It’s been 35 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed, requiring public accommodations, employers, transportation providers, and other entities to be accessible to people with disabilities. But accessibility in and around Louisville still has a ways to go to be compliant, says Liz Fust, founder and executive director of the disability advocacy organization Gathering Strength.
Liz and her team have compiled a list of tried-and-true local outings around town for people who use a wheelchair or scooter. Here are some outdoor and indoor accessible places to enjoy nature and stay fit.
Enjoy the animals! You can also access certain areas of the splash pad and playgrounds. There’s even an accessible riding space on the carousel that can be accessed using a ramp provided by zoo staff.
Insider tips from Liz and her team: Several family bathrooms are available, as are wheelchair and scooter rentals. It’s hilly, so if you’re in a manual chair, you may want to go with someone who can help. If you have an older power chair, you may want to bring your charger along so it can be a more enjoyable day.
Take a 30-minute drive south of Louisville to enjoy the huge works of interactive art, the sensory garden, and a breathtaking view above the treeline from the accessible Canopy Tree Walk. You can also reserve a GRIT freedom chair (think: mountain bike of wheelchairs — an upper body workout!) to access a variety of terrain.
Insider tips: It has big, accessible bathrooms. They have sought input from people with disabilities to build accessible play areas for people of all ages.
Community Fitness and Wellness gym at UofL Health – Frazier Rehabilitation Institute
This isn’t so much an outing just for fun, but it deserves a place on this list because of the tremendous health benefits it can offer people with disabilities. This fully accessible fitness and wellness gym has specialized equipment for wheelchair users. It functions with memberships like most typical gyms.
By Jessica Alyea | Photos submitted
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