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Q: How have real families navigated mixed-access needs?
A: “It’s utter chaos!” responded Amy Tarpein, of Elijah’s Baby Bucket List, but of the best kind. In some ways, it’s no different than traveling with any family with varying ages and interests.
1. Do your research. Find activities that everyone will enjoy and then make sure that everyone is able to participate. My children don’t like a science factory any less when it’s accessible. Start with the fun, then confirm it meets your accessibility needs.
2. Look for adaptive adventures. When you find places offering adaptive options, everyone is able to do more of what they enjoy. For example, when we visited the National Ability Center in Park City, Utah, everyone was able to climb the rockwall, ride the bikes, and complete the challenge course – regardless of physical abilities.
3. Take it easy. Even if you’ve found something everyone can do, you won’t all be operating at the same pace. Structure your itinerary so it’s manageable, rather than exhausting, for the child with a disability and the rest of the family.
4. Mix it up. Similar to a large gap in ages, sometimes the interests and abilities of your children will lead to very different activities. In that case, do a little bit of something for everyone. Maybe one won’t appreciate the all abilities playground, or another will be bored at the Japanese sword museum, but everyone will get to do something they enjoy.
Next month: What happens when things go wrong (delays, meltdowns, inaccessible service)?
Do you have any expertise to share on next issue’s question? Please submit your input, or any questions of your own for future issues, to jennifer@wonderswithinreach.com