The Viscardi Center

at The Viscardi Center

Providing a lifespan of programs and services that educate, employ and empower children and adults with disabilities.
An employer membership organization and comprehensive resource for disability employment best practices.

DONATE

Header Links

  • Login
  • Media Room
  • Contact Us

Share

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Abilities, Inc.
    • E-Learning
    • Henry Viscardi School
    • The Disability Entrepreneurship Institute
    • Nathaniel H. Kornreich Technology Center
    • Services by Type
    • Services by Age/Audience
    • Services for Businesses
    • How to Obtain Services
  • Our Stories
    • Adults
    • Businesses
    • Children
    • Donors
  • Get Involved
    • Ways to Give
    • Together We Soar Campaign
    • Advocacy
    • Volunteer
    • Share Your Story
    • Viscardi Alumni
  • News & Events
    • News
    • Blog
    • Events
    • Media Room
    • Viscardi Voice Newsletter
  • Digital Accessibility
    • Document Accessibility
    • Web Accessibility
    • Captioning & CART Services
    • Audio Description
    • ADA Bundle
    • Viscardi Multimedia Learning Center
  • About
    • History
    • Staff Leadership and Boards of Directors
    • Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards
    • Sunny
    • FAQs
    • Careers
    • Financials
    • Contact Us
www.viscardicenter.org > Viscardi Blog > Education > Traveling Solo as a Person with a Disability

Traveling Solo as a Person with a Disability

January 19, 2018 by Mike Caprara

  • A A A

 January 19, 2018

 Mariah Sepulveda

Change Ahead sign

Growing up is challenging. I’m pretty sure you can agree that growing up with a disability adds more to the challenge. In addition to dealing with “maturity perks,” like hormones, planning for life after high school, and homework, we live a life constantly battling obstacles on our road to independence. This can also come along with distance from friends, accessibility dilemmas, and overprotective guardians. All of these factors contribute to slight delays in shaping a social life we desire. A social life where we can go out on our own and interact with our peers. Hopefully, my personal experience of how I obtained independence while traveling can benefit other people with disabilities.

A desire to get out into the world was my main issue, and it became my main goal. Approaching my early teen years, I was tired of staying home the majority of the time. I was fourteen, so there weren’t many places that would hire me either even though I had just received my working papers. I was determined to go out and make some new friends. I wanted to take a trip to the mall or the movies, have a sleepover, or even travel down to Times Square.

Traveling around New York City by myself was scary for me—and for my parents. They kept me home. However, I needed to convince them I was ready. At the time, my peers were already taking public transportation on their own, but I wasn’t. I begged my parents to let me try and then it hit me. They didn’t keep me home because they felt I wasn’t ready—they kept me home because they feared that the world of local transportation wouldn’t be accessible enough for me. They were scared to let me out on my own knowing this world wasn’t exactly made for a young girl in a wheelchair.

I wouldn’t let that sense of doubt stop me. I remember telling them “I can do it, I can travel by myself.” Finally they agreed to let me get ACCESS-A-RIDE. After doing some research I discovered maps of accessible subway and bussing systems provided by the MTA. Once I knew enough, I gathered the information and proposed a plan to my parents. I told them that one day I would have to start doing things on my own and convinced them to let me prove it to them. I used it for about two years until I transitioned to public transportation. Although ACCESS-A-RIDE allowed me to get out into the community, there were still limitations. ACCESS-A-RIDE does not permit you to travel with a large group. They also won’t take you to more than one location. The MTA Trip Planner website made using public transportation a breeze. It has an abundance of information including detailed routes and accurate accessibility data to get people from one place to another using any form of public transportation.

In addition to public transportation, I also wanted to use a car to get around. I knew that I would need to have some modifications due to my disability and smaller stature. Luckily, these modifications were minimal. However, depending on your disability, adaptations can be more sophisticated, costly, and time-consuming. I strongly suggest completing some research and reaching out to companies who specialize in accessible vehicles.

Independent travel should be a top priority. Find what works for you, and get out into the world. Our society needs more people with disabilities to be active in their local communities!

