Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Using a wheelchair means that accessibility is a number-one concern for you. The changes enacted into the Americans with Disabilities Act make wheelchair mobility much easier. Car rental companies have wheelchair accessible vans, so you can travel across the country. Some cruise ships offer total wheelchair accessibility. Buildings, by law, must have ramps for easier entrance. Life in a wheelchair does not have to mean confinement or isolation.
Traveling with a wheelchair is a now a possibility you can enjoy globally. In Washington, DC, wheelchair accessible van taxis are available. In the United States, the law states that there must be at least one handicap accessible unit in a resort. Timeshare companies are marketing wheelchair accessibility in international settings. Internationally, laws are changing to accommodate wheelchairs as well.
If you love the outdoors, the National Parks System has wheelchair-friendly trails. You are entitled to a lifetime free pass to all national parks. To be eligible for this pass you need to document your permanent disability along with a statement from your physician. This pass entitles three car passengers free access too. In fact, the NPS also gives a 50 percent discount on use of facilities and services. Obtain the pass at a park site.
If you want to fly, either take your own wheelchair or request one. If you have a battery-operated wheelchair, make sure you have a safety battery that does not leak. Electric scooters are easy to use on flights.
NARHA, the National Association for Riding Horses, provides horseback riding activities for the wheelchair-bound. The National Sport Center for the Disabled has recreation programs from soccer to skiing. If you are not quite daring enough to try these sports in reality, the center offers virtual lessons at NSCD.org.
The Wheelchair Sports Federation sponsors adaptive sports ranging from basketball to racing wheelchairs. Their motto is that being wheelchair bound offers ways to be meaningful and active.
As an active member of your community, options exist for volunteering. Inquire at your local hospital, elementary school or place of worship, about activities such as reading to children or helping the nurses or visiting patients.
Online there are sites specific to accessibility such as Access-able.com and Sath.org. These organizations are dedicated to wheelchair accessibility in travel and other activities. Access-able provides you with a list of phone numbers for cruise ship lines to learn which ships are fully accessible.