Summertime, and Livin’ Can Be Easy

July 27, 2010

For the disabled, summer in Taos provides both opportunities and difficulties. And if you’ve got the money to travel, summer can be anything you dream, even if you use a wheelchair or walker.

The major difficulty with summer in Taos is the heat, which can bother anyone but can be a genuine health hazard for the disabled. One of the symptoms of my multiple sclerosis is intolerance for heat: if my core temperature goes above a certain point, I get faint, have trouble breathing and can’t stand or walk. I don’t leave the house without a hat and a big bottle of iced water, and I spend a lot of time in pools.

Swimming is a perfect activity for the disabled—great exercise, a chance to meet people and a way to cool off. If you have a disability that leaves you with some mobility (or very good upper body strength), any pool in town is accessible to you. If your disability is more severe, the community pool has a lift that can get you in and out of the water. I don’t remember not knowing how to swim, and am considering a dolphin tattoo. In the water, I am whole.

We also have the Rio Grande at our doorstep, which means rafting. All the local companies provide everything from white water rafting to placid floats on the river. It’s best to call around, describe your disability, and see if the company can accommodate you. I haven’t rafted here, but I have on the Snake River in Wyoming. My only difficulty was getting into the raft, but someone swung my weaker leg over and I was good to go. For the outdoorswoman I used to be, the trip was fabulous: bald eagles, otters and other wildlife—and someone else did the paddling. Even the one brief patch of rapids was no problem.

Taos in the summer also offers chamber music at TCA, which is probably the most accessible building in town. The arts also offer lectures, workshops, art openings, Solar Fest and more. Accessibility varies from venue to venue, so call ahead.

Many disabled folk think their days of traveling to exotic locales are over, but not so. It takes more planning and time, and not every place on the planet provides accessibility, but you’d be amazed what is available. Many, if not most, cruise ships can accommodate wheelchairs. Many beach resorts have beach buggies available: big-wheeled scooter-like vehicles that can take you right into the water. There are vacations available in South Africa—Kruger Park and lions and more. Many National Parks provide access for people with disabilities and have camping spots reserved for them. If cities are more your thing, they provide a different set of challenges, but I’ve navigated New York City with only a walker.

I don’t have room to list all the travel possibilities, but if you can dream it, you can probably do it. Some useful websites are listed below, and if you Google “disabled travel� you’ll find much more—and don’t forget books!

slotrav.com (useful for seniors as well as the disabled)
disabledtravelers.com (lots of links to other sites)
easyaccesstravel.com (specializes in cruises)

Whatever your idea of summer fun is—from picnics to European travel—you can do it. I know my disabilities will increase over time, but they won’t show up as soon if I keep my mind and body exercised. Finding ways around my limitations is a challenge, but one I welcome. Don’t tell me I can’t do it—yes I can!