Wheelchairs On The Go

A detailed guide to handicap-accessible sites, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, etc. throughout Florida, including the theme parks.

"Carolyn is in a wheelchair, but she doesn't let that stop her! She can do almost everything the other kids can, even if sometimes she has to do it a little differently"--

In this beautiful example of a child's innocence we are taught that a little imagination can take us a long way. What the rest of the world sees as a limitation becomes a great source of adventure and freedom. Little Elaina shows her dad there is much more to him than meets the eye, and in the process proves that love knows no limitations.

In 1959, seventeen-year-old Gary Presley was standing in line, wearing his favorite cowboy boots and waiting for his final inoculation of Salk vaccine. Seven days later, a bad headache caused him to skip basketball practice, tell his dad that he was too ill to feed the calves, and walk from barn to bed with shaky, dizzying steps. He never walked again. By the next day, burning with the fever of polio, he was fastened into the claustrophobic cocoon of the iron lung that would be his home for the next three months. Set among the hardscrabble world of the Missouri Ozarks, sizzling with sarcasm and acerbic wit, his memoir tells the story of his journey from the iron lung to life in a wheelchair. Presley is no wheelchair hero, no inspiring figure preaching patience and gratitude. An army brat turned farm kid, newly arrived in a conservative rural community, he was immobilized before he could take the next step toward adulthood. Prevented, literally, from taking that next step, he became cranky and crabby, anxious and alienated, a rolling responsibility crippled not just by polio but by anger and depression, “a crip all over, starting with the brain.” Slowly, however, despite the limitations of navigating in a world before the Americans with Disabilities Act, he builds an independent life. Now, almost fifty years later, having worn out wheelchair after wheelchair, survived post-polio syndrome, and married the woman of his dreams, Gary has redefined himself as Gimp, more ready to act out than to speak up, ironic, perceptive, still cranky and intolerant but more accepting, more able to find joy in his family and his newfound religion. Despite the fact that he detests pity, can spot condescension from miles away, and refuses to play the role of noble victim, he writes in a way that elicits sympathy and understanding and laughter. By giving his readers the unromantic truth about life in a wheelchair, he escapes stereotypes about people with disabilities and moves toward a place where every individual is irreplaceable.

The guidelines focus on manual wheelchairs and the needs of long-term wheelchair users. The recommendations are targeted at those involved in wheelchair services, ranging from design and planning, to providing or supplying wheelchairs and their maintenance.

101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers is the first guidebook dedicated exclusively to wheelchair-accessible destinations, lodgings and recreational opportunities. Penned by Candy B. Harrington, the editor of Emerging Horizons, this new title focuses on the vacation planning needs of wheelchair-users and slow walkers. 101 Accessible Vacations contains destination information on over 101 cities, lodging options, national parks, tourist attractions and recreational activities around the country. The book is organized so readers can search for a holiday based on their specific interests or travel styles. Unlike other guidebooks that are organized geographically, 101 Accessible Vacations includes sections ranging from Road Trips and The Great Outdoors to Historic Haunts and Cruisin. And last but not least, there is Candy's Picks, which includes a collection of some of the author's favorite trips, destinations and activities. Candy describes the access of all attractions, lodging options and tourist sights, rather than just stating that something is or isn't accessible. After all, accessibility is in the eye of the beholder; and what may be accessible to one person can be filled with obstacles to someone else. Says Harrington, There's a world of travel choices out there for wheelers and slow walkers. And this book contains many of those choices; along with updated resources, information and access details to make them a reality.

There are 1.7 million regular wheelchair users in the United State. Like anyone else, they work, marry, have children, travel, play sports, and are full members of their community. Life on Wheels makes sure they take full advantage of every available opportunity. It is the A-Z guide for all you need to know about every aspect of living with mobility impairment. This unique book offers an initial road map to the lifelong, complex, and fascinating road of the disability experience. Life on Wheels is primarily a guidebook for those with a mobility disability, offering practical information on how to: adapt your home choose a wheelchair explore your sexuality take care of your body and much more!

Wheel:Life publications center on sharing resources and support for people who use wheelchairs. In this book, you'll discover a state-by-state directory of accessible travel destinations across the United States.These accessible travel suggestions are part of the Get Out & Enjoy Life [GOEL] program that is a joint educational initiative between Wheel:Life, a global community of wheelchair users, and SPORTS 'N SPOKES magazine, published by the Paralyzed Veterans of America. More than 70,000 wheelchair users from 108 countries took part in Wheel:Life resources in 2014.For less than two dollars, you'll find that each chapter of this book provides easily-accessible destinations that are fun and engaging for friends who use wheelchairs. Discovering is an easy, encouraging read that will help you explore all kinds of travel destinations and family fun spots, whether you are new to using a wheelchair or a seasoned pro.Please note that not every state in the US is featured in this travel guide, just the ones that we have included in our GOEL program to date.If you have a disability, and a facing a financial challenge, you can request a free copy of this book at: http://wheel-life.org/free-book-series/