STARS followup: Training

STARS's first orientation meeting on December 1st was a huge success- over 100 locals showed up to participate in this year's adaptive skiing and riding programs. As a reminder, all Access Anything & Adaptive Adventures camps series volunteers now need to be trained through STARS. Please join one of these groups to get acquainted with STARS. All instruction meets at STARS office. Return Volunteers and Instructors Dec 13 Sun 8:30-3:30 - Sit-Skiing techniques Dec 14 Mon 8:30-3:30 - 3track, blind, cognitive Orientations - meet in Ski School Lounge Dec 14 Mon 7-8pm - Nuts and Bolts of STARS Dec 15 Tue 7-8pm - Nuts and Bolts of STARS Bi Skiing Instruction Dec 15 Tue 9a-3p, ski it and teach it 3-Track Instruction Dec 17 Thur 12:30-3:30 - more about outriggers Snowboarding Dec 18 Fri 9:00am- 12n - Hands on training NEW Volunteers and Instructors Dec 19 Sat 8:30-3:30 - Sit-Skiing techniques Dec 20 Sun 8:30-3:30 - 3track, blind, cognitive See STARS Training Calendar to sign up, learn more, and join their mailing list and Volunteer Group. View our photos and video from previous years

2010 Winter Camp Series: January 10-14 advanced adults camp March 20-22 all kids camp Contact us to donate to these camps Or donate through Facebook

STARS has a new home!

Steamboat Adaptive Recreation Sports (STARS) has a new home now in Ski Time Square next to the info center! We're excited to see this program grow; they've added nordic skiing to their winter lineup. Look for more sports this summer!

Learn more about STARS, volunteer, donate and join their network at http://www.steamboatstars.com.

Access is Mile High at Invesco Field in Denver, CO

Although we checked out the NFL stadium Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado soon after it opened, we hadn't been back for a game or an access report in years, until last night.

For this year's Thanksgiving celebration, eight of us visited Invesco Field for the Broncos-NY Giants game (5 NYG fans and 3 Broncos fans among us). As always with most new, public facilities - especially those with fat wallets funding them - we were impressed with last night's access in general, but have a minor complaint about guidance and way-finding.

Let's get this out of the way first (before we boast about the access here- which really is excellent), we're used to being pointed out the access, and when we aren't and have to go out of our way to look for it, we have to report that. The ticket office gave us a head start when we purchased the tickets (excellent), by telling us where we'd be seated, and giving us a parking pass that got us closest to our seats. When we arrived, finding the G lot was easy, as was the stroll from lot to entrance. Look for the big wheelchair sign, and enter at the gate nearest your seats- again, easy enough. But from there no one showed us the elevator and before we knew it, we were rolling uphill to the 3rd deck. Craig is strong and fit, and we're all young and able - and perhaps he wasn't offered help because he was coated in Giants gear - but either way, we weren't lead to the easiest route for a wheelchair, but then we didn't sign up for the tour like we did at Yankee Stadium! The flow of a mob is forceful, so this is the only reason I point this out, and at least one of the SIX individuals taking our tickets, checking our bags, and sorting our group could have pointed the elevator or access route out to Craig.

Being that is our only complaint, once inside, the accessible seating is endless. We were on the upper deck which is level with the ramp entrance to it; the accessible seats right there at the bottom, with the rest of the upper-deck seating stretching above it, and the entire circumfrance of the field. The views from here were excellent, and its location to the restrooms perfect.

In the lower decks, the seating is more covered and protected, also right up against the bannister in clustered sections stretching the length of the field. All disabled sections offer power outlets, cup holders, vacant spots for visitors with their own chairs and scooters, and permanent accompanying seating for their companions.

Get there between 10am and 2pm and get a full tour of the stadium that includes the museum, store, media center, TV area, champions club, visitor's locker room, field and club levels.

Visit their website's ADA Access page for more information on ordering tickets, parking, power, closed captioning, and shuttle service. Seating isn't mentioned here, as tickets are sold through brokers, so make sure you are looking at a map of the arena when booking online or with an agent to know the best option for you.

@CaptionFish expands for the Blind

A revolutionary new website makes finding movies with captioning easy! As part of a massive effort to support entertainment accessibility for all people with disabilities, Captionfish launched in Beta format in May of this year with the goal of providing captioned film results for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Some highlights of the first beta release included:

• Effortless Searching: Using its Instant CC Film Finder, Captionfish offers the easiest way for visitors to find captioned movie results within 30 miles of their location.
• Comprehensive results: Captionfish's Instant CC Film Finder results can be customized for up to 7 days in the future or up to 60 miles away from a specified location.
• Open Captions and Rear Window® identification: Captionfish provides easy to identify icons that distinguish between an Open Captioned or Rear Window® Captioned showing.
• Mobile edition: Captionfish provides a mobile website optimized for mobile phones so deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors can find captioned movie results while they are on the go.
• Closed Captioned Trailers: Captionfish links to a growing list of closed captioned movie trailers so the deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors can enjoy previews of current and upcoming movie releases.
• RSS Feed for custom results: Captionfish enables an RSS feed so each visitor can check for the latest captioned film results using their preferred RSS reader wherever they like.

