The accommodations and attractions listed are accessible to people with disabilities and have indicated that they meet the following criteria for accessibility:
Additional criteria for accommodations include:
Before planning a trip, we strongly recommend that you call ahead to find out if accommodations and attractions meet your specific needs. Many accommodations and attractions that do not carry the access symbol, provide some, but not all, of the services listed above. For example, many historic buildings have accessibility on the first floor only.
The Commonwealth features some unique accessible opportunities:
Kartwheels A physical activity program for children and young adolescents with developmental, physical, and cognitive challenges.
CAPEable Adventures was established in 2007, by Craig Bautz, to address the growing desire of physically and mentally challenged children and adults who would like the opportunity to participate in sports and outdoor recreation. CAPEable Adventures offers sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with a permanent disability. Activities include water sports, cycling, skiing, curling, fitness and special sports events.
Perkins Museum Take a
multi-sensory journey through the history of blind and deafblind
education over the last 200 years.
Handi Kids
Camp, a non-profit, recreational facility for children and
young adults with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Ironstone Farm is
home to Challenge Unlimited and Ironstone Therapy, two non-profit
organizations established to provide a variety of services for
people with and without disabilities, using horses and the
wholesome environment of a working farm.
Outdoor Explorations offers
a variety of outdoord activities for people with many types of
disabilities.
F1 Boston features F1 cars
designed specially for children with disabilities.
Forever
Young Treehouse at the Institute for Developmental Disabilities
Inc., the first of its kind in the state.
Salem
Maritime National Historic Site now offers special audio
tours.
Zoar Outdoor has kayaks
with adaptive seating for paraplegics, visual signals for folks
with hearing loss and special rafting trips for visually impaired
people.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston offers Feeling
for Form Tours and Access Programs.
The Museum of Science Boston has
Access Features and Programs as well.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner
Museum offers access and audio tours.
For theater lovers both the Wheelock and the
Huntington theaters
offer audio described performances.
Duck Tours: The fun begins as soon as you board your
"DUCK", a W.W.II style amphibious landing vehicle. First, you'll be
greeted by one of our legendary tour ConDUCKtors, who'll be
narrating your tour. Then you're off on a journey like you've never
had before. The Duck Tours might be a great way to see a lot of
Boston for those who cannot participate in the walking tours of
Boston as some are equipped for wheelchair access, make sure you
contact the company ahead of time for details: 617 450-0068.
Freedom Trail: Boston’s Freedom Trail is a walking
tour that visits historical sites in downtown Boston: The State
House, Granary Burial Grounds, King’s Chapel, site of the
Boston Massacre, Faneuil Hall, home of Paul Revere, Old North
Church, USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill. The trail begins in
Boston Common where you can purchase a ticket at the visitors
center and join a group or tour on your own. The trail is long and
has a lot of hills but it is accessible. The Granary Burial
Grounds, resting place of Sam Adams, John Hancock, Mother Goose,
and Paul Revere (to name a few) is wheelchair accessible. The
entrance is located on the northeast side of the cemetery (down an
alley on Beacon Street).
Harvard Yard Walking Tour: The student-lead Harvard Yard
tour gives you a first hand account of the history behind the
famous university. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and is free
to the public. Wheelchairs are available with a week or more
advance notice.
Boston’s Best Cruises ADA Accessibility
Boston’s Best
Cruises
The following Boston’s Best Cruises operations are fully ADA
accessible:
MBTA
Harbor Express - Quincy, Hull & Logan to Long Wharf North,
Boston. Year-round operation.
Salem
Ferry –Blaney Street, Salem to Long Wharf North, Boston.
Memorial Day through Halloween.
Boston
Harbor Islands – Long Wharf North to Georges and
Spectacle Islands. May through Columbus Day.
Sunset
Cruise – 90 minute nightly tour through Boston Harbor
from Long Wharf North. May through Columbus Day.
New England
Aquarium Whale Watch – Aquarium dock to Stellwagen Bank.
April through October.
The
Harbor Cruise vessel is not ADA accessible, but an ADA
accessible Harbor Cruise can be arranged with proper notice.
Holyoke Rows
THURSDAY ROWING AT Holyoke Rows. This Universal Access Program is
free to people with disabilities and their families. They meet on
Thursdays May - October at Holyoke Rows. Everyone is welcome from
first time rowers to experienced racers. Call Stephanie at
413-320-3134 to set up a lesson.
Piers
Park Sailing Center
The Adaptive Sailing Program at Piers Park Sailing Center is a
nationally recognized non-profit sailing program which has served
over one thousand people with disabilities since the
program’s inception in 2007. In 2009, US Sailing awarded PPSC
as the Best Community Program for disabled sailors. In 2010, we
were honored to be designated a Paralympic Sports Club.
Outdoor
Explorations
Outdoor Explorations is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that
provides people of all abilities with opportunities to participate
in outdoor activities and adventure recreation. We offer programs
for individuals, groups, and corporate clients. Working with
committed volunteers, our participants discover the possibility of
having the outdoors be a part of their lives. People often end up
achieving significant personal growth and transforming their lives
with healthy recreational options.
