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Wheelchairs
On The Go: Accessible Fun in Florida,
by Michelle Stigleman & Deborah Van Brunt
The
most enjoyable and surprising accomplishment of Wheelchairs on
the Go: Accessible Fun in Florida is not that the authors have
created an incredibly detailed guide for mobility-impaired visitors,
but that the insider information provided on every venue and location
can lend richness to anyone's visit to Florida attractions. Unlike
most campground and attraction guides, which are written by folks
whose grasp of wheelchair-accessible issues is based only on a theoretical
understanding, Michelle Stigleman and her adventurous quadriplegic
husband Randy have field-tested many of the venues discussed in
the book.
Wheelchairs
on the Go includes details vital to travelers with disabilities,
including the angles of ramps, curb heights, and the presence of
physical barriers at each of the locations. More importantly, the
book provides excellent tips and first-hand information on overcoming
a number of these challenges. For instance, there are specific suggestions
for how to board and enjoy rides at most of the Orlando and Tampa
theme parks. The book also details tips for obtaining discount tickets
and preferred parking opportunities not usually known to the general
public. There are also extensive descriptions of specialized equipment
that enables mobility-impaired adventurers to participate in high-adventure
pursuits like hang-gliding, sky-diving, and swimming with dolphins.
The
book also does an excellent job of describing the types of accommodations
available. Details such as bed height and the availability of roll-under
sinks are typical of the entries. Actual room numbers are listed
for motels that have some rooms with roll-in showers. Every section
also lists current Web site information on tourist attractions,
transportation options and activities in the area. The Appendix
boasts one of the most complete resource guide for mobility-impaired
travelers currently available.
Wheelchairs
on the Go lives up to its promise to deliver good times and
fun to Florida visitors, whether they're mobility-impaired or not.
If a night-time photo expedition in search of man-eating crocodiles,
flyfishing from a 25' flats boat, participating in a quad rugby
tournament, watching the Royal Lipizzaner Stallions, lounging at
a seaside motel in Palm Beach, or a bird-watching excursion into
the Everglades ever appealed to you—get this book.
Mark
Sedenquist
12/02
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