In August they improved upon their platform with these additions:

• Theater Directory: Captionfish shares all its theater information with you. This allows you to discover theaters around you that are currently providing or have provided captioned showtimes. This also gives you an opportunity to let us know about theaters that we don't know about.
• Movie Directory: We've opened up access to all of the movies and captioned trailers in our system. You're no longer limited to the titles that are playing in your area. We also give you early access to captioned trailers for upcoming movies, sometimes even those a few months out, like The Twilight Saga New Moon.
• Map/Directions: Found in the Theater Directory pages, Captionfish provides maps and directions to help all visitors plan their trip to the movies!
• Simplified Searching: The ability to change locations is now the most prominent feature. All visitors can search ANYWHERE in the USA to their heart's content!

And even more in October:

• Blog: Follow Captionfish updates on our new blog.
• Captioned Trailer Updates: Follow @cctrailers on Twitter or subscribe to our Movie Directory RSS feed to stay on top of all of the new captioned trailers that we're putting up.
• Caption Type Filtering: Filter the showtime listings to movies that are being shown using your preferred caption type (Open Captioned, Rear Window® Captioned, or Show All, if you don't care).
• Share Captionfish With Others: Let your family and friends know about Captionfish! Hand out flyers or place a badge on your blog and/or website!

This month they expanded yet again to include helpful information and now supports DVS (Descriptive Narration) in movie results! So now additionally people who are blind or have low vision can now filter their movie results to show just DVS movies by clicking the DVS only filter option. They hope this will help make finding movies easier, and empower them to make more informed consumer decisions to support theaters that proactively provide accessible solutions for the blind/low vision community.

• E-mail notifications: Get e-mail notifications when Captionfish finds captioned showtimes in your area for the movie(s) that you want to see! Look for this feature in the sidebar next to every trailer that you view.
• Revamped Movies Directory: We redesigned the movies directory page (now called trailer directory) to better organize and display all of our captioned trailers. New releases, upcoming movies, current showings, and previous showings are all listed separately in an easy to find format.
• Captioned Movie Indicator: There are times when Captionfish has shown captioned trailers for movies that are released without captions, leading the visitors to think that movie will be released with captions. To prevent confusion, we now tell you which movies are, or will be captioned in the theaters. Each of the individual trailer pages has a note on the right sidebar under the movie poster that lets you know if captions will be, are, or were available for the movie in theaters.
• Descriptive Narration Movies: Beginning Friday 11/13, Captionfish will start pulling in and listing movies that have descriptive narration (also known as DVS) which will benefit viewers who are blind or have low vision. You will also be able to filter on this on the results page!

Please pass this great service on to your list! Hurray for our friend Brendan in Seattle who has been helping CaptionFish to develop and grow! Please Tweet about them: @captionfish

Colorado's Nine National Parks, A Closer Look

We've diligently spent the last 2 weeks building an online database for you of the nine National Parks in Colorado at our article hub on Examiner, and we're eager to share them with you! First, check out our article on the how-to's of National Parks for PWD where we discuss web information, discount passes, and the basics of this all-inclusive system in the U.S.

If you're anywhere in the state of Colorado, one of these national gems is near you. They're all accessible, some more so than others, so we've broken them all down in one place. See the rating system below.

1. Bent's Old Fort - moderately accessible, for the history and Old West buffs

2. Black Canyon of the Gunnison - greatly accessible with trails, campgrounds, and vistas

3. Colorado National Monument - moderately accessible with one campground and great views

4. Curecanti National Recreation Area - poorly accessible because the boat tour is the key component of this park, and having it not accessible is a bummer

5. Dinosaur National Monument - fully accessible, even the flight seeing off-site is! Awesome park!

6. Florissant Fossil Beds - moderately accessible, for the rock and fossil buffs

7. Great Sand Dunes - greatly accessible, dunes with assistance only, raised tent beds in campgrounds, awesome park

8. Mesa Verde - greatly accessible, most dwellings are viewable from a wheelchair

9. Rocky Mountain - greatly to fully accessible, some trails aren't but the options are plentiful



Access Anything's Rating System:

Not Accessible - Really, just not.
Poorly Accessible - Doable with help, but poor access- meaning the bathrooms aren't accessible, or the parking isn't... it's missing something major, but the main site is ok.
Moderately Accessible - Most of it's accessible, but a few things (trails or campgrounds) aren't.
Greatly Accessible - 90-99% accessible, usually just one thing is missing.
Fully Accessible - Go looking, you won't find anything without universal design. Think Disney.

Top 3 Ski Areas in the State

The writer and her husband Craig, in Winter Park
(C) Access Anything

The three main things that Access Anything looks for in a ski area when we want to recommend it to fellow people with disabilities (PWD) are:

1. General access of the ski area base - parking, equipment storage, and location to lodging

2. Lodging - several price options with great access near the base

3. Getting around - on the mountain and in town; local accessible transportation as well as ski area ease. (Ski areas with multiple peaks and lifts that don't connect to each other, or those without accessible public transit aren't our first choice for PWD.)