Helpful links for get you moving in the New York Area:
https://bussanimobility.com/
http://web.mta.info/nyct/paratran/guide.htm
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/
http://accessnow.me/
http://web.mta.info/accessibility/stations.htm
http://www.abilitiesny.com/

Mariah Sepulveda

Mariah Sepulveda

Henry Viscardi School Class of 2016
Mariah graduated salutatorian from the Henry Viscardi School in 2016 and currently attends Marist College, where she is active in Student Government and majors in Communications. She aims to use her experiences as a young person with a disability to empower others.

Filed Under: Education, Employment, Empowerment

News & Events

  • News

    >

  • Blog

    >

  • Events

    >

  • Media Room

    >

  • Viscardi Voice Newsletter

    >

Blog Categories

  • Empowerment
  • Education
  • Employment

Events

Hands over a keyboard

Webinar on Digital Accessibility Fundamentals

[php snippet=2]

NY Islanders defensemen Scott Mayfield and Ryan Pulock and actor Kevin James standing behind Viscardi CEO Dr. Chris Rosa and two Henry Viscardi School male students

Celebrity Sports Night

[php snippet=2]

View All Events

Related Posts

Neon sign that reads Portland Oregon Old Town, on top of a building.

Public Agency Cooperatives Have Their Advantages When It Comes to Making Digital Assets Accessible

A plant in front of a laptop showing a virtual meeting.

Best Ways to Make Virtual Meetings Accessible

A graphic with a network of social media and web icons over an image of hands typing on a laptop keyboard

Should WCAG Compliance Be Your Goal?

Recent Posts

View All >
  • Get Your Wheels on Fire Socks Today!

    March 21, 2023 March 21, 2023 The Viscardi Center is thrilled to announce that it is John’s Crazy Socks’ latest charity partner. John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son social enterprise, here on Long Island, inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome. 10% of the sales of John’s latest sock design, titled Wheels on Fire, [...] Read More...
  • The Passing of Judy Heumann, Disability Rights Advocate

    March 4, 2023 March 4, 2023 Our hearts are heavy upon learning the news of the passing of Judy Heumann. The disability community has lost a disability rights giant and a trailblazer who has influenced generations – mine included - and will continue to for many years to come. As Justin Dart, Jr. was seen as the “Father [...] Read More...
  • Public Agency Cooperatives Have Their Advantages When It Comes to Making Digital Assets Accessible

    March 1, 2023 March 1, 2023 Michael Caprara Photo by Zack Spear on Unsplash Studies have shown that efficiency, volume discounts, more effective sharing of relevant resources and information, and cost savings are just a few of the advantages of cooperative purchasing. As a public agency, your organization may be able to benefit from cooperative purchasing power when [...] Read More...
  • Best Ways to Make Virtual Meetings Accessible

    February 2, 2023 February 2, 2023 Michael Caprara Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash Why do virtual meetings need to be accessible? Well, why not? We live in a day and age where technology is continuing to evolve at a fast pace as it is becoming more and more integral to our daily lives. In recent years, we have [...] Read More...
  • 2022 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards Bestowed

    December 2, 2022 December 3, 2022 The Viscardi Center, a renowned non-profit organization that educates, employs, and empowers people with disabilities, announced six recipients of the 2022 Henry Viscardi Achievement Awards. The Awards were first bestowed in 2013 to honor the vision and legacy of the Center’s founder, Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., a leading disability advocate who himself [...] Read More...
  • Reach for a Star 40th Anniversary Receives Rave Reviews!

    November 29, 2022 November 29, 2022 The Viscardi Center’s annual Reach for a Star Luncheon celebrated its 40th Anniversary on November 15, 2022, at the Crest Hollow Country Club. This year’s luncheon happily returned to in-person after being remote for two years due to the pandemic. It was a magical event filled with music and joy. Chilina Kennedy, [...] Read More...

Contact Us

The Viscardi Center
National Business & Disability Council at The Viscardi Center
201 I.U. Willets Road
Albertson, NY 11507
516.465.1400
info@viscardicenter.org
Careers at the Viscardi Center | Staff Log in
Accessibility | Privacy | Site Map

Sign up For Enews

The Viscardi Center is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit recognized by the IRS.

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • You Tube
  • Instagram

© 2023 The Viscardi Center. All rights reserved. | Designed & Developed by Infinite Media Corp.