Traveling with disabilities presents unique challenges for each family. Whether you need mobility support, an interpreter, or the ability to breakaway from the main attraction, there's a world of support waiting for you. Let us help you discover how accessible a trip to the Ozarks really is.
There’s a great big world out there ready to be explored, and it’s all ripe for the picking. The thing is–traveling isn’t equally accessible to all individuals. When you’re exploring as a disabled traveler, navigating things can be a little trickier.
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Fortunately, the charge on change is gaining steam, and there’s quite the surge in making travel more accessible to all. From online resources to organizations that promote increased education and resources, the world is recognizing that sometimes a little accommodation goes a long way.
Let’s delve into some tips, resources, and recommended destinations to help make traveling to the Ozarks with a disability an easier experience.
The Pre-Planning Phase of Traveling with Disabilities in Mind
The pre-planning jitters tend to increase when you’re considering medical supplies and equipment rather than making sure you grabbed your favorite shirt. Here are a few things to make sure you cross off your checklist when packing for traveling with a disability:
Extra medications
Medical supplies
Mobility aids & repair kits
Assistive devices & chargers
Before you go, check out the area medical facilities to ensure that they have the necessary resources if there is an emergency during travel. Our family has also found it helpful to call ahead to attractions and/or lodging, explain our needs, and check to see if they can accommodate us. This step is beneficial even when information isn’t brightly available on the website.
Another consideration in the pre-planning phase is to check travel insurance. Review any travel insurance policies to ensure it includes medical coverage, trip cancelation protection, and covers damaged mobility equipment. There are specific travel agents for people with disabilities with niche expertise and tips, such as TravelAble.
Getting into the Action at Your Attraction
In the pre-planning phase, you called your attractions, and now you’re there. Smooth sailing, right? Not quite. Many attractions have an accessibility office at their location; go visit it! No matter what you’ve read online about your destination, it’s critical to speak with the place in person.
Services have come a long way in the past few decades, and attractions often try their best to accommodate limitations. When you visit the guest services office directly, you often learn much more than the very little covered on the website. For example, Silver Dollar City can provide a sign-language interpreter with a 2-week prior notice.
Additionally, visiting these offices in person often comes with personal insider tips. They’ll be able to pinpoint where certain features are (such as accessible entrances, handicapped theatre seating, or other accessibility-related amenities). Don’t struggle to find accessible pathways; let the pros point the way for a smoother day.
Some Ozark-Specific Recommendations
If you’re traveling to the Ozarks with a disability, you’ll find that specific locations are more accommodating than others. A few places have really blazed the trail for inclusivity, and we want to make sure you’re armed with these destinations.
Crystal Bridges Museum
Crystal Bridges is a renowned art museum known for extensive collections of American artwork. It’s also incredibly inclusive beyond the standard entrances, ramps, and elevators. Crystal Bridges provides accommodations for photosensitivity, hearing & vision impairments, and various communication aids and sensory maps. They also offer a map of exhibits marked for different needs.
Branson
Branson, Missouri is a popular tourist destination known for live entertainment shows and thrilling adventures. The city has made efforts to improve accessibility in recent years with many attractions to provide access to facilities and services for all. Check out these recommendations:
Branson Landing
Silver Dollar City
Showboat Branson Belle
The Butterfly Palace
For example, at Silver Dollar City, you will find a family calming space for sensory needs and detailed accessibility maps for rides and attractions that will give you all the information that you need up front.
ASL interpreters are also available (must be booked 14 days in advance) to ensure hearing impaired guests can enjoy the park and shows.
The Gathering Place
The Gathering Place prides itself on being an inclusive attraction for guests of all ages and abilities. Throughout the park, you’ll find playgrounds with inclusive play equipment, sensory elements, and accessible surfaces. In addition to being wheelchair accessible, the park provides:
Quiet spaces
Calming gardens
Inclusive workshops & activities
Sensory bags
Inclusive dining with diverse dietary options
Things to Keep in Mind
There’s a growing call in society to be more accommodating and to promote inclusivity. My family is personally thankful for the recognition needed for change. While you’re exploring, hopefully, it’s nothing but friendly faces and beautiful times. If you're traveling with disabilities, keep in mind that you have certain protected rights.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in the United States. It applies to various areas, including transportation and public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.
The ADA ensures equal access to transportation services, which means that transportation providers, such as airlines, buses, and trains, must make reasonable accommodations to help individuals with disabilities travel comfortably and safely.
Services should provide help with boarding assistance, accessible seating options, and help to store and retrieve mobility aids like wheelchairs. The ADA also requires public accommodations, such as hotels, to make their facilities accessible by removing barriers that may prevent individuals with disabilities from fully enjoying services.
It’s important to note that the ADA has specific guidelines and provisions that can vary in certain situations. If you have questions or concerns about your rights during travel, you should consult with the official resources, contact the relevant transportation provider, or seek guidance from a disability advocacy organization such as:
The Arc
National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)
National Council on Independent Living (NCIL)
Disabled American Veterans
Autism Speaks
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
Keep Exploring!
As the world and technology continue to evolve, we recognize the importance of adaptable aids that help make travel more accessible and enjoyable to a greater number of people. There are a host of apps that can aid in your travels, including:
AcessNow: helps people find and share accessibility information about various places worldwide with ratings and reviews of accommodations.
Be My Eyes: Connects visually impaired individuals with sighted volunteers through live video calls to assist with tasks like reading signs, identifying objects, or navigating environments.
Google Maps: Provides information on accessible routes, public transportation, and user reviews about the accessibility of different locations.
Seeing AI: Developed by Microsoft, the app uses artificial intelligence to assist with reading text, identifying objects, recognizing people’s faces, and providing audio descriptions of surrounding environments.
Roadtrippers: Can be used as a cross-reference once an itinerary is built to check for accessible attractions along the way.
Explore. Have a ball! Find and meet friendly faces as you create unforgettable memories. We’ll continue to update our accessible travel resources along the way, so we can all help create a world where everyone has the opportunity to embrace the wonders of the world!