Having been to all 9 of the ski areas that have adaptive programs in Colorado, we've picked out the top three for PWD- the newbies out there that want to try skiing, but don't want the hassles of figuring it all out on your own, the experienced skier but newbie to Colorado, or the expert skier who just wants the best snow and easiest way to get to it! These three areas best cater to PWD needs before you arrive, while you're here, on the mountain, and off the mountain.

A. Winter Park - the National Sports Center for the Disabled since 1970

While we hang our skis next door in Steamboat, we still can't argue that WP's ski area is hands-down the best all around for all levels of skiers with disabilities who are either traveling on their own or with their family and friends. Why? From start to finish, WP covers your needs like grandma's homemade afghan blanket.

The winning combination: What 40 years of experience will bring you:

• General Access: You name it, in WP it's accessible. From restaurants to lodging to the ski area, any disability is covered here. Don't even call the restaurant, seriously. Now that kind of reliability is what makes the best, the very best.
• Lodging: Their central reservations department can answer every question on lodging before you get there, helping you find lodging from Bed and Breakys, hotels, to condos. [800-453-2525]
• Getting Around: Both the Paratransit [(970) 726-4163] and the free city shuttle can help you get around the town of Winter Park. On the mountain, the NSCD will give you a lesson or a ski buddy, and has made sure that the mountain is a fabulous place for PWD.

B. Steamboat Springs - 2nd oldest adaptive program in the state, 1976

While it might sound like we're biased by all the 'Boat plugging we do, it's not for naught, I promise. Steamboat Adaptive was established just 6 years after the NSCD, boasting 33 years of experience this year, and it's just getting better. Access Anything has made sure that the last five years have been dedicated to improvements around the base and training all ski area departments on sensitivity, equipment, and needs, and a new nonprofit STARS has just taken over the operation of the adaptive school to expand its sports programming to other sports. Access Anything also teams up with Adaptive Adventures to offer one of the best advanced, adult ski camps in the state every January.

• General Access: The multi-level base area might seem daunting, but the 3D map online and 4-yr old way finding signage will get point you in the right direction from the free parking (just for PWD) to the base. The Gondola is accessible and its staff will store your monoski overnight.
• Lodging: As with Winter Park, Steamboat's Central Res [800-922-2722] staff is well trained annually to handle PWD's needs and the plethora of lodging gives options to everything.
• Getting Around: Every free city bus in Steamboat has a lift on it, and the city also provides a Paratransit. Go Alpine also have several accessible options that double as airport shuttles and in-town taxis.

C. Aspen - the Veteran's Choice

Home to Challenge Aspen, a relatively new program in the state (1995), Aspen has hosted the DAV Ski Week (Disabled American Veterans) for years, bringing thousands of disabled vets into the area to have some fun on the slopes. While the other ski areas and adaptive programs are just as great, we've found that Aspen is the one that has to slide into this tough #3 spot for it's ability to fit all three of our major needs.

• General Access - While skiing IS split up in this area between 4 mountains, Snowmass is the one we send PWD to for its relations with Challenge Aspen, acreage of terrain, friendly lifts system and employees, and base area access.
• Lodging - The best part about lodging in this area is that PWD get great support through Challenge Aspens donors, so call the adaptive program for the posh treatment whether you're getting a lesson or not. [970-923-0578]
• Getting Around - All mountain shuttle buses have lifts here as well, and the parking is best in Lot 6 or 7 to get the closest to the slopes.

Know all this information and more with Access Anything: Colorado, the only guide to the state for PWD.

More on Colorado Adpative Travel Examiner

No Yoke in New York

We recently returned from a two day visit to New York City, and the access we found there was leagues better than we'd expected, especially their modes transportation, the subject with the most need of improvements in the US.

Our first tour was at Yankee Stadium, where the access goes above and beyond the ADA thanks to a staff well-educated on impeccable customer service. We took Vega Transportation, the premier accessible van service in the area, to get from Newark, where we were on business, up to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Although more pricey than the subway, Vega is way more reliable than any other transportation we found, so if you use a power chair or scooter, need to get to a more specific destination, have a big entourage with you, or the need for a more limo-type service, Vega is definitely the way to get around the city quickly and easily. Once in the stadium, we got a free tour (offered to all PWD who as) to Monument Park, 1st base-line batting practice, the Museum, and a tour of the entire park, as well $5 bleecher seats. Craig, a die-hard Yankee fan since the womb, was brimming with excitement from the moment we entered Gate 2's Yankee Lobby.

On day two we took the train from Craig's sister's flat in Prospect Park in Brooklyn to Times Square, to pick up Gray Line Tours. All of their “hop-on, hop-off” buses have lifts and friendly tour guides, each with their own personal encyclopedia of New York knowledge. This is hands-down the best way to see New York City and learn about the sights; at your own leisure, over a course of two days, with as many knowledgeable tour guides as you can cram in and cheaply. Tours take off from their office on 4^2nd St., where you can also buy discounted passes to various sights like Liberty Island, the Met, Broadway, Empire State, and more, or get a package deal for a 72-hour bus pass and a dozen other sites included.

