Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner. The weather has been good to us and hopefully, we have all had opportunities to be outdoors.  New York State has more than 250 parks, historic sites, nature centers, etc. that can be available to us at reduced rates, or in some cases, even free. There are 37 State Parks just on Long Island, and another 33 in NYC and north to Albany. From Normal Levy Park, to Jones Beach State Park, to Bethpage Golf Course, one doesn’t need to travel very far to find a great place to visit.  The Empire Pass is a wonderful card that “permits unlimited vehicle access  (parking) to most facilities operated by NY State Office of Parks, Recreation Historical Preservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation Facilities.” (website)  There are one year, three year, five year and lifetime passes available. You can check the cost at “www.parks,ny.gov,”  There are also free reductions at historic sites and state operated golf courses.  If you are over the age of 62 and only intend to visit these venues Monday - Friday (not including holidays), you can use your drivers’ license or non-driver ID, for free access. There are also reduced rate passes for persons with disabilities (Access Pass) and veterans (Patriot Plan). Please visit www.parks.ny.gov, for more information on obtaining your Empire Pass. You won’t be sorry you did it! You can "know before you go," about many of these parks by visiting www.destinationaccessible.org.

by Roberta Rosenberg

“January 29th, is National Puzzle Day, the perfect day to do a little brain exercise. Whether it’s a crossword, jigsaw, or Sudoku, (to name just a few) puzzles engage our brains in more ways than one. Scientists have discovered that when we work on a jigsaw puzzle, we utilize both sides of the brain, improving memory, cognitive function and problem solving skills in the process. By utilizing puzzles, people can stimulate the brain to improve a number of skills.” (National Calendar Day)

But, I think the best thing about puzzles is that they are fun!  Whether working on The New York Times crossword (not me), doing a Sudoku, wordsearch, jumble, or having a jigsaw puzzle out on a table, we are usually enjoying ourselves. Puzzles are generally relaxing and engrossing, yet sometimes frustrating.  Finishing one offers a sense of accomplishment. And, puzzles are inexpensive indoor activities, especially during the winter months.

The first jigsaw puzzle ( initially called “dissected maps” ) was probably made in 1767, by a mapmaker. The world’s first crossword was published in December, 1913 in the “New York World” Newspaper. During the Great Depression, puzzle sales soared to over 10 million per week. During our Covid Pandemic, puzzle sales increased 300-400%, probably because puzzles are well-suited to staying at home. (information obtained from "The Jstor Daily,” article by Rebecca Bodenheimer - 12/16/20)

Considering all of the benefits of puzzles and, between winter in full swing and Covid still keeping many of us indoors,  I thought now would be a good time to research some of the best places to obtain puzzles, both puzzles to do online, and places to get puzzles to do “in person.”

From my research I am listing some of what seem to be the best places to get the best puzzles. This list is, by no means, complete.  If you have other suggestions PLEASE share them with us.

Best Places to purchase Jigsaw puzzles:

- Amazon   -   biggest selection

- Dawdle  and Mondo   -   great selections

- Jiggy   -   most beautiful artwork

- Puzzle Masters   -   unique object puzzles

- ebay   -   rare vintage puzzles

- Walmart   -   kids’ puzzles

Free puzzles online:

www.dictionary.com   -   daily crossword puzzles

www.boatloadpuzzles.com    -   free online  crosswords

www.washingtonpost.com  and www.games@washingtonpost.com

www.games@aarp.com   -   daily crosswords

www.thewordsearch.com   -   free word searches

www.razzlepuzzzles.com   -   you select the difficulty 

www.247wordsearch.com   -   good selection 

www.arkadium.com   -   a variety of free word games

www.sudoku.com

https://.games.usatoday.com

by Roberta Rosenberg

Are you or someone you know on the Autism Spectrum and preparing for a flight?  If there are communication, social interaction and/or sensory sensitivities you can watch and learn what to expect during airport security screening by viewing a short video on the www.tsa.gov website.

TSA Cares is a helpline that has been created “to provide travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.” (TSA website) 

Take note that this is only available for help through the screening checkpoint. If you need in-flight assistance, or wheelchair assistance from curb to flight you need to contact your airline.

The TSA Cares helpline ( 855 - 787 - 2227) is available on weekdays from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm ET and weekends from 9:00 am to 8:00pm. You can also all the federal relay at 711. If your flight is within 72 hours you must call. If you are getting in touch earlier than that, you can go online to fill out the required form for assistance. 

