Recommendations. Reflections. Advocacy.
Nestled in the burgeoning college town of Cedar City, Utah, lies two gems of accessible leisure travel: Cedar Breaks National Monument and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Limited mobility is not a problem at either venue, and there's every reason to go. In July 2023, my husband Lou and I, together with our caregiver Josh, took … Continue reading Accessible Plays and Stays in Cedar City, Utah
Hoodoo Moab offers excellent accessibility lodgings with a touch of luxury - with one glaring exception, which I will get to momentarily. Conveniently located near Moab's many natural attractions, this hotel makes for an enjoyable and relaxing vacay for travelers with accessibility requirements, travelers like us. My husband and I, along with our caregiver, recently … Continue reading Accessibility at Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton
Read the full 2023, Issue 2 of The FSHD Advocate. Article appears on page 15. Watch Documentary Donate
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 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 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 For travelers with or without disabilities, Las Vegas is becoming less about the casinos, and more about “The Experience.” Whether you’re looking for award-winning cuisine, color beyond compare, or a blast of contemporary culture, you’ll find it in “the city that never sleeps." And with great accessibility. I’ve never seen more scooters per capita … Continue reading Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Las Vegas
Support Claire A friend told us about Phoenix’s Heard Museum over dinner. Intrigued, my husband and I went the very next morning, and were so glad we did. She was right: The museum’s collection of traditional and contemporary American Indian art (mostly southwestern) is simply superb. Each exhibit oozes quality over quantity. Great accessibility From … Continue reading Heard Museum, Phoenix
Support Claire The glorious wonders of Kartchner Caverns are accessible to everyone, including people who mobilize with a wheelchair, scooter or cane. People like me. I charged up my red power chair for spelunking into the unassuming Whetstone Mountains, and with the superb set up provided by the Arizona State Parks system navigated the depths … Continue reading Accessible Natural Marvels at Kartchner Caverns in Benson, AZ
Support Claire The Rio Salado Pathway connects you to some of Mesa and Tempe’s most scenic urban landscapes. Colorful to say the least, this wheelchair/scooter accessible pathway offers plenty of visual surprises. I won’t give them all away, but I will say this: within an hour we marveled at everything from gray-blue cranes perched on the banks … Continue reading Scenic Urban Accessibility in Mesa and Tempe, AZ
Support Claire You can tell a lot about a city by the way it greets visitors with disabilities. Palm Springs does a good job in this regard at its Visitors Information Center North. Even though you may have sorted your desert paradise accessible vacation online, it’s still worth a twirl to this iconic building (if … Continue reading Palm Springs Visitors Center
Support Claire I just didn’t see it coming. I knew since I was 18 that I had FSH muscular dystrophy. But I figured I was one of the lucky ones, able to walk and lift and smile with little difficulty. The thought of ever needing a wheelchair - pssh! - never crossed my mind. At … Continue reading And then the unimaginable happened
Support Claire Making Accessibility Happen Every city wants your business. Let them know what you need and want in order to make that business happen. Here's what I sent to: City of Scottsdale - Mayor and City CouncilScottsdale City Hall, 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 City of Scottsdale, Clean and scenic, indeed! And … Continue reading Rolling Right Along in Accessible Scottsdale
Support Claire Making Accessibility Happen Every national park has a visitor comment form that you can pick up at the guard station or sometimes e-mail online. Sharing your experiences - positive or negative - makes a difference. Here's what I sent to: Superintendent, Chris Lehnertz P.O. Box 129 Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 My sincere thanks … Continue reading Seeing the Grand Canyon by Scooter
NOW SHOWING...Red Scooter Diaries, the documentary. View here: Support Claire Actively engaging with the world is essential for body and soul. Mine anyway. As someone living with FSH muscular dystrophy, getting out of the house, out of my head and into the world is as life-sustaining as breathing good, fresh air. Here's the rub: Mother … Continue reading Going Places