Back to the subway topic- while it is true that only a small portion of the NYC subway system have accessible stops, we found it very easy to manage our day around these stops by planning our trip in advance. Visit the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)’s website to find a list of the accessible stops, and plan your trip accordingly. The site is very helpful right down to which elevators are temporarily out of service, which at the time of our trip, there were only three that were. We also found that the “way-finding,” or signage, in the subway system is superb. The elevators and some exits would be hard to find in the maze of this underground system without proper signage, and we give our hats off to MTA for excellent way finding. There are also text-capable payphones at the accessible stations for persons with hearing impairments. In addition, if you are there for an extended period of time, there is a discount pass to the subway system that you can also find on MTA’s link above.

Last, we were short on time to get back to Newark Airport to fly out, and took the subway from Brooklyn to Times Square Station, where $15 Coach USA shuttles to the airport leave every 15 minutes, and are half price to riders with disabilities. To get one with a lift, you have to call 48 hours in advance and know your time of departure; easy enough.

One last resource that we didn’t use is Access-A-Ride, MTA’s additional “paratransit” service for people with disabilities. Because you do have to apply to use this system in advance, and our important subway stops were all accessible, we didn’t do so. But if you know you’re going to need reliable transportation, they're easy to contact and cheap to use Access-A-Ride if you need it.

Don't let daunting NYC keep you from traveling, it's an awe-inspiring city of great access.

FAM TRIP TO CHINA, November 10-17, 2009

For Agents who specialize in Travel for People with Disabilities Only
With Spring Tour USA in conjunction with Access Anything

NOVEMBER 10- Nov 17, 2009

Included:

• Round Way Air from Los Angeles
• 2 nights in Shanghai (Shanghai Huating Hotel),
• 4 nights in Beijing (Beijing Pullman Hotel )
• Transportation between cities
• City Excursions and Dinner shows
• Bi Lingual Tour Guide

Promotion price: USD$1999/per person (tax included, Visa not included)
Single room supplement: USD$355
Limit 10 persons


General queries and request for full itinerary:
Jimmy Deng
Spring Tour USA
Toll free: (800) 627-0886 Tel: 626 – 363 - 0888
Fax :(626) 642-0100
ytbchina@spring-tour.com

For Accessibility Questions:
Andrea Kennedy
Access Anything
970-846-9256
andy.kennedy@accessanything.net


ITINERARY - Click here


Introduction to the cities you are going to visit:

1.Beijing:
Beijing, Jing for short, is the nation's political, economic, cultural and educational center as well as China's most important center for international trade and communications. Together with Xian, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou, Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China. It has been the heart and soul of politics and society throughout its long history and consequently there is an unparalleled wealth of discovery to delight and intrigue travelers as they explore Beijing's ancient past and enjoy its exciting modern development.

As the capital of the People's Republic of China, Beijing is located in northern China, close to Tianjin Municipality and partially surrounded by Hebei Province. The city covers an area of more than 16,410 square kilometers (6336 square miles) and has a population of 14.93 million people.

Beijing is a city with four distinct seasons. Its best is late spring and autumn. But autumn is taken as the golden tourist season of the year since there is sometimes in the spring of recent years, a yellow wind. We suggest tourists visit Beijing during the months of May, September, and October when people can enjoy bright sunshine and blue skies. An abundance of international class performances are presented in May. If you like winter, you will have other chances to appreciate another landscape of Beijing. After skiing in Beihai and viewing the snowy sights on West Hill, enjoying the steaming hotpot is the best choice, which is really the fun of tour in Beijing. Please keep warm and remember to bring your down garments and sweaters when you visit Beijing in the winter.

How can one city boast so many phenomenal places? Beijing's long and illustrious history started some 500,000 years ago. It is here that the ancestors of modern Homo sapiens, Peking men, lived in caves. Records show that Beijing has been an inhabited city for more than three thousand years and has endured invasions by warlords and foreign powers, devastating fires, the rise and fall of powerful imperial dynasties and has emerged each time as a strong and vibrant city. For more than 800 years, Beijing was a capital city - from the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368) to the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties. Thirty-four emperors have lived and ruled the nation in Beijing and it has been an important trading city from its earliest days.

Although now Beijing is a modern and fashionable city complete with a full 21st Century vitality, you can experience authentic Beijing life and become acquainted with 'old Beijing' by exploring its many teahouses, temple fairs, Beijing's Hutong and Courtyard and enjoy the Peking Opera. Add any or all of these to your Beijing tour and you will leave with a feeling of special appreciation in your heart for this ancient city that has truly seen it all and tells its story with matchless grace, charm and vigor.

With the biggest central square in the world - Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City that is the largest and best-preserved imperial palace complex, a superbly preserved section of the Great Wall,as well as the largest sacrificial complex in the world - the Temple of Heaven, Beijing attracts both domestic and foreign visitors who all come to wonder at its century-old history and unique cultural relics.

