A Place to Play, on Wheels or Feet

Soar Experiences, a New York-based nonprofit, provides free guided outdoor tours for people with limited mobility using Trackchairs, rugged, battery-powered all-terrain wheelchairs that can traverse hiking trails. The program has recently expanded to 15 public hikes across New York and Connecticut, helping people living with disabilities connect with both nature and each other.

Minnesota is purchasing “track chairs” with all-terrain treads for its parks that people with disabilities can use for free to access more areas and trails.

Under federal law, transit agencies are required to provide Call-A-Ride services within a certain distance of existing bus and rail routes to ensure transportation access for people with disabilities. But thanks to service cuts, labor shortages, and technical complications, users of St. Louis’ Call-A-Ride program say the service is not living up to its promises, with nearly a third of requested trips in January 2023 ultimately canceled.

A haute cuisine restaurant in the Spanish city of Jerez offers employment only for people with disabilities who are left out of the mainstream workforce. The restaurant employs 20 people with conditions ranging from Down's syndrome to cerebral palsy, and they say that they are treated just like anyone else and that it has transformed their lives. The restaurant has also caught people's attention for the food alone and even receives recipes and guest chefs from the top chefs in the country.

With the recent large influx of refugees, crumbling infrastructure, crowded streets, and struggling social services, bing disabled or homeless in Istanbul means facing serious challenges to carving out a dignified life. But one group is helping bring these communities together and create empowerment through cycling. Engelsiz Çorba partners disabled volunteers with cyclists to deliver food to the homeless and encourage them to share their stories.

Several churches in North Central Ohio are successfully removing barriers for families with disabilities through specialized ministry programs. Champions Club at Storyside Church serves children with trained volunteers in sensory-friendly spaces adapted to each child's needs. Pure Joy at Ashland Grace Church uses a buddy system to serve 17+ participants with varying needs. And Wonderful Works Ministry extends this impact globally by providing free online coaching to churches worldwide, having reached 200 pastors.

NaviLens developed an app that scans codes posted at bus stops and train stations to provide real-time information via audio and vibration cues for people who are blind or have low vision. The NaviLens app provides information on when the next bus or train is coming, how far a user is from the nearest elevator, and other key details to make the transportation process smoother.

The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) started working with people who have disabilities to create better disaster preparedness measures that consider disabilities, ensuring support and shelter are accessible to anyone and everyone. ACI held an overnight shelter simulation exercise that allowed them to practice each step of an emergency shelter response with people who have disabilities to identify any areas that could be improved. These simulations have become a model for other counties across the state, inspiring more shelters to make improvements to their accessibility.

The Fort Collins Run Club began hosting adaptive running nights, devoted to engaging runners who use wheelchairs, are blind, deaf or have some other kind of challenge that may have prevented them from joining social running clubs or participating in races. Adaptive running offers a sense of community for runners with disabilities and even helps break down barriers by providing blind runners aids to help guide them through races. Currently, The Fort Collins Run Club has 1,000 members.

“AGATEBE” was developed to help make it easier for the elderly and people with disabilities to access toilets. It is a portable, durable, low-cost toilet chair that is easier to use than traditional latrine pits. So far, more than 5,000 have been sold.