter exhibit, which is called "Otter Oasis." The wheelchair accessible spot was located at the end of the exhibit, which kind of made it difficult to see the otters below.

From here, we took a stroll to a patio area, located right outside of the exhibits that I mentioned above.  The view was pretty nice, giving visitors a view of the channel, located behind the aquarium. In the background, you'll see some docks, which have some boats that are on lifts. We learned that the aquarium does offer dolphin tours on their boats; however, we were also told that the tour boats are not wheelchair accessible.

You'll notice that, in the seating area, there is actually a sign, indicating that this space is intended to serve as a quiet area. Because the sign shows a heart with headphones on it, I'll make an assumption that this environment is intended for visitors who are on the autism spectrum. It is pretty secluded from the rest of the aquarium; so, if you or your loved one is on the spectrum, this may be a great place to relax and recharge.

To finish up this review, I want to point out that I have some personal history with the Clearwater aquarium. When I was a little boy, I used to go there for Occupational Therapy. I helped them to prepare the animals' food, feed them, and got the chance to even do some animal enrichment. It has and will always be special to me. That said, the accessibility of the Clearwater Aquarium, which is actually the purpose of this review, was lack luster at best. As I mentioned previously, it wasn't the easiest to navigate. Between two of us, we still got lost on the bottom floor, in the older part of the aquarium. The parking garage wasn't very easy to get around, either. Like I also pointed out: I couldn't have gotten in or out of the garage without assistance. Even though there was supposed to be an automatic door going to the Dolphin Complex, that wasn't working. Finding the elevator, to access the lower part of that exhibit, was also pretty difficult. Actually, I'll just come out and say it: none of the elevators were easy to find. In addition to these shortcomings, there were two areas, which I mentioned above, that I'd consider to be a safety concern for wheelchair users and those who use mobility equipment:. Firstly, I need to address the raised floor, with the caution sign, in the area leading to the stingray exhibit. Another concerning area was the tiny space, which was barely wide enough for my wheelchair to fit through, that was also located right next to an open staircase. If somebody was having difficulty fitting through this small opening, and were to accidentally over-correct their steering, they could potentially fall down the stairs. That would be catastrophic. So, even though I love the animals, and even though I love that the Clearwater Aquarium rehabs sick and injured animals, their accessibility left a lot to be desired. The only reason why I can kind of justify paying $41.95 for an adult ticket, is because that money goes to the care of the animals. I didn't point it out before, so I'll mention that a ticket costs $32.95 for kids (ages 3-11) and $39.95 for seniors (ages 65+). Otherwise, the price point may not be financially accessible for some families. Click here for more information about ticket prices. In the future, I truly hope that some of these accessibility issues will be resolved.

Author: Kyle Romano

Photographer: Luis Rodriguez

Gavin Lambert: Find The Good

Judy Heumann, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks were all incredible activists of their time. Even though their struggles were different, they were all fighting for a common goal: they pushed for equality and refused to take "no" for an answer. They didn't just happen to become activists, either. From the very start, what motivated each of them was a single idea, a dream of a world that honored their inalienable rights, regardless of who they were. Gavin Lambert personifies these ideals. Currently a student at Pasco-Hernando State College, Gavin is seeking a degree in Sports Management. Like most students, he has to take courses that may or may not align with his Major. Enter his Entrepreneur Business class. He and his classmates were assigned a project, in which they were instructed to find a real problem in the world, then to find a potential solution to fix that problem.

To anybody who knows Gavin, it's no secret that the man's favorite thing to do is go out to eat; however, he also knows that a lot of restaurants aren't that accessible. It's this drive that gave Gavin a grand idea. It was in his Entrepreneur class that Gavin made the connection, and when he decided to actually start questioning the accessibility of the world around him. Naturally, that led him to explore the wheelchair accessibility of local restaurants.

Even though it wasn't directly related to Gavin's Major, taking the aforementioned entrepreneur class has changed his life. At the time that I conducted Gavin's interview, this idea was only three weeks old. Within that time, Gavin took what he learned from his school project, and was encouraged to reach out to his local legislators about restaurant accessibility.