After a day's Beijing tours, nighttime can hold other surprises for you. These can vary from traditional performances such as the Beijing Opera, acrobatics and martial arts to modern ones including concerts, ballroom dancing, pubs and clubs. Each and every one has its individual enchantment for the tourist. No description of our capital city is complete without mention of the friendly people who throng the streets. Everywhere you will encounter smiling faces and a warm welcome, especially from the children who love to say 'Hello!' All these things add up to truly make your visit a cultural experience of a lifetime.


2.Shanghai:
Overview:
In China there is a saying that 'Xian has witnessed 2,000 of history, Beijing has witnessed 1,000 years of history while Shanghai bears witness to the last 100 years.' For anyone who is interested in the history of modern China, Shanghai serves as an ideal starting point. Regarded as the 'Oriental Pearl', the city has a unique and important place in modern China and its rich heritage is worthy of exploration.

Yesterday's Shanghai
Shanghai, Hu for short, is situated on the estuary of Yangtze River, a position that led to frequently unwelcome intervention from foreigners seeking to impose their exports on the Empire during the nineteenth century. However, in the 1920s and the 1930s, Shanghai became an important international trade center. With its advantaged natural conditions, rapid development and splendid oriental culture, Shanghai was famed as the ‘Oriental Paris’ and attracted many entrepreneurs and established businesses. In addition, many foreign scientists, literary figures and artists chose to live, give lectures or just experience the Chinese charm in Shanghai. They included Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, Bernard Shaw and the poet Rabindranath Tagore, to name but a few. However, by the middle of the 20th century, the glory of the city was in decline.

Today's Shanghai
Having suffered the ravages of war, turmoil and economic crisis, the fortunes of Shanghai have been revived thanks to the great Reform and Opening Up since 1978. A favorable national policy, efficient administration, regular market mechanism and a large number of talents have come together to enhance by leaps and bounds the city’s economic development in recent years.
Now over 300 of the world’s top 500 enterprises have opened branches in Shanghai, while many have their research and de Oriental Pearl TV Tower development centers or headquarters there. Pudong New Area has developed in just five years, and Lujiazui in Pudong has become one of the foremost world class financial and trade zones in Asia. Skyscrapers such as Jinmao Tower and Shanghai Global Financial Center dominate the skyline, while landmark constructions like Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Pudong International Airport and Shanghai International Convention Center offer the finest and best of modern facilities.

These economic achievements are due to Shanghai’s progress in the fields of politics, finance, trade, culture, science and technology. Various important international events have held in Shanghai, including political conventions, commercial conferences, academic forums, sports events, cultural exhibitions, film festivals and fashion shows.

Shanghai’s rapid development has come as a great surprise to many in China and has international recognition. Shanghai has grown from a provincial city into an international metropolis on par with New York and Paris in just ten years. No other city in the world has done this - it is unique!

Hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world throng to Shanghai to see for themselves its great economic impulse, distinctive attractions and to savor its blend of Eastern and Western cultures. In the eyes of westerners, Shanghai has special oriental charm; while in the eyes of Chinese, Shanghai has a fresh western style. The old say that Shanghai is modern and fashionable, while the young say that Shanghai is old and reminiscent. Wherever you come from and whoever you are, you will find Shanghai an ideal tour destination.

Shanghai is a shopper’s paradise. There are various bustling commercial streets and shopping centers waiting for you. These include Nanjing Road, Huaihai Road, North Sichuan Road, Xujiahui Shopping Center, Yuyuan Shopping City and Jiali Sleepless City.

The convenient transportation, comfortable accommodation and colorful places of entertainment will enhance your stay in this fascinating city.

Tomorrow's Shanghai
Shanghai continues to develop at an amazing speed. It will host the football preliminary of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the World Expo in 2010, both of which offer the means to introduce Shanghai to yet more people worldwide. There is every reason to expect Shanghai to continue to surprise the world.

Adaptive Golf in Colorado

Here's a quick, end-of-the-golf-season reminder that if you're looking for an adaptive cart in your area, look no further than Mobility Golf. Their comprehensive database covers every state, every region, every SoloRider and GolfXpress cart that's available for public use.

This list will be growing thanks to a new amendment to the ADA that states that all public recreation sites (pools, playgrounds, golf courses, etc) must now offer adaptive and accessible options and designs. So if your local course doesn't have a cart, state your need, it's now within the legal requirements (YAY!)! Local or state funding might even be available.

Check out this listing of 31 courses in Colorado alone!

NOW GET OUT THERE AND GOLF!

