Recommendations. Reflections. Advocacy.
Support Claire Facing adversity is the acid test of our character. At no time in my life has this been more true than when confronted with the impact of a rare disease called facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD or FSH). As muscle groups from the face to the feet atrophy, affecting my ability to walk, lift, … Continue reading Bending Focus: Lessons from a Rare Disease
Support Claire A woman on a mobility scooter, her husband on a bike, and their caregiver in a transport vehicle roll into a parking lot of the Grand Canyon when a stranger approaches them and says, "I'm disabled, but you're more disabled than I am. Good for you for seeing the park." (No joke.) The … Continue reading How to Successfully Engage with People with Disabilities
Support Claire McDowell Mountain Road McDowell Mountain Road The longer the pandemic lingers globally, the more my husband Lou and I discover places to spin locally. In doing so in 2021, we came upon a favorite new route: McDowell Mountain Road, a super scenic, eight-mile stretch connecting Fountain Hills to Rio Verde, AZ. Mountainous southwestern … Continue reading Our Favorite Spin of 2021
Support Claire …The new dawn blooms as we free itFor there is always lightIf only we’re brave enough to see itIf only we’re brave enough to be it --Amanda Gorman, US Youth Poet Laureate All the signs were there: a weakening grip, shaky fingers, gnarling knuckles, random palsy…After five years of limited arm and leg … Continue reading Managing Muscular Dystrophy with Technology
Support Claire Not far from Scottsdale lies a scenic gem of the Tonto National Forest known as Needle Rock Recreation Area. Its sole byway is Needle Rock Road. Pictures don't do justice to the beautiful vistas that unfold along this 3-mile stretch, (though I will certainly post a few). Four Peaks in the … Continue reading Spinning Scenic Needle Rock Rd – Rio Verde, AZ
Support Claire Traveling differently abled has never been better. ADA legislation coupled with ever growing consumer demand has greatly improved the availability of quality accessible travel in the USA and abroad. That said, as someone who travels as often as possible while managing FSH muscular dystrophy, I find that the following measures best ensure successful … Continue reading Top Tips When Booking Accessible Travel
Support Claire Given beautiful weather, my husband and I often head to Peoria's New River Trail for some scenic urban spinning. This popular trail system has it all, including easy accessibility for mobility devices. Getting there Handicap parking and ADA restrooms are readily available at Rio Vista Community Park (8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria). This … Continue reading Scootering New River Trail, Peoria, AZ
Support Claire Spoiler alert: This ADA accessible desert adventure will make others pale in comparison. It has for us. Since discovering Apache Wash Trailhead, my husband Lou and I go a couple of times a week. For spectacular spinning, it's simply one of the most beautiful accessible trail systems we've encountered in the Phoenix area … Continue reading Best Scootering in the Sonoran Desert – Apache Wash Trailhead, Phoenix
Support Claire If you're looking for excellent accessible travel experiences in the Silver State beyond casinos, Reno-Sparks has some wonderful choices. Here are our top picks for where to sightsee, stay, and spin your wheels in "The Biggest Little City in the World": Where to sightsee National Automobile Museum What I look forward to most … Continue reading Beyond the Casino: Top Accessible Travel in Reno-Sparks, NV
Support Claire Santa Fe, the country's oldest state capital, is chock full of accessible adventure. Whether you're going for the art, a fabulous meal, incredible (window) shopping, or an outdoor spin, this picturesque city delivers in spades. Maximize your experience by knowing the best places to play and stay for accessibility. Here are our top … Continue reading Where to Play and Stay in Accessible Santa Fe
Support Claire Uplifting and informative, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is an accessible travel must. This collection of works by the "Mother of American modernism" exudes the empowering dynamics of a talented artist who learned the rules, and then unabashedly proceeded to reinvent them on her own terms with great commercial success - yeah, she rocked … Continue reading Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe
Support Claire In July 2019, I attended four Utah Shakespeare Festival performances in three different theaters, all via motorized powerchair. Uber-talented actors, gorgeous costumes, and state-of-the-art set design made it clear that "the play's the thing" at this Cedar City based event. Each production was simply jaw dropping fantastic, most notably Twelfth Night. The ADA … Continue reading Accessibility at the Utah Shakespeare Festival
Support Claire Blooming brittlebrush, hummingbirds tipping the tops of Palo Verde trees, the occasional equestrian, beautiful ironwork bridges, mountain vistas and accessible paved trails for any kind of mobility device...there are plenty of reasons why spinning The Loop in Tucson is addictive outdoor adventure. With a network of 120 miles of shared-use paths (soon to … Continue reading Top ADA Spins Along The Loop in Tucson, AZ
Support Claire With over 10,000 roses on display, there's a lot of ground to cover--4.5 acres to be exact--at Portland’s International Rose Test Garden (commonly referred to as Portland Rose Garden). Thanks to voters’ passage of the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond, enhanced ADA accessibility makes exploring this beautifully landscaped park easier for those of us … Continue reading Accessibility at Portland’s International Rose Test Garden
Support Claire Access advocacy works! Many thanks to everyone who contributed constructive comments regarding the need for ADA automatic front door openers at Regal Cinemas. After my original post (Where are the ADA automatic front door openers at Regal Cinemas?) and other collaborative calls for action, this critical accessibility feature was added in Fall 2018 at … Continue reading Regal Cinemas Bridgeport Improves Accessibility
Support Claire Sure, like so many others on mobility devices, we took in dinner and a show after cruising The Strip. (I got around easily in my Jazzy red power chair.) But, by far, the most interesting thing my husband Lou and I did in Las Vegas was to take a one-hour guided tour of … Continue reading Neon Boneyard, Las Vegas
Support Claire In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. – Aristotle Although the entire 21-mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail has felt the tred of my red scooter tires, the section my husband and I return to most frequently starts at the Vernonia Lake adjunct. (See map.) Super accessibility The paved loop around … Continue reading Accessible Adventure at Vernonia Lake and Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon
Support Claire I have often teared up at a theater, but at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, I teared up because of the theater. Let me explain: OSF‘s dedication to Access for All its patrons is an impressive example of social responsibility — and a smart move for the ongoing success of the theater organization. From … Continue reading Oregon Shakespeare Festival
Support Claire Making Accessibility Happen Here's what I e-mailed the corporate headquarters of Regal Cinemas (a recently acquired subsidiary of the Cineworld Group), and why I say that their motto “The Best Place to Watch a Movie!” only applies if you can get in the door. Copy sent to: Regal Entertainment Group; Regal Oregon, Washington, Idaho … Continue reading Where are the ADA automatic front door openers at Regal Cinemas?
Support Claire It's always uplifting to hear about a corporation putting people first. I'm happy to be the bearer of such good news. Since my post, LA Fitness: Why the “LA” Stands for Lacks Accessibility, first aired in February 2018 a lot has happened, good stuff, progress. And without a protest march, petitions or expensive lawyers. … Continue reading LA Fitness Tualatin Upgrades Accessibility