At the forefront of Gavin's argument, is that everybody should have the availability to enjoy themselves, in a safe and accessible environment. He knows that he's far from the only disabled person who enjoys going out to eat. For many of us who rely on others for accessible transportation, this need is even more dire, especially if we are only able to get out of the house once-a-month or so. He told me,

"I feel like restaurants are somewhere, where anyone can go, and they can sit there and talk to people... and there's a lot of social value... especially for disabled people who aren't going to school, going to work, or [are] out in the world. And, most people with disabilities, if that is their one outing, they need to be able to have [access] to that." 

Here, Gavin is touching on something very important about the lives of disabled people, especially for those of us who rely on government assistance to survive. As a quad-amputee and power wheelchair user, Gavin's cause is near and dear to my heart. The reality is this: disabled people have little-to-no help for anything not directly related to the medical aspect of our lives. Typical, abled people don't think twice about going to dinner with their friends, grabbing a drink, meeting for a pickup game of basketball, etc. People assume that disabled people have equal access to recreational activity, that we have the innate ability to simply enjoy ourselves. The reality is that most of us don't have access to transportation or money, in order to be able to simply meet our friends/family at a restaurant for dinner. Let me try and put it in perspective. Could you imagine if you only left your house/apartment when you needed to go to the doctor, get your car fixed, or pick up groceries? How quick would life become a dreary mess? I'd venture to guess that it would happen rather quickly.

Armed with this knowledge, as well as his own lived experiences, Gavin put his money where his mouth was: he reached out to his local legislators. If nobody was going to do something, he'd take it upon himself to be the change he needed. Gavin first spoke with Pasco County Commissioner, Lisa Yeager, about his plight. From there, he was invited by Representative Adam Anderson to speak at the Capitol in Tallahassee, albeit for a separate issue. While there, Gavin advocated for the passage of House Bill 907, which has since passed. As a result, the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases was created. This institute will be huge for families with children, who have been diagnosed with rare diseases. It would include coverage for people with Friedreich's ataxia, which is what Gavin is diagnosed with. The goal is to, "...improve the quality of life and health outcomes for children and families affected by rare diseases by advancing knowledge, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric rare diseases through research, clinical care, and advocacy." If you'd like to read the Bill in its entirety, click here.

So, where do we go from here? I think that we take Gavin's story, look at what he's accomplished so far, and remain hopeful that his actions, as well as the actions of other Disability Rights activists, pave the way for a more accessible future. I hope that Gavin's work continues to bear fruit, that he inspires you to take action, fighting for what you believe in.

Author:

Kyle Romano

Accessibility Review: Great Explorations - Great Connections

Accessibility Grade:

A+

Back in April of 2023, we did an Accessibility Review for a local children's Museum called Great Explorations. If you'd like to read our initial thoughts, click or tap here to read that post. Our initial impression of the museum's accessibility was very positive! Naturally, when we learned that Great Explorations hosts a regular, sensory-friendly event for children on the autism spectrum, we had to check it out. So, let's take a look at their "Great Connections" event, discuss the intentions behind it, and then give our thoughts on the whole thing.

Started in 2015, Great Connections is a family-friendly, monthly program that's trailered to children with disabilities. It takes place on the weekend of the second Sunday, of each month. Additionally, it is free to families and their children with disabilities.

What is the difference between the typical Great Explorations programs and Great Connections? During this event, the museum closes its doors to the general public, and provides a cool down room for children on the autism spectrum, who may need to take a break from activities and additional stimuli. To make things more inviting for children with sensory issues, lights are dimmed and music is turned off. Additionally, sensory backpacks are available for check out at Guest Services. Although  the museum is happy to lend out their own sensory devices, it's encouraged for you to bring your own sensory support items, from home, to ensure that your child feels as safe and comfortable as possible.

When you enter Great Explorations, their lobby is very spacious. There were two tables set up, which had a number of sensory toys on and around them. If your kiddos like to color, there are crayons and coloring sheets available. On the back wall, there are a series of reptile enclosures.