[Their disclaimer: If you find the information is not accurate or you know of accessible courses that are not in the database, please notify us at info@mobilitygolf.com]

401 Glasgow Ave # 1054
Colorado Springs
80914 CO 80914
719-313-4788
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Indian Tree Golf Course
755 Wadsworth Blvd.
Arvada CO 80003
303-403-2541
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

J.F. Kennedy Golf Course
10500 E. Hampden Avenue
Aurora CO 80014
303-755-0105
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Mira Vista Golf Course
10110 E. Golfers Way
Aurora CO 80010
303-340-1520
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Saddle Rock Golf Course
21710 E. Arapahoe Road
Aurora CO 80016
303-699-3925
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Flatirons Country Club
5706 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder CO 80303
303-442-7851
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Omni/Interlocken Resort Golf Club
500 Interlocken Blvd.
Broomfield CO 80021
303-635-1110
Equipment: SoloRider (Standup) (2)
Get Directions via MapQuest

South Suburban Gold Course
7900 S. Colorado Blvd.
Centennial CO 80122
303-770-5500
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

World Golf & Sand Creek Country Club
6865 Galley Road
Colorado Springs CO 80915
719-597-5489
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

City Park Golf Course
2500 York Street
Denver CO 80205
303-295-4420
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Foothills Golf Course
3901 S. Carr Street
Denver CO 80235
303-409-2400
Equipment: Golf Xpress (2)
Get Directions via MapQuest

McGetrick Golf Academy
4900 Himalaya Road
Denver CO 80249
303-799-0870
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Thorncreek Gold Course
13555 Washington Street
Denver CO 80207
303-333-5411
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Wellshire Golf Course
3333 S. Colorado Blvd.
Denver CO 80222
303-692-5636
Equipment: Golf Xpress & SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Willis Case Golf Course
4999 Vrain Street
Denver CO 80212
303-455-9801
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Englewood Golf Course
2101 W. Oxford Street
Englewood CO 80110
303-761-0849
Equipment: Golf Xpress (2)
Get Directions via MapQuest

Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course
7800 Titus Blvd.
Fort Carson CO 80913
719-526-4122
Equipment: SoloRider Standup
Get Directions via MapQuest

City Park Nine Golf Course
411 S. Bryan Street
Fort Collins CO 80521
970-221-6650
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Collindale Golf Course
1441 Horsetooth Road
Fort Collins CO 80525
970-221-6292
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

South Ridge Golf Course
5750 S. Lemay Avenue
Fort Collins CO 80525
970-226-2828
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Fox Hollow at Lakewood
13410 W. Morrison Road
Lakewood CO 80228
303-986-7888
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Centennial Golf & Tennis Club
5800 Federal Blvd.
Littleton CO 80123
303-794-5838
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

The Meadows Golf Course
6937 S. Simms Street
Littleton CO 80127
303-409-2250
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Lone Tree Golf Club
9808 Sunningdale Blvd.
Lone Tree CO 80124
303-799-9940
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Twin Peaks Golf Course
1200 Cornell Drive
Longmont CO 80503
303-651-8401
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Haymaker Golf Course
34855 US HWY 40 East
Steamboat Springs CO 80487
970-870-1846
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Eisenhower Golf Course
Building 3170
Usaf Academy CO 80840
719-333-2606
Equipment: SoloRider
Get Directions via MapQuest

Vail Golf Club
1778 Vail Valley Road
Vail CO 81657
Equipment: Model Tee
Get Directions via MapQuest

Hyland Hills Golf Course
9650 Sheridan Avenue
Westminster CO 80021
303-428-6526
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Legacy Ridge Golf Course
10801 Legacy Ridge Pkwy.
Westminster CO 80031
303-438-8997
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Pole Creek Golf Course
Winter Park CO 80482
800-511-5076
Equipment: Golf Xpress
Get Directions via MapQuest

Help Access Anything Expand our Adventure Travel Programming!

Our dear friends at Adventure Passports have nominated us for the Shine A Light grant from American Express and NBC Universal. Please take 2 brief minutes to register with Shine A Light and endorse Access Anything as a nominee before September 13, 2009.

1. Click on the Register with Shine a Light link above and take a moment to register yourself as a voter. Our demographics matter!

2. Click on Access Anything above or search Access Anything on their site. In the top left corner of our bio page you will see a blue box that reads "Support this Story, Endorse Now" and after clicking that, the text "Your endorsement for "Access Anything - Access Anything Makes a Difference" has been recorded." should appear below that blue box.

3. Pass it on! We need 50 votes to be approved for nomination, and hundreds (1000!) more votes to win!

Thanks for helping to make a difference in northwest Colorado and beyond!

Axs Vail Valley: Access, universal design, and adaptive adventure

Today I sat with Sarah Will of Axs Vail Valley for our radio show I Can Do That on Blog Talk Radio. Sarah is the driving force and Executive Director of this 5 year old company that has slowly been building momentum for access, advocacy, design, and travel in the Vail and Beaver Creek corridor of Colorado. Vail has seen numerous changes during Sarah's many years in the area, and even before Axs Vail Valley, she was helping to make her new hometown a better place for people with disabilities.

If you're visiting the area and need assistance or live in the area and need consultation on accessibility and universal design, visit www.AxsVailValley.org for more information.

Listen to our podcast of this short thirty minute segment with Sarah starting August 8.



Sarah Will of Axs Vail Valley in 2006 pointing out alternate routes for wheelchair users in Vail Village.

2009 Behind the Boat Watersports Camp

Bald Eagle Lake and Colorado River, Steamboat Springs, July 22-24

The summer always starts out slow and cold up here in Colorado, but by mid July the sun is sweltering and the water is perrrrrfect... Access Anything and Adaptive Adventures teamed up once again for the 4th annual Behind the Boat water camp last week for two days of wakeboarding and waterskiing and one day of rafting.