Mt. Greylock State Reservation, 30 Rockwell Rd.,
Lanesborough, 413-499-4262
• Paved ¼ mile loop trail at summit of
Massachusetts’ tallest peak has spectacular views
• Meets all codes and guidelines for accessibility
• Visitor Center, Restrooms, Interpretive Program, Trail
Opportunity
At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock is the highest point in
Massachusetts. Rising above the surrounding Berkshire landscape,
dramatic views of 60-90 miles distant may be seen. It became
Massachusetts' first wilderness state park, acquired by the
Commonwealth in 1898, to preserve its natural environment for
public enjoyment. Wild and rugged yet intimate and accessible,
Mount Greylock rewards the visitor exploring this special place of
scenic and natural beauty. The roads to the summit are open
seasonally from late-May through November 1; weather permitting
into the Fall.
Pittsfield State Forest, 1041 Cascade Street, Pittsfield,
413-442-8992
• Tranquility Trail is a ½ mile paved through the
forest crossing a brook and accessible by wheelchair.
• Picnic area, Restrooms, Interpretive Program, Optional Audio
Tour component
Streams, waterfalls and flowering shrubs abound in Pittsfield State
Forest. 65 acres of wild azalea fields are a profusion of pink
blossoms in June. The forest has two camping areas, two picnic
areas and a swimming beach. Fishermen frequent scenic Berry Pond,
one of the highest natural water bodies in the state at 2,150 feet
in elevation. The vista from the top of Berry Mountain, accessible
by auto road from April to December, is a striking panorama and a
great place to watch the sun set.
Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, Adams to Lanesborough,
413-442-8928
• 11.2 mile paved trail
• Accessible for handicapped
• Visitor Center, Restrooms, Picnicking
The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail is a former railroad corridor
converted into a 10-foot wide paved, universally accessible,
passive recreation path. It runs parallel to Route 8 through the
towns of Cheshire, Lanesboro and Adams. The southern end of the
rail trail begins at the entrance to the Berkshire Mall off MA Rte.
8 in Lanesboro and travels north to the center of Adams.
Vietnam Veteran’s Rink, 1292 Church Street, North
Adams, (413) 664-8185
• Public skating hours
• Wheelchair accessible
• Ice-skating sleds are available
Undermountain Farm, 400 Undermountain Road, Lenox, (413)
637-3365
• Handicap accessible
• Lessons available for those with moderate disabilities
A beautiful Victorian Farm surrounded by 150 acres of pasture,
forest and hay fields. A large airy indoor arena (81 x 160), a
spacious outdoor arena, and access to miles of riding trails
provide ample facilities for riding pleasure.
Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Road,
Lenox, (413) 637-0320
• All-Persons Trail is a one-third-mile long and accessible to
everyone.
• Restrooms , Education Center.
STRIDE Adaptive Sports (www.stride.org) offers exceptional
instruction in adaptive ski & snowboard lessons in all methods
at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock and Catamount Ski Area in
South Egremont. See website for more details.
Banknorth Garden (home of the Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins)
Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red
Sox)
Gillette Stadium (home of the , New England Patriots, New England
Revolution )
Ferry to the tip of Cape Cod
The Boston to
Provincetown ferry service is wheelchair accessible?
Vessels are wheelchair accessible on both the Boston and
Provincetown docks. You may require the assistance of our crew
depending upon the tide. Please call 617-748-1428 extension 1251
for additional information. Our high speed ferry has wheelchair
accessible restrooms, our excursion service aboard the Provincetown
II (which is a much older vessel) does not.
Rental Car (Wheelchair Van)
New England Wheels: Rentals of both mini and full-size
wheelchair accessible vans, Delivery and pickup is available for an
additional charge. To make a reservation or check on vehicle
availability, complete the reservation form below or call
888-477-9235 or 978-670-0893.
Wheelchair Getaways: Wheelchair Getaways rents wheelchair
accessible vans to the Boston area. The company provides 24 hour
emergency vehicle service. Massachusetts 1-800-727-1656. All of
Boston, Seekonk, Countys of Bristol, Essex,
Franklin,Norfolk,Plymouth,Suffolk,Worcester, all of Ma.
Wheelers: Wheelers of MA-Boston located in Billerica,
conveniently located and able to assist you and with quality
accessible van rentals throughout the Boston area. All of our
vehicles are wheelchair accessible, with either raised roofs or
lowered floors with automatic ramps or lifts. bsite: Wheelers Van
Rentals Email : MA@wheelersvanrentals.com
National Reservations: 1-800-456-1371.
Bus
MBTA: The MBTA bus system serves the entire Boston area, and
is dedicated to increasing the accessibility of all its services.
All buses are accessible, and are equipped to serve the wheelchair
dependent rider. Find out more information about accessibility. Visit the
online subway map for a list of
accessible stops or call the Office for Transportation Access with
any questions: 800 533-6282.
If you’re visiting Boston, and need to rent medical
equipment there are a few options available in the area:
Belmont Medical
supply
Cambridge
Medical Supply
AA Medical Equipment
Co.
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