Washington DC: Planning Trips with Disabled Children

Famous for cherry blossoms, white stone memorials and free kid-friendly museums, Washington, D.C., is also an accessible city. “D.C. is a very accessible city,” says Russ Holt, executive director of Access Information, Inc., the group responsible for the D.C. Access Guide, but it’s not perfect. The Metro and many museums are accessible, however some restaurants and older historic buildings still present a challenge. Plan ahead though, says Holt, who uses a wheelchair, and you can have a great time in the nation’s capital.

Getting Around the Capital via Metro, Cab or Tourmobile

Walking around Washington is easy, whether along the smooth, paved paths around the monuments and the National Mall, the narrow, winding, brick-paved streets in Georgetown, or anything in between. Public transportation is also wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. Buses have lifts, wide wheelchair-friendly elevators are available from street to train level, punctuated tiles are installed near the track edges for the visually impaired and floor lights flash to alert hearing impaired travelers of oncoming trains. Use the D.C. Metro trip planner to map out your travels.

To get around by cab, the National Council on Independent Living (www.ncil.org) recommends Battle’s Transportation (tel. 202-462-8650) or Red Top Cab (tel. 202-328-3333) for wheelchair- and stroller-accessible vans. Of course, when you’re on vacation, you want transportation that will take you around to all the major tourist spots. That’s where you’ll want to catch a blue-and-white shuttle from Tourmobile Sightseeing, which stops at all the major monuments and attractions—the White House, Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial and more. The company offers two services for travelers with physical disabilities: For those who can transfer and climb one or two steps (or if you can carry your child up a short flight of stairs), use the on-demand service on buses with wheelchair storage. If your child requires a chair lift, request a lift-equipped vehicle at a ticket booth. Make sure to set a pick-up time with the driver when you reach your destination.

• Washington, D.C.’s Metro is one of the best public transport systems for special needs accessibility.
• Daniel Lobo

Museums, Memorials and More

The best thing about traveling D.C. with kids: free museums. All of the Smithsonian museums are free, which means that if your little one has a meltdown in the mammals exhibit of the National Museum of Natural History you can leave without worrying about a huge admission fee gone to waste on a 20-minute visit. Smithsonian museums are wheelchair-accessible and provide options for visitors with disabilities. “All of our buildings and the National Zoo are accessible to people with disabilities,” says Beth Ziebarth, director of accessibility for the Smithsonian, who uses a wheelchair. In addition to wheelchair accessibility, the Smithsonian provides exhibits with tactile experiences, live captioning, hands-on programs like the Bug Zoo at the National Museum of Natural History, interpreters for programs and docent-led tours for visitors with visual or hearing disabilities (call two weeks ahead to schedule an interpreter).

One thing to be aware of: Smithsonian museums are often filled with school groups during the school year, hordes of 8th graders on spring break in March and April, or throngs of families during the summer. Ziebarth recommends visiting either at the beginning or end of the day to avoid these crowds. Though there are accessible parking spaces on the Mall, the best way to get to the museums is by Metro. (Learn more about Smithsonian accessibility, and get a Smithsonian Access guide by calling 202-357-2700.)

A must-see off the Mall, the National Zoo has wide paths that makes it easy to see all the animal residents. The zoo is on a hill, however, so some of the steeper inclines may be difficult for some visitors. Three attractions that are newly accessible thanks to additions and renovations: the National Archives, the basement of Ford’s Theatre (accessible by a stair glide that takes wheelchairs down the winding staircase “like a roller coaster,” says Holt) and the new Nationals Stadium.