About 10 years ago on a trip through western Kansas, Rick Crowder wondered what would happen if the lift in his van broke down or his wheelchair tire became flat. "I knew who to call to get those things fixed at home in Clarksville [Tennessee], but not in Kansas," Crowder says. "I thought there must be other paralyzed veterans like me who'd be willing to share this information about their hometowns." The result: Travelin' Talk, a network of volunteers all over the world who provide tips about accessibility and support services in their region. The insider tips aren't just about wheelchair ramps. Ask the hometown experts about a range of necessities such as where to get a taxi with a wheelchair lift, the best places to purchase oxygen and whom to call if your guide dog becomes ill. As of August 1999, Travelin' Talk has been taken under the wing of Carol Randall and Access-Able.
Carol Randall founded Access-Able Travel Source as a free information source for travelers with disabilities. She spent 2 1/2 years compiling details on essentials such as accessible transportation, lodging, attractions and where to rent and repair equipment. Her site covers the United States, England, Australia, Israel and South Africa as well as some western European countries. Access-Able, P.O. Box 1796, Wheat Ridge, CO 80034. Phone: 303-232-2979.
The Opening Door, founded by Cheryl and Bill Duke, is a nonprofit consultancy for access that maintains information about accessible travel and support services. The Opening Door, 8049 Ormsby Lane, Woodford, VA 22580. Phone: 804-633-6752.
The Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped is an educational nonprofit organization established in 1976 to promote barrier-free travel worldwide for mature travelers and persons with all types of disabilities. SATH maintains a database of travel information and publishes a magazine, OPEN WORLD. SATH, 347 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Phone: 212-447-7284.
Many ski areas offer adaptive ski programs that assist the disabled in whizzing down ski slopes. The National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado, is a leader in this field. NSCD offers alpine and Nordic ski programs for children and adults as well as instruction in snowboarding and snowshoeing. Equipment is provided. Call 970-726-1540 or 303-780-6540.
For a free copy of THE VIRGINIA TRAVEL GUIDE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, contact the Virginia Tourism Commission, 901 East Byrd Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Phone: 800-742-3935 or e-mail VAinfo@helloinc.com.
For a free copy of ACCESS NORTH CAROLINA, contact the Division of Travel and Tourism, North Carolina Department of Economic and Community Development, Raleigh, NC 27611. Phone: 800-VISIT-NC or 919-733-4171.
For a free copy of ACCESS NEW MEXICO, contact the Governor's Committee on the Concerns of the Handicapped, 491 Old Santa Fe Trail, Room 117, Santa Fe, NM 87501.
Wilderness Inquiry provides outdoor adventure opportunities, including camping, canoeing, rafting, sea kayaking and dog sledding for people of all abilities. Wilderness Inquiry, 808 14th Ave. Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55414. Phone: 800-728-0719 or 612-379-3858.
ON THE WEB
Accessible Journeys arranges individual and group tours.Global Access is a network with firsthand stories and tips.
Handicapped Scuba Association has information on scuba diving.
Wheelchair Getaways rents accessible vans in 32 states and Puerto Rico.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.