Over 15 participants with all types of disabilities both locally and from out of state attended the camp, joining over 25 volunteers, family, and friends for three days of blazing-sun fun.

We're super proud of this camp's success, which couldn't be possible without our many local lodging and food supporters as well as our dedicated volunteers. Adaptive Adventures brings the equipment and expert instructors for both sit skiing and boarding as well as one-leg, barefoot waterskiing!

Stay tuned for the video, but for now view our photos from this event and join us next year if you can make it!

Water sports camp day 1

4th annual Behind the 'Boat waterskiing, wakeboarding, and rafting camp began today with 40 participants and volunteers for some fun on Bald Eagle Lake.

Listen to our podcast on this event and steamboat's accessibilty at http://www.blogtalkradio.com And see more pictures and videos loaded throughout the day!

Learn more at www.adaptiveadventures.org And www.accessanything.net.

Camping in the Adirondacks, New York

Due to an overwhelming response to the Top Five Camp Sites in the summer issue of The Traveler, we have been given a nice thorough list of links and locations for camping in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. A special thanks to everyone who sent us information on New York, as always we look forward to our return, this summer in August. Also look for our upcoming article on Lake George (at the southern tip of the Adirondack Park) in Venture Travel Magazine's fall issue.

First visit the Accessible Recreation page of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)'s website for destinations, coordinators, recreation, and fishing; NY recommends you contacting specific DEC coordinators directly, as they are the most informed on the state's outdoor access in general.

Camping (and the plethora of it available!) can be found just inside that first link at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/34038.html; you can count about 35 accessible camping locations in the counties of Clinton, Delaware, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Ulster, and Warren!

Also don't forget about the John Dillon Park, associated with Paul Smith's College, which is open until the end of August, and all 200 acres are 100% accessible and impressively designed for visitors with disabilities. We covered this park in the May 2006 issue of The Traveler, and the park's wonderful access includes camping and picnic pads, fishing and hiking access, and bathrooms with lowered shower heads and grab bars. We continue to use this model as the best example of accessibilty in the outdoors and inclusive design for public use areas, and are thrilled to hear from a professor at Paul Smith's that the park is still thriving in it's 7th year of operation.

As many of you know, upstate New York is Craig's birthplace and will always remain very close to our hearts. If you live in the area, please make sure to check out the wonderful camping and outdoor fun the Adirondacks have to offer!

International Travel

Today on BlogTalkRadio's episode of I Can Do That we hosted International Travel and have a PLETHORA of links to share with you as I promised our listeners that I'd post them here.

Please make sure to listen to that episode for more information on all these experts and companies who specialize in international travel! Blog Talk Radio usually takes about a day to post those archived episodes, so please wait until tomorrow to visit www.blogtalkradio.com/accessanything.

www.twitter.com/accessanything
facebook: /accessanything
www.accessanything.net
www.rollingrains.com
andy.kennedy@accessanything.net
http://accessanything.blogspot.com
www.sath.org
TOURWATCH: http://tournet.ning.com
www.accesiblemexico.com
http://www.cancunaccesible.com/
info@cancunaccesible.com
http://www.accessibletrav.com
http://www.bluechairbook.com
http://www.acadventures.ca/
http://www.waypointcharter.com
http://www.undiscoveredbritain.com
www.minardcastle.com/
www.daviotlodge.com
www.accessibleitaly.com
http://www.accessiblebarcelona.com/
http://www.egypthasitall.com/
http://www.orienttours.ae/
http://www.endeavour-safaris.com
http://www.epic-enabled.com
http://www.flamingotours.co.za
http://www.whenwetravel.com/
http://www.eaiadventure.com/access/
http://spring-tour.com
http://www.accessiblenz.com
http://www.accessiblenz.com
http://www.toursnz.com/
www.accessiblenicaragua.com
http://www.craiggrimes.com
www.ecuadorforall.com
www.disabilitytravel.com

I Can Do That on Blog Talk Radio

Our apologies! (And happy July!)

We've started a new radio show and failed to put it on our blog! You may have heard about it in The Traveler, our quarterly publication, on Facebook, or Twitter, but we're sure we neglected a large part of our readership by failing to post this new ship of fun we're embarking on here!

Blog Talk Radio is an online radio website, FILLED to the brim with great shows on every topic you can imagine.

Launched the first Friday in May, Access Anything's I Can Do That on Blog Talk Radio builds on the interview series and following guidebook of the same name. So far we've covered the Denver Woman's Wheeling Nuggets, Adirondack Adventures, Adaptive Golf, the No Barriers USA Festival, and Camping in Colorado. What's neat about BlogTalk is that old episodes are archived online and you can either listen there or download to your iPod through iTunes.

Today's topic is International Travel and I've spend hours upon hours building an awesome and extensive list of links for our listeners; I can't wait to share it all with you today. Call in to (646) 378-1419 at 3:30pm MountainTime (that's 5:30 Eastern) (3 Fridays of every month), or if you're starting your holiday weekend early like we wanted to, download this as a podcast on Sunday or Monday.