Their Living Collection is home to a variety of reptiles, including fan favorites: Candy Corn, the albino corn snake, and Leo, the famous bearded dragon. There are a number of other animals, such as leopard geckos (Charmander was my personal favorite, because I'm a huge Pokémon fan), turtles, as well as a few more snakes and lizards. If your kiddo is fascinated by reptiles, they'll have so much fun looking at the Living Collection.

The gallery features a wide range exhibits, which may be too noisy or bright for some children on the spectrum. To help your child have the most fun possible, Great Explorations has a color-coded guide. On it, you'll find a map of the exhibit layout, including sensory-related information. This resource is a wonderful tool, helping guide you and your child to the most enjoyable exhibits, and away from the ones that they would have aversions towards.

When you enter the exhibit hall, children have access to all of the exhibits that are typically available. Even though we've outlined these in our previous Accessibility Review, it's worth going over some of them again, including new exhibits and any changes made to existing ones. Note that, during the Great Connections event, many of the lights in the building will automatically be dimmed. Additionally, to protect the safety of children with sensory aversions, some of the noisiest exhibits will either be silenced, have their lights dimmed, or may even be turned off.

My First Market is a mock supermarket, modeled after and sponsored by Publix supermarket. Here, kids can have the chance to shop around for fake produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, and more. There are shopping carts available, and even cash registers at the checkout counters!

Another interesting part of the exhibit, which we weren't able to feature in our first Accessibility Review, is a  sandwich station. Here, children can make their own sandwiches (which are not edible), choosing from a number of fake ingredients. These were all hand-sewn, and are really soft to the touch.

The next exhibit that we visited is called the Steam Station. While it can be a great place to showcase different types of demonstrations and performances, we were most interested in their stuffed animal maker. Here, a Great Explorations team member can assist you and your child, making their very own stuffed animal! There were a number of different options to choose from, but this sparkly stegosaurus caught me eye.

Bella guided us to the next exhibit, called "Tiny Explorers Lagoon." In addition to the farmed-themed activity wall, which we showed off in the previous review, this area also features a fake lagoon that feels like laying on a water bed. There are soft pillows, in the shape of lily pads, for kids to play with, as they pretend to swim. This area is typically great for kids on the spectrum, as it offers a variety of different textures and sensations for them to explore, in a way that feels safe for them.

As with our previous Accessibility Review, Great Explorations lived up to our expectations. Overall, we love what this museum stands for, and believe that their Great Connections program is a great resource for families who have children with disabilities. Whether your kiddo is on the spectrum or not, I'd highly encourage you to check out this spectacular event!

And a special thanks to Bella Perkins, Development Specialist and Sensory Programs Lead, for giving us an incredible tour!

Author: Kyle Romano

Photographer: Luis Rodriguez

Accessibility Review: Glazer Children's Museum

Accessibility Grade: A-

Museums are wonderful places for people to learn, create, and have a ton of fun along the way! At the Glazer Children's Museum, there are a wide variety of exhibits and activities for the entire family. From dinosaur fossils (including Big John, one of the largest, most complete triceratops fossils in the world), to arts and crafts, to a fire truck simulator, this museum is a great place for children and adults to learn about our local community and the rest of our planet. But what is the museum's accessibility like? Come with me on a virtual tour, as we explore the accessible features of the Glazer Children's Museum.

Accessible Parking

While we didn't get any pictures of the parking situation, we definitely had a difficult time finding accessible parking; however, I must point out that this isn't the museum's fault. All in all, finding parking in Downtown Tampa, especially accessible parking, can be pretty difficult. To begin with, it was unclear where we should park. After finally navigating the busy streets, which were under construction, we finally found our way to the recommended William F. Poe garage. To enter, you must be able to grab a token from the machine, located at the garage's entrance. It's a good thing that I wasn't alone, because I am a quad-amputee, which means that I couldn't reach out of my window to use the machine. I needed assistance to do this. Once we were finally inside, the garage was also under construction, which made it more confusing to navigate. Once we parked, we even had difficulty figuring out how to exit the garage, and make our way to the museum. The accessible entrance is located on the west side of the building, between the Glazer Children's Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art, which was also difficult for us to find. Are you noticing a pattern, here? It was a shame to experience these struggles, even before we got the chance to enter the museum. It's especially frustrating because the museum ended up being such a remarkable institution. But now that we have that out of the way, let's get to talking about the museum, itself!

