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