At some airports across the country there is a program called “Wings For All,” for children with special needs. I would describe it as a flying rehearsal, The child (and family) get to go to the airport to see what it is all about. You can find out more about it online as well. As far as I can tell, in the New York Metro Area,  it is only available at JFK and Newark airports.

We at Destination Accessible always advise you to “look at a venue’s website,” to get more information. We ask you to do this for more  information and to see the video. 

We hope that this has been helpful.

Enjoy your flight!

Travel is a dream come true for many of us, but that dream can become more difficult to achieve with age, illness or accidents.  Thanks to technology, everyone can enjoy virtual travel, which lets us see the world from the comfort of our homes. Even if we are in good heath, winter weather can make us not want to leave our homes.  This is a good time to use your internet connection, computer, tablet or smartphone to visit places you always dreamed of, or places you have visited and remember fondly. For those of us that struggle with technology, family, friends or caregivers can help us set up and even enjoy the adventures with us. Virtual travel has many benefits: we can visit multiple destinations a day, is easily accessible to those with mobility issues, is available 24 hours a day, ignites a sense of wonder and excitement when visiting a new place, or “nostalgia” for a place we have visited and loved. It allows people to explore the world, learn about cultures and experience destination without the physical travel’s barriers.  Virtual travel is stimulating. It keeps our brains active by learning about new cultures, history and art. It can also boost happiness. During my research for this article I took a virtual tour of Yosemite Park, went on a real-life safari in a private game reserve, took a day trip in Morocco, took a London walk from the London eye to Covent Gardens, took a Culture Trip Down Route 66, revisited Stone Henge and flew over the Taj Mahal. You can do all of these and much, much more. There are many sites where you can find virtual tours - many are free, or have free components, some may have a cost involved (although it is much less expensive than an actual visit).   The following list is by no means all there is, but you can use it as a starting point for your adventures!  Let us know where you went and what you thought of it. Let the adventures begin!!!  

• www.aarp.org/travel
• www.travelandleisure.com
• www.virtualvacation.us
• www.airpano.com
• www.nationalgeographicexplore.com
• www.lonelyplanet.com
• www.discoverlive.com
• www.artsandculture.google.com

compiled by Roberta Rosenberg - Destination Accessible US, Inc.

Note: The following suggestions are a result of my research. It is by no means complete. Since I grew up long before electronics became a necessity in our lives, I drew on things my family, friends and I used to do and enjoy. I’m sure you will be able to add more.

- complete a puzzle you have - trade puzzles with others
- do crossword puzzles, Suduko, or other word games- start a journal about  this time (I used to keep a “diary”)- meditate- practice yoga

- write actual letters to family and/or friends

- get a pen pal

- knit, crochet, needlepoint, hook a rug

- paint, draw,  learn to scrapbook,

- interview grandparents, parents, other relatives or friends

over the phone - save the audio and create a story about

the person

- write a book with your family - choose a topic - each person

writes a chapter on the topic 

- look at family photos - make a photo collage for your room of

for a gift

- make birthday cards in advance

- learn calligraphy

- create a list of things you want to do when we get out again

- get a free trial of a TV streaming service and binge watch as

much as you can before it expires  (be careful of end date)

- watch a tv show at the same time as a friend - talk on the 

phone as you watch or as soon as it is over

- try new recipes - or learn to cook or bake

- libraries are open for “pick-up” borrow a really long movie

you have always wanted to watch

- borrow a cookbook

- borrow videos

- borrow books on topics that interest you

by Roberta Rosenberg

I recently found out about “TSA Cares, a helpline from the Transportation Security Administration, that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.” (TSA website)  The website states that “this is only available for help through the screening checkpoint. If you need in flight assistance or wheelchair assistance from curb to flight, you need to contact your airline.”

Although I have not called myself, I have spoken to several people who have utilized it. They feel that it is very worthwhile and each spoke of the positive experiences they had.

This program seems to offer more help to passengers than just having a wheelchair brought to them. Here are some examples of assistance that are listed on the website: 

- difficulty standing or waiting in line; 

- difficulty following instructions; 

- mobility limitations, including lifting your arms; 

- internal/external body devices; 

- transporting medically necessary liquids, gases, etc. over 3.4 ozs; 

- religious or cultural items;

- concerns regarding screening for transgender or gender diverse individuals.  

