By Jackson Stanclift
Whether you are a family of tourists coming to Glens Falls and the Lake George area for summer or a family that has lived here forever, there is one issue that can cause quite a few problems for any kids with disabilities. Namely, there are a lot of fun things to do that a lot of kids with certain physical disabilities simply can’t do, like swimming in Lake George or skiing down West Mountain.
However, that certainly does not mean that families with physically disabled kids or grown ups are completely out of luck. There are so many fun, accessible things to do all over Warren County. These are just a few of the things that disabled people can do in and around Hometown, U.S.A and the birthplace of the American vacation.
Charles R. Wood Theater. Glens Falls.
Smack dab in the heart of Glens Falls’ legendary downtown, the wood theater is a year- round theater that does an average of well over 300 events every year. These events don’t just include plays and musicals, as people have hosted concerts, dance performances, and even parties and weddings in this auditorium with just shy of 300 seats. They have not just done performances of big names like Chicago and Grease, but they also have smaller, more obscure plays as well. For example, The Last American Newspaper is a play telling the story of Glens Falls’ own Pulitzer winning local paper, The Post Star. Fortunately for any kids who are probably less than excited about Broadway musicals or plays about newspapers, there are kids shows at this theater as well. For example, Beyond the Exhibit: Latin American Music Youth Workshop, a partnership with us over at the WACM, showcases Latin American music and performers in an interactive and educational program for kids 6-12. For locals, there is also the Theater for Tots summer camp this August from 8/11 to 8/15 and/or 8/18 to 8/22. This camp is for kids from 4 to 14, where they will learn the magic of theatrical production firsthand. The staff and board of the Wood Theater value inclusively very dearly and have taken special care into making sure kids and adults of all abilities can view their performances. Because of this, every performance at the Wood Theater offers accessible seating. These accessible seats can be found in the front row, the back row, and the balcony. In addition, if you say when you purchase your tickets that you have a wheelchair user attending, the crew will make sure to remove seats in the first row to make room for wheelchairs. Additionally, for those with hearing disabilities, every section and seat in the theater is equipped with technology that helps certain hearing aids pick up clear sound while cutting down on background noise, and you can request assistive hearing devices at the box office.
New Freedom Park at Hovey Pond. Queensbury
When I was a kid (I am able bodied in case you wanted to know), I was brought to the old Freedom Park at Glenwood avenue all the time. I remember using that little excavator thing to dig up sand from the sandbox, and running through the ramps that made up the wheelchair- accessible playground. However, all things have to change, and that includes Freedom Park. It was getting old and outdated, so they decided to scrap it and build a new, better playground in Hovey Pond Park at 25 Lafayette Street, calling it the New Freedom Park (more than a little on- the-nose, but the name gets the job done). This new playground is armed to the teeth with wheelchair accessible ramps and additional features for people with sensory needs (as an Autistic dude, that probably would have been helpful when I was a toddler). There are also some wheelchair-accessible adaptive swings, aside from more traditional playground rides (most of which are also wheelchair accessible). Additionally, Hovey Pond Park itself is a great little slice of natural beauty, and the actual pond is open for fishing for those who wish to.
World Awareness Children’s Museum. Glens Falls
Oh hey, that’s us! As an establishment that is focused on inclusivity and understanding of other cultures, it is far from surprising that we value inclusiveness as it comes to disability as well. While we don’t have any automatic doors, we will always have a front desk agent who will come and open the door for you. This place is perfect for kids regardless of ability. Here, you or your child can learn about cultures all over the world through our series of interactive exhibits that double as play places that can immerse the kids in these various cultures. We also have frequent events for kids to learn and have fun, and an art room where kids can flex their creative muscles. The Japan exhibit will probably be a bit tricky for wheelchair users due to the speed bump separating it from the rest of the museum, and the fact that you cannot wear shoes inside due to both Japanese tradition and the structure of the room. Aside from that, every single exhibit is accessible for wheelchair users. Additionally, if you ask, the museum staff will give you noise- canceling headphones to help with sensory overload. I know this because my coworkers have actively offered for me to have some headphones multiple times whenever I get overstimulated. Glens Falls is not usually seen as a big tourist city, mainly because the Queen of American Lakes is right next door and Lake George village gets a lions share of the visitors, but there are tons of attractions here, and the people who run them usually put effort into inclusivity for people with disabilities. We hope you enjoy your visit to Hometown U.S.A!
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