Accessibility Accommodations & Devices

The Glazer Children's museum does a great job of accommodating a variety of accessibility needs. If you have mobility limitations and need something like a wheelchair, they have a limited number of VELA mobility chairs. These are free for guests to rent and are available, by request, at Guest Services. Keep in mind that they are first come, first served. If you need a VELA mobility chair, before you arrive at the children's museum, it would be a good idea to call and request one. In addition to these mobility devices, the museum offers a number of additional accessibility devices. This service includes important resources for children with disabilities, including weighted vests, fidget toys, noise-cancelling headphones, sound amplifiers, and more.

For individuals who are hard of hearing, or who have an auditory processing disorder, you can rent a device called a Poketalker Sound Amplifier. It can help to increase the level of sound that is closest to you, while cutting out background noise. It can either be used with or without hearing aids. For kiddos who experience red-green color blindness, a pair of child-size EnChtroma Glasses are available to rent. Lastly, for kids and adults who experience sensory sensitivities, KultureCity Sensory Bags are available at guest services, upon request. Within them, guests will find a few helpful tools, including: noise reducing headphones from Pure Sound Labs, fidget devices of different types (marble, noodle, and mesh), strobe reduction glasses, a VIP lanyard, a visual cue card, and a weighted lap pad.

Along with the accommodations listed above, the Glazer Children's museum has a variety of accessible facilities. These include an oversized elevator, which is plenty big, and can fit at least two to three large, power wheelchairs. Additionally, accessible restrooms are also located near the elevators, on every floor. They include accessible stalls, as well as changing tables. Note: all toilets have an automatic flushing feature. If you or your child experience sensory sensitivity and feel like this feature is too noisy, Guest Service will be happy to give you a Sensor Cover to help reduce any loud noise coming from the toilets.

Onto The Exhibits!

KidsPort

The first exhibit that we visited was KidsPort. Here, kids can enjoy playing with a variety of water toys. A replica of the Skyway Bridge stands at the middle, surrounded by sea creatures, boats, helicopters, and more. You can send a ball all the way across the bridge, and see how long it takes to reach the other side. The height of the KidsPort should be appropriate for most kiddos; however, if your child is a wheelchair user, there's a chance that they could experience difficulty reaching into the exhibit and playing with the water toys. Of course, this experience will be different for every child, so just keep that in mind.

Art Smart

After we rode the elevator upstairs, we made our way to the next exhibit: Art Smart. Here, kids have access to a large, open area. In this space, there are a variety of activities for them to engage with, including a variety of arts and crafts. Kiddos can build towers out of blocks and tiles. If your child loves music, there is an interactive wall mural a that's wonderful way to get your blood flowing. You may even want to use this opportunity to have that dance off you've been thinking about. Because there's so much room, this exhibit is plenty big for children who use mobility devices, such as wheelchairs, walkers, etc. From what we observed, everything appeared as if it would be within reach of children who use mobility equipment.

Firehouse

In this exhibit, kids can pretend that they are firefighters. Whether they want to slide down a pole, or take the firetruck simulator for a spin, this exhibit would be a blast for children who love to play firefighters. While we thought that these features were really cool, I should point that it may be tough for kids who have mobility disabilities. To get into the front seat of the fire truck, you may need to transfer your child from their wheelchair. Depending on their core strength, they also may need assistance to stand up straight, or reach any of the devices, such as the steering wheel. Though the Firehouse exhibit was really cool, due its nature, I was under the impression that it wouldn't be very accessible for  some children who have mobility disabilities.

Make Space

Here, a number of art supplies are available to children and their families, where everybody is encouraged to be flex their art muscles to create their own works of art! While we visited, families were using art supplies to make their own gingerbread houses. Depending on when you go to the Glazer Children's Museum, this space may be used to create different kinds of artwork, with different kinds of supplies. This space was really accessible. The Make Space features a couple of long, wooden tables, where you and your family can channel your inner artist. The size of the tables offer plenty of room for people who use mobility devices. The stools are also easy to move out of the way, making it even easier to access the tables.