You can check the website for more examples (www.tsa.gov)  and call for clarification of your personal needs and to request assistance. (855) 787-2227. The website states that you should call if your flght is within 72 hours. If it is before that you can either call or click the link on the TSA website to fill out the required form.

We at Destination Accessible, believe that one should always check a website to “know before you go.” We believe you should take the time to look at "www.tsa.gov>travel>passengersupport"  to find out more about it before giving them a call. 

Whatever your destination we wish you a good flight!

 Vermont Adaptive is one of the most impressive organizations I know. Although the following excerpt comes from their website, I could not have said it better myself.   It is …a place where youth and adults with disabilities gain a measure of self-confidence and independence by participating in adaptive sports programs and activities…It is recognized nationally for (its) client centered programs… (They) offer a large variety of programs and unique specialized equipment. Their winter activities include alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing  and other winter sports. They serve clients of all abilities with physical, cognitive and emotional/behavioral disabilities in three Vermont locations during the winter. I can only speak about the winter program offered at Killington/Pico, because my “better half” has been one of their volunteers for several years.  I have been able to see, first-hand, how intense their volunteer training is, and how they interact with their clients, both on the snow and off. It is inspiring to see! This is a wonderful way to “…empower individuals with disabilities and promote independence and further equality through access and instruction to sports and recreational activities.” I stole this from their mission statement!  If you know someone ( from kids to adults) whom you think might enjoy something like this, visit their website, www.vermontadaptive.org, or give them a call (802) 786-4991 and discuss your specific needs. They will be happy to speak with you. PS. If you decide to give it a try at Killington/Pico, look at www.destinationaccessible.org, for many accessible options for dining near Killington. Although we do not have hotels on our site, we are happy to report that The Killington Grand, is an easily accessible option for a place to stay.  

                                         Viewing Great Art Without Leaving Your Home by Roberta Rosenberg   1/25 It’s below freezing outside, with the wind chill making it seem like the temperature is in the teens. I have no desire to leave my house. What can I do from home that is interesting?  I can visit one or more of the great art museums we have in the US. New York has the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, and The Whitney Museum. You may or may not have visited one or more of them.  Besides what we have in our own backyard, there are many more great art museums in our country. What are the odds of us having visited any of them? I have been lucky enough to visit several.   With the magic of technology, we can visit them, on our own time, and from our own home. As I looked at the website of many of our museums, I discovered that I can not only see the museums’ collections, I can find podcasts, articles, videos, performances, stories, games and more.  Each museum offers a variety of options. You just have to go to their website and find what interests you. Here are several of the museums websites to get you started! The Metropolitan Museum of Art  ( www.metmuseum.org) The Art Institute of Chicago ( arctic.edu ) The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston  (www.mfa.org) National Gallery of Art ( www.nga.gov ) The Getty (www.getty.edu ) Philadelphia Museum of Art ( philamuseum.org ) Let us know others you would recommend. Enjoy!

With the holidays just around the corner you may be thinking of, or have already make plans to visit Killington, Vermont, during the holidays or later this winter.

No matter when you decide to go, know that there are venues that are accessible to someone with a mobility challenge. If you have a disability and are interested in skiing, make sure to check out “Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports / Sports for Every Body.” (www.vermontadaptive.org) a fabulous program available at Killington and nearby Pico Mountain. Their programs are amazing, the people wonderful!

There are a variety of lodging options in and around the mountain. For accessibility and convenience, you cannot do better than The Killington Grand (www.killington.com). 

For places to eat, Preston’s (in the Grand) is easily accessible. On Killington Road, Dominc’s Pizza, Sushi Yoshi, The Garlic, The Foundry and the Back Country Cafe are all accessible. 

If you want to take a beautiful ride, historic Woodstock is about a 40 minute drive east on Route 4.  Because Woodstock dates back to 1749, many of the shops have a step or two, to reach the front door. This is a beautiful place for a walk, with several spots for what we used to call “Kodak Moments.”

About 15 minutes east of Woodstock is the town of Quechee, where you can have an amazing meal and watch the glass blowing at Simon Pearce. Worthy Kitchen is another great restaurant, a bit east of Woodstock on Route 4, on the way to Quechee.

Finally, an interesting and informative place to visit is the New England Maple Museum and Gift Shop, located in Pittsford - probably about 40 minutes from the mountain. Doesn’t sound like much, but it is really worth visiting.

Vermont is a wonderful place. Killington is terrific. These are some suggestions for making your visit easier.  If you visit and find other places you would like to share, please do so! We would love to know!