By Angela Gartner
It’s important to create ways for children and adults with disabilities to feel welcome to experience new adventures and travel to any place they want to visit. Whether you are looking for a local activity or an out-of-state adventure, there are many accessible options to try.
Staycation Fun
You don’t have to travel far to find adventure. Here are a few sensory-friendly fun options in the region.
Accessible Fun at the Playground
The region has plenty of ways for kids of all abilities to play. Most inclusive playgrounds have ADA accessible features including adaptive equipment, wheelchair access and rubber play surfaces.
Many also include sensory-friendly experiences for families to explore. Check out the following options:
Clague Park
Clague Road and Hilliard Boulevard, Westlake, cityofwestlake.org
A 20,000-square-foot playground featuring ADA-compliant equipment, fun slides, and elevated platforms.
Beachwood Playground
25125 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, beachwoodohio.com
The inclusive playground for all ages and all abilities offers rubber surfacing, an ADA-accessible swing, music and art elements, and adaptive fun.
Every Child’s Playground
36265 Detroit Road (east of Aquatic Facility), Avon, cityofavon.com
This inclusive playground provides accessible fun, outdoor musical instruments and a storybook trail.
Preston’s H.O.P.E.
Playground Park
26001 South Woodland Road, Beachwood, prestonshope.com
This playground for all abilities provides 60,000 square feet of space to explore multiple play areas, including Imagination Village, Play Theatre, and a traditional playground with adaptable and sensory fun.
Karen’s Way Play Space
Huntington Reservation, Bay Village, clevelandmetroparks.com
This park offers a swing set and zipline with ADA inclusive seating, as well as lots of music and water play, a stage, and sensory-friendly fun.
Around the World Playground
Chagrin Boulevard and Lee Road, Shaker Heights, shakerheightsoh.gov
This ADA accessible playground is for toddlers to age 12, features a nature trail and has a library loop path.
Liberty Playground
6363 Selig Drive, Independence, independenceohio.org
Designed for ages 2 to 12, this playground offers multiple slides, climbing structures, an accessible sand table, musical panels, and a spinner on the rubber surfacing.
The Lindsey Family Play Space
Lakefront Reservation (Edgewater Park), 16301 Lakeshore Blvd., Cleveland, clevelandmetroparks.com
This park features a nature play area to explore and climb, surrounded by a paved trail.
ADA Playground in
Mayfield Heights
6080 Marsol Road, Mayfield Heights, mayfieldheightsohio.gov
This park offers 8,408 square feet of rubber surface, sensory panels, ADA compliant play equipment, shaded bridges and tunnels, and transitional areas.
The Miracle League of
Lake County
35200 Vine St., Eastlake, miracleleagueoflakecounty.org
This fully accessible baseball park and playground is for children of all abilities and ages.
Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park
4985 Windfall Road, Medina, medinacountyparks.com
This inclusive playground for all abilities includes double-size ramps for wheelchair users and rubber surfaces, along with easy wheelchair access.
Reese Park
301 Clague Road, Bay Village, cityofbayvillage.com
This ADA accessible playground includes a wheelchair accessible ramp.
Playground of Possibilities
1630 Wrenford Road, South Euclid, cityofsoutheuclid.com/playground
This accessible playground offers sensory play on a rubber surface.
Sebastian’s Playground
Solon Community Park, 6679 SOM Center Road, Solon, sebastiansplaygrounds.org
This inclusive playground features adapted play equipment, a rubber surface, sensory play walls, and adapted swings for children of all abilities.
Drakefield Park Playground
Drakefield Avenue and Silsby Road, clevelandohio.gov
This playground boasts a fire truck discovery station with a rubber play surface.
Inclusive Playground and Splash Pad — Hollstein Reservation
47160 Hollstein Drive, Amherst, loraincountymetroparks.com
The reservation features an outdoor play area for children of all abilities.
Limitless Playground at
McCafferty Park
299 25th St. SW, Barberton, cityofbarberton.com
This inclusive ADA accessible park includes a playground for all ability levels, with wheelchair ramps and accessible transfer platforms, rubber surfacing sensory panels, adaptive play equipment, ADA swing seats and picnic tables.
Cascade Park
387 Furnace St., Elyria, stowohio.org
This inclusive playground provides enjoyment for all ages and abilities with musical elements and more.