Ocean Sandbox

This exhibit appeared to be great for kiddos who are on the autism spectrum. It had low light and, since it was situated away from other exhibits, there was significantly less noise. While the kids play around with the sand, an overhead projector shines an ocean scene onto it. They can play around with the sand, or even use it as a good chance to stim, while watching a variety of sea creatures glide across its smooth surface.

Big John

Since I was a kid, I've been absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs. It just so happens that the Glazer Children's Museum is home to the largest, and one of the most complete, Triceratops fossils in the world! Standing at about 10 feet tall, and 26 feet long, Big John obviously gets his namesake from his massive size! In fact, he's estimated to be about 5-10% larger than any triceratops that we've discovered, up to this point in time. Likely from a fight with another Triceratops, Big John had sustained an injury to his frill, which is evident by the large hole in it. There's even a tunnel, leading under Big John, allowing kids the opportunity to see the fossil from a different view; however, this tunnel was too low to the ground for most, if not all, wheelchair users. Just something to keep in mind. 

Within the exhibit, there are a bunch of other fun, dinosaur-related, interactive displays to explore! Located on one of the walls, the picture on the right shows one of the museum staff, flipping up a panel. Behind these are a number of facts about paleontology, dinosaurs, as well as Big John. If your kiddo is a wheelchair user, they may experience some difficulty reaching some of the panels, located towards the top of this, specific exhibit.

Mounted on another wall, you'll find a puzzle of a triceratops fossil. It's low to the ground, making it a great height for younger kids, as well as kiddos who are wheelchair users. This is a wonderful detail, because it encourages children to play together, whether they use mobility equipment or not. By putting the puzzle together, they can learn a bit more about Big John's skeleton, where they can see and feel how each bone fits together. It also encourages them to engage with spatial awareness.

If you and your kid also love art, the Scanning Station will allow you to create your very own dinosaur! By coloring a dinosaur sheet, and then scanning it, your colorful creation will come to life. A projector, mounted on the ceiling, shows an image of a prehistoric landscape. After placing your colored dinosaur in the tray, shown in the image to the right, your dinosaur will walk around with other dinosaurs that have been colored and scanned by other visitors. You can also scan the QR code, located on the sign above the scanning station, to design your dinosaur on a smart device, such as a phone or tablet. I thought that this was a wonderful, accessibility feature! Unfortunately, because of the lighting we couldn't get a good picture of the dinosaurs in action. That just means you'll have to visit to see it for yourself!

In addition to the wonderful exhibits that the Glazer Children's Museum has to offer, their inclusive programs make the institution a great resource for families with disabled children. Each summer, the museum hosts Camp Imagination. During select weeks, they feature additional staff, who are specially trained and knowledgeable of children with disabilities. They also have a quiet room for campers who experience sensory sensitivities, such as children on the autism spectrum. You can even request reimbursement through the museum's program, called the "Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities." If you are interested, send an email to camps@glazermuseum.org and request an application.

In closing, the Glazer Children's Museum was a wonderful institution. As mentioned above, just be mindful of the parking situation. Aside from that, the museum itself offers a safe space to learn, for children and parents alike. 

Author:

Kyle Romano

Photographer:

Luis Rodriguez

Having A Happy and Accessible Holiday Season

Once again, the holiday season is here! If your family is anything like mine, that means spending a lot of time with parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even friends. If you've ever wondered whether your place is accessible, fear not! Here are some tips to help you plan a holiday party that will be inviting to all of your guests, whether they use mobility equipment or not.

Outside

Since I'm a wheelchair user, I notice things that abled people typically take for granted. For example, some paths and walkways may seem like they're more accessible than they really are. Since they're pretty common, lets use pavers as an example. While they usually look beautiful, pavers and cobblestones can be difficult for wheelchair users to cross.

Tires, and even some low-hanging parts, can actually get stuck in the cracks between each stone. The front casters of manual wheelchairs tend to catch on these gaps, making them both difficult and dangerous to traverse. Depending on how they're laid, pavers and cobblestones can also make for a pretty bumpy ride, making things more difficult for people who need extra support for their necks and backs.

