A scene of people with various disabilities gathered around a blue lake, enjoying their home, community, the out-of-doors, health, recreation, housing, transportation and education with an accessible path for them to a high mountain and large yellow sun on the horizon.  New Horizons Un-Limited Inc.


Community and Internet Resources


Recreation: Travel: Planning Resources / Access Guides

National

Access-Able Travel Source is a site that provides a place for disabled travelers to exchange information and provide assistance to others planning a trip. The site provides an FAQ on traveling tips, a listing of cruise lines and cruise ships that are accessible to individuals with disabilities, a listing of phone numbers for hotels, airlines, car rentals and States, and a listing of travel agents that can plan trips for those with special needs. There is also a database with travel information organized by regions of the world that puts all of the information together for ease of use. Also included is a discussion board which lists past experiences that can help inexperienced travelers. If you want to know more, please visit their site.

Emerging Horizons Accessible Travel News is a consumer oriented magazine about accessible travel. Emerging Horizons' primary focus is travel for people with mobility disabilities; everybody from wheelchair-users to slow walkers. Lots of access information, resources, news and travel tips. All with no advertising. Available in print and online. Sample articles are made available on their website. Subscriptions can also be ordered via their website.

Gimp on the Go is an online resource for people with disabilities interested in traveling. The site offers travel reviews, travel tips and news, various online surveys, a visitor bulletin board, a listing of other helpful resources on making travel plans and much more.

Global Access Disabled Travel Network offers travel tips for travelers with disabilities. Their site also features listings of accessible accommodations.

MossRehab ResourceNet offers an abundance of information pertaining to accessible travel. They have links containing travel tips, travel agencies, state tourism offices, cruise check list, airlines, trains, buses, hotels and motels, automobiles, van rentals, driving resources, travel alerts, travel resources, travel publications, government resources weather resources, newsgroups, and more. If you are planning a trip, don't miss this website.

Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) is an educational non-profit membership organization whose mission is to raise awareness of the needs of all travelers with disabilities, remove physical and attitudinal barriers to free access and expand travel opportunities in the United States and abroad. They have a World Travel congress, "Open World" magazine, travel seminars, participation in regulatory committees and more.

U.S. Department of Transportation New Horizons is a comprehensive resource for people with disabilities who are planning to use commercial air travel. This resource discusses accessibility issues and rules, how one can receive information about the airline, when attendants may be required, medical issues, and general safety considerations.

Wired on Wheels offers a website on which people with disabilities can rate the accessibility of sites across America. They have begun with restaurants. Visitors may view ratings and also offer ratings of their own. Visit this site to learn more.

Wunago, is an online guide to wheelchair accessible travel. Categories include Theme Parks, Natural Wonders and Recreation. They also feature profiles of accessible lodging such as hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, and Inns. Visit this site to plan your next accessible vacation.

State Listings

California

Accessible San Diego is a non-profit Information Center for seniors and travelers with disabilities, providing resources for the traveler with a disability via their "Access in San Diego" guide, its hotline telephone and web site. Their website offers a listing of San Diego's most accessible hotels, information on accessible transportation and other helpful information. They also sell their Access in San Diego Guide via their website for $5.00.

Connecticut

Accessible Connecticut A Guide to Recreation for Children with Disabilities and Their Families by Nora Ellen Groce, Lawrence C. Kaplan, M.D., and Josiah David Kaplan, 2002, Yale University Press. This accessibility guide is geared toward children, but is very detailed on directions, where to park, what door is wheelchair accessible and what other accessibility features one can expect.

Illinois

New Sign Accessible Chicago works on several levels. Most importantly, it provides detailed instructions on how to visit hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions in the Chicagoland area. Knowing where and how others with physical challenges or those in wheelchairs have made the trip before, empowers people with physical challenges to leave their houses and discover how beautiful Chicago, Illinois is. As a free on-line resource, Accessible Chicago creates a network of users who create their own content and share their experience. Now, other travelers with disabilities don’t have to “reinvent the wheel” every time they go to Chicago; they can just log on and see other users’ ideas and instructions for going to some of the top destinations in Chicago. Their mission was to end isolation for those with physical impairments by taking the guesswork out of visiting the Windy City. As the site began to grow, they began to understand how much traveling means to those with special needs. It is critically important for those who feel compromised by disability to go out and have fun. Of course it is harder for our community to get around, but the trip is more satisfying because people with disabilities make it despite physical disability.

Minnesota

Minnesota Travel Guide for Persons with Disabilities is an on-line resource that provides information on accessibility for persons with disabilities and mature travelers. This website provides comprehensive profiles of various destinations, including hotels, restaurants, night clubs and bars, theaters, parks and campgrounds and much more. This is a must visit site for anyone with a disability planning a trip in Minnesota.

Virginia

Virginia Travel Guide for Persons with Disabilities offers accessibility profiles of virginia attractions. They cover such destinations as lodging, such as bed and breakfasts, restaurants, historic and cultural attractions, campgrounds, fishing and boating areas, and much more.

International

Global Access: Disabled Travel Network offers a variety of information for the disabled traveler. They have a feature trip in which they give details for one looking for a destination. Also, they have travel books and numerous disability travel links. They provide tips and resources for travelers and access guides for worldwide travel.

Canada

Accessible Niagra offers a website highlighting accessible places and attractions for people with disabilities on the Niagra Peninsula. Categories include children's fun, festivals, hotels / lodging, restaurants, shopping and many others.

France

Accessible France

United Kingdom

Disabled Travels is a membership website based in the United Kingdom. The free membership entitles travelers with disabilities access to their online newsletter, discussion forums, and helpful information that can assist in the development of travel plans.

Visit Oxford

For more on the topic of Recreation:

Community and Internet Resources / FAQ / News Publications and Media

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[Updated November 30, 2007]
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