S.O.A.R. Boundless Playground
5027 Stow Road, Stow, stowohio.org
Designed for children of all abilities, with rubber surfacing and accessible swings.
Air Travel Bound
Get ready for your trip! Here are some organizations and things to review when planning your travel, including ways to get extra support.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower at Airports, hdsunflower.com
People with special needs can wear the program’s sunflower lanyards, bracelets or pins to discreetly bring awareness to airport staff that they might need additional assistance and patience. Over 300 airports around the world (including Akron-Canton Airport and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport) have adopted the program. While passengers are still required to arrange special assistance through the airport’s TSA, this provides an extra support system for travelers with special needs.
Milestones Travel Tool Kit, milestones.org
The travel tool kit provides recommended websites and apps for people with autism who are planning a family vacation and other travel. Also, look for tips for entertainment, packing, and navigating through checkpoints, as well as creating a social story.
The Arc’s Wings for Autism, thearc.org
This includes an airport “rehearsal,” as well as a presentation on the aircraft features and in-flight safety protocols. Chapters of The Arc, local partners, and airport/airline/TSA personnel work collaboratively to design and carry out each Wings event.
Travel agencies that specialize in accessible travel
Places to try include: wheelchairescapes.com, wheeltheworld.com, easyaccesstravel.com, travelbeyondthemagic.com, hammertravel.org, go.accessiblego.com, and tripsinc.com. Also, seek out recommendations from trusted agencies and friends.
U.S. Department of Transportation, transportation.gov
Visit the website for disability rights and other travel information.
Ohio Airports Accessibility
Akron Canton Airport, tripsinc.comtripsinc.com
The sensory room in the expanded concourse just before Gate 5 is filled with items for travelers with sensory needs. The airport also offers the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard program and is ADA accessible.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport,
clevelandairport.com/airport/accessibility-services
The airport offers a variety of services and accessibility options for travelers with access and reduced mobility needs.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport,
cvgairport.com/accessibility
The airport offers the Aira ASL app for help with interpretation for employees and passengers, ADA accessible transportation options, and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard program.
John Glenn Columbus International Airport, flycolumbus.com/passengers/accessibility
The airport provides accessible features such as universal changing tables,
Tactile Braille, visual paging displays, aira visual assistance, and journey care kits.
Staycation Fun
You don’t have to travel far to find adventure. Here are a few sensory-friendly fun options in the region.
We Rock the Spectrum,
wrtsfranchise.com
A safe place to play for children with special needs that provides a sensory-friendly environment.
Find locations in Lake County,
Mayfield and Stow.
Akron Zoo, akronzoo.org
The zoo is certified in Dementia Friends through Dementia Friendly Summit County. An on-site guest comfort station includes a universal changing table. The zoo is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive venue. It has sensory bags, weighted lap pads, quiet areas, headphone zones. It also has an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) board.
Playhouse Square,
playhousesquare.org
It offers a barrier-free access to performances and events including access to assisted listening devices, wheelchair accessible seating, restrooms and escorts, audio described performances, and sensory-friendly programming.
Cleveland Metroparks Beaches and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, clevelandmetroparks.com
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Sandusky, kalahariresorts.com
The indoor waterpark provides sensory and safety kits. It also has a Calming Room for people with sensory processing needs.
Cleveland Museum of Natural
History, cmnh.org
The museum is a KultureCity Certified Sensory Inclusive Venue, providing sensory bags, headphone zones and quiet areas. Wheelchair accessible and provides free admission to a personal care assistant or primary caregiver.
Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland rockhall.com/accessibility
Sensory bags are available with fidget toys and noise dampening headphones. For guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, a qualified American Sign Language interpreter can be available to reserve. The museum is also wheelchair accessible.
Summit Metro Parks, summitmetroparks.org
The park system has programs for everyone and is affiliated with Autism Society of Greater Akron, Akron-Summit Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly Summit County. The system offers break bags for sensory support, specialized events for people with autism, trails that are accessible for all mobility levels, and park centers that are ADA accessible.
Want an Out-of-State
Accessible Adventure?
Morgan’s Wonderland, morganswonderland.org
This theme park in San Antonio, Texas is inspired by Morgan Hartman who has special needs. Her parents, Gordon and Maggie, wanted to create an opportunity for a one-of-a-kind park that provides an inclusive environment for all abilities. Families can enjoy the accessible and sensory-friendly fun, along with hotel partners who can provide accommodations.