Gravel, sand, and soft dirt are a wheelchair user's kryptonite. You may not expect it, but most power and manual wheelchairs sink right into pockets of sand. Smooth, concrete sidewalks and walkways are definitely the most accessible for people who use wheelchairs, canes, walkers, scooters, or any other kind of mobility device. 32-inches is usually wide enough to accommodate these devices, and is also the ADA standard for public places like parks.

Lawn parties can be a great way to spend time with your friends and family, but what if you're trying to put together a lawn party that's accessible to people who use mobility devices? While lush, green grass looks beautiful, it may be tough for manual wheelchair users to push themselves through. Unseen dips and holes could also make things tricky for people who are visually impaired or use power wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc. In my heyday, I was known to flip a chair or two, so I've been on the receiving end of surprise lawn holes. Thick grass can also be tough on the motors of power wheelchairs, causing more wear and tear than usual. If you're worried that your yard may be too lush for it's own good, you can lay down some boards that lead from your house to the area where you'll be hanging out. If you're still concerned, it may be better to host your party indoors, or at least on a patio.

When it comes to the parking situation at holiday gatherings, make sure to leave enough room in between each one. 32 inches should be wide enough for wheelchair users to fit between. Accessible vehicles also need about 5-6 feet to safely load/unload a wheelchair or other type of mobility aid. Whether your guest has an accessible van, truck, SUV, or car, please extend a parking courtesy to those who may need it, and make sure that your other guests know.

At the very least, most houses seem to have a single step at their front door. For wheelchair users, entryways like this may be difficult to access without a ramp.

Before you do anything, such as buying or building your own ramp, make sure to talk to the host about your accessibility needs. You may discover that they already have a solution.

In the case that your host does not have an accessibility solution, preparing in advance could save you both a lot of time and frustration. You may need to either bring a ramp that you've purchased, or make your own.

As a word of caution, the Americans with Disabilities Act states that all public ramps should have an incline of no more than 5 degrees. To make sure that you stay safe during your holiday festivities, please keep this in mind. Under no circumstances should anybody remove the anti-tippers/wheelie bars from a wheelchair. If you think that your anti-tippers are preventing you from going up an incline, the angle is too steep. You may either need a longer ramp, or an entirely different solution.

Inside

 
According to the Americans With Disabilities Act, wheelchair accessible doorways are 32 inches wide, while hallways must be 36 inches wide. It may seem strange that accessible hallways are wider than doors, but wheelchair users need a little extra room to safely turn around. You may also arrange your furniture to follow these guideline.

Because of their size, certain rooms may be more or less accessible for people who use mobility devices. In particular, restrooms may be difficult for us to navigate. We can't assume that every home will have an accessible restroom, even if that home is owned by one of your family member or a close friends. While ADA standards may call for public facilities to install grab bars, to have raised toilet seats, or to have accessible controls for the sink, personal bathrooms aren't usually furnished this way. As a precaution, measuring the width of the bathroom door is always a great place to start. If you feel that the interior of your own bathroom is a bit cramped, it's OK to communicate that to your guests.

After you've spent some time with your guests and have helped them feel comfortable, to get a better idea for future gatherings, you may want to ask them about the accessibility of your home. You can do this directly by asking questions like, "Do you need help?" or "How can I help you?" If you feel uncomfortable being so direct, consider asking more general questions, such as, "Are you enjoying yourself?" or "Can I get you anything?" The best approach will depend on you and your guests, so try and feel things out before asking.

Like any other party or gathering, the most important part is the food! By arranging entrees, sides, drinks, plates, silverware, etc., at an appropriate height, you'll give wheelchair users the opportunity to serve themselves; however, some of us still may need assistance. Usually, if we need help, we'll ask.

Though it might not seem ideal, in the case that you're house isn't accessible, it is always an option to host the event at a different location. That way, all of your guests feel included. Since the holidays are about enjoying each other's company, let's make this season a fun and accessible one!

Author:
Kyle Romano