Next week's topic is back to home for us, covering Steamboat Springs and it's fab access in general, but we'll also be highlighting our sports camps, of which one is coming up! Look for a future post on that next week!

Service Dog Survey

Service dog users, we need your help!

Access Anything is working with the Open Doors Organization and the
FAA to help every airport in the country establish doggie relief
areas both at baggage claim and in-terminal for larger and hub
airports!

We're excited for this project, and need your help with as many
statistics as we can get!

For members who travel with service dogs, if you have a moment to
answer our survey, we'd be obliged.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cjFaWjNCTzV5Z2h4T25aSmRFNzAxSUE6MA..

This is a safe link through GoogleDocs, please take the time to
click on it if you can.

Thanks so much!!
Access Anything

Day 4 Part 2 - No Barriers USA - Deep Sea Fishing

Four activities and excursions were held today at the No Barriers USA Festival in Miami, FL... toned down a bit from the previous two days of jam-packed action (check out our previous posts!). Some went to the lighthouse, some went horseback riding, some stayed and sailed, and we went out deep sea fishing.

The buses took about 30 of us to the Miami docks around 8:30 this morning for some deep sea fishing with some wonderful volunteers and avid fisherman with one goal in mind, to catch some big ones. We managed just that.

We motored out a couple of miles and dropped lines into a pod of little fish they scanned for some bait. Then pulled up, rode out a few more miles, and dropped about twenty lines for some big fish.

Immediately Chanda Hinton's crew caught a whopper of a kingfish and as she reeled it in they speared it and tossed it into the tank.

A while went by before we caught another, but pretty soon they were reeling in tuna, jack, and dolphinfish.

But it was Eric Weihenmayer's crew that brought in the winner. Daughter Emma's line caught a cobia the size of her, and the crew warned us of its ferocity backing us away from the rails. As she reeled it in, a crew member speared it and shoved it in the tank in one swift movement, telling a story of the time he put one in and closed the lid, only to turn around to the lid flying off - the cobia's strong tail had slapped the lid right off the hinges.

All in all a fabulous morning, with calm seas, a little cloud coverage early morning, bright sun midday, and getting in about an hour before the afternoon's torrential storms arrived.

Sure, we're sad this event is over, but we've had a blast, and we're plenty tired enough not to take another day of this action, that's for certain! It was great seeing everyone again or for the first time, companies and individuals alike with the same goal in mind for adventure and barrier-free fun. There's talk already of an NBUSA 2011, Chicago? Aspen? Where will it be... you know we're gunning for Steamboat, but we'll see!

We can't wait to share some of the wonderful companies and stories we met, to come in our next issue of The Traveler!

Day 4 No Barriers USA - Deep Sea Fishing

We rolled outa the docks about 45 minutes ago for some fishing! Fortunately the skies are partly cloudy, the sea is calm, and we're surrounded by experts...so our odds are good!

Stay tuned!

Day 3 - No Barriers USA, Miami FL

Day three at this amazing festival in Coconut Grove was a clear skied, warm, agreeable day, unlike yesterday's torrential downpour.

But exhaustion has set in. I don't know how the volunteers at Shake A Leg do it... they're still smiling and helpful, with no signs of fatigue after two solid days of activities. We've logged some serious hours behind the lens already and I'm starting to eye these wheelchairs with envy. By the time I sat down today it was 7pm and I wasn't sure I could get back up. Thankfully it's 9:30 now and I'm in bed as I type. Life is good.

Let's see, where to start? Another symposium kicked off today with robotics, statistics, and a discussion of the baby boomer population's takeover in 2012, ironically the end of the Mayan calendar. The robotics were the interesting part, as Dr. Hugh Herr showed us his bionic ankle and foot that is fully integrated with with his smart phone. Apple, if you're listening, you should seriously pick up your iPhone. SuperHerr has been calling.

From there we hit the docks once again for more sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, paddleboarding, open water swimming, outrigger canoeing, yoga, tai chi, and some climbing on the wall.

Late in the day as the sun beat down on us and we needed shade, Craig and three others took lead from Darol Kubacz, who summited Mt. Kilimanjaro on his one-off handcycle (pic), and hit the flooded mangrove (I meant torrential when I said it!) for some "muddin.'" Splashing abound, they raced through the 12" puddle like 10 year olds; reaffirming Craig's ache to get one of his own. Hell, I'd love one. For someone unstable on a mountain bike, this machine (oh and it is a machine, with a motorcycle wheel on the back end, disc brake and all) is a serious crawler, any obstacle is defeatable, it's the Superman of handcycles.

We finished off the day with dinner and a movie - with a very well done Sesame Street opener about coping with a military injury in your family, "Coming Home." The movie was Eric Weihenayer's Blindsight about his incredible summit on Everest with six other blind Tibetan teenagers.

Tomorrow there are four excursions - to the beach and lighthouse, more sailing, horseback riding, and our choice - deep sea fishing. (...three hour tour....) And we're here till Monday. The fun isn't over people... stay tuned.