Caverns, Orchards, and Bowling Pins

Headed Into the Earth On All Four Wheels

     

Anstasiya, David and Nadiya at Luray Caverns

       David and I strongly believe that all children should have the opportunity to experience things in life.  They should see things and go places.  This helps to create background experiences for them to learn from and build upon.  How does a child know what the sea really is if he has not smelled the salt water and felt the ocean waves crash around him?  It is hard to imagine if it has never been experienced.  We know it can be difficult to experience life when you have a child who is limited by a wheelchair and the inaccessibility to the world.  David and I have been very adventurous in our excursions.  If it can be done we have been willing to try it.  This article highlights three adventures we tried with ambition and an open mind.  The result was great success and if we can do it so can you!
         
         I must be honest when David said he was interested in going to Luray Caverns my first thought was that he had lost his mind.  I thought of ravines and cliffs and Nadiya's chair hurling into a bottomless pit.  I couldn't imagine how we would be able to do this.  David said there would be a wheelchair lift and that the pathways were supposed to be accessible for a wheelchair.  Experience has taught me that planning is a must for any successful trip especially if you are taking a disabled child.  I asked David to call Luray Caverns and find out specifics about the accessibility.  I agreed to go if he could get that confirmation.  I would suggest this to anyone who is thinking about going on any kind of trip.  It allows you to plan better and avoid  disappointments and  unnecessary frustration.

When we arrived it was cloudy and raining
 but not a deal breaker

       David took a Friday off just before school started and we headed out to Luray, Virginia.  The closer we got to Virginia the worse the weather got.  I was feeling anxious wondering how this would affect our trip if it were raining hard the entire time.  Though it made driving a little tricky it didn't ruin our trip. 
       Luray Caverns is underground so it doesn't matter if it is raining or not to see the caverns.  There are some outside activities available that rain may prevent you from doing such as the hedge maze and the rope course playground.  Inside they have a small antique car and toy museum as well as gift shops and a café.  The day was definitely not lost to rain.
       Upon arrival we experienced the usual frustration that occurs most places we go and which is there were no available handicap parking spots.  Because of the rain the place was not crowded so I image on a nice day it would be just as bad or worse.  This happens so often that it no longer surprises me.  It does still frustrate and upset me.  There are entirely too many people who have handicap tags and are not disabled.  This leaves people like Nadiya, who have wheelchairs, no safe place to park with side access to get into their wheelchairs.  If they have a lift van it is even more difficult I imagine.  We parked further out and luckily the spots were pretty large and we had room.  No one parked on top of us which is always a risk when you do not have a handicap spot.  When that happens it makes it impossible to get Nadiya back in the car.  Nadiya's chair is not an accessory it is a necessity so it is frustrating when she is not accommodated out in the world because others have taken the accommodations as a convenience to them.

The Chair Matters



Nadiya on the lift

         In sharing my experience with Nadiya out in the world I want to create an honest picture of what the trip entailed.  Let me be clear from the start of this journey that the wheelchair does matter.  Nadiya would not have done well with her old Quicky Zippy chair with or without the power components..  If you have a power wheelchair you would need to call Luray Caverns to ask specifically if the lift can accommodate that type of chair.  I believe they are too large and too heavy for the lift.  A typical manual wheelchair is fine for the lift but may be difficult in the cavern.  Nadiya's Convaid Cruiser was ideal for this trip.  The wheel tread is like that of a mountain bike and it is light and wide so it won't tip over.  She fit easily on the lift along with her backpack and lunch cooler bag hanging from the back.


         






We follow the lift down

Down We Go       
         There were two staircases that descended into the cavern.  One of them was used for traffic going down and the other for the traffic coming up.  The up stairway had the lift.  Once a group had cleared from the stairs an employee brought the lift up to the top for Nadiya.  He walked down the steps in front of the lift as it slowly descended making sure she was safe while David, Anastasiya, and I followed Nadiya behind the lift. It is always exciting for me when I see such a well thought out accommodation.  There is truly a desire to allow as many people as possible to experience this place and not just those who can walk.  We are the only ones who used this lift while we were there.  I think if more people realized that the caverns were accessible they would go.  In fact we did not see any other special families with a disabled child for the entire trip. Many typical people smiled at us and were polite.  I think it is good for others to see us manage Nadiya's disabilities in such an unexpected place.

Anastasiya and I

        The Cave was cool.  The temperature is a constant 55 degrees regardless of the temperature outside.  Because of the constant humidity it feels like 65 degrees.  We all wore light jackets.  The kids and I still had shorts on and were very comfortable.  I strongly recommend wearing tennis shoes with a good tread.  Some of the walkways are wet and therefore very slippery.  Appropriate footwear is important especially if you are the one pushing the wheelchair.  It is not a flat path; the walkway descends slowly and deeply into the cavern and back up to where you started by the end. There are railings to hold onto if you need them for balance and stability.  David did most of the pushing and I took most of the pictures.  The times I did push it was manageable.  The Convaid Cruiser handles well and Nadiya is a light 50 pounds in the chair.  Of course if you are pushing a larger child the task will be physically more demanding.


Anastasiya demonstrates how low
the stalactites hang

        















           We traveled through the caverns as a group with a tour guide.  Each group was spaced significantly so that you could easily hear your tour guide without being distracted by another group.  The guides spoke loudly and clearly welcoming questions from anyone in the group.  They were knowledgeable and pointed out highlights along each stop.  The tour took an hour but the time went by quickly since we were constantly moving.  You must keep up with the group because their lighting system is on a timer and the area will go dark if you linger too long.  We had no trouble keeping up with the group in fact we were usually in the middle.




Nadiya comes up on the lift after the tour

        Neither of our children had ever experienced anything like this.  It was an exciting adventure for both of them.  After the tour Nadiya came back up on the lift with the employee behind her to make sure she was safe and that the lift was operating properly.  He told me the lift has been there for 15 years.  I think if more people knew how accessible the caverns are more people with disabilities would visit.  The  employee who operated the lift was confident and capable and had obviously been trained to do this.  The staff was friendly and helpful and immediately accommodated Nadiya as soon as David asked for assistance for her.  I think it is important to feel welcome and to feel that a place can manage your child's disability with the appropriate accommodations.










Heating Nadiya's food in a
bowl of hot water

        Afterwards we went to their café for lunch.  Every state has it's own health codes to abide by.  Some are not permitted to heat food up in their microwave that does not come from their kitchen.  This was the case at Luray Caverns.  I recommend having a plan B whenever you travel especially with your child's food if they are on a special diet.  We have found that heating Nadiya's food up by submerging her sealed container in a bowl of hot water works fine.  The café staff was happy to give us a bowl of hot water and we had no difficulty heating Nadiya's food this way.  There is a handicap accessible restroom in the café but there isn't a place to change a large child so I had to change my 9 year old in our minivan.  This is typical for most places we go.


       We decided to take the scenic Skyline Drive home.  This is a road that goes through the mountains of Shenandoah State Park.  There are viewing points along the road where you can pull over and take pictures of the amazing views.  During this drive the rain stopped and the sky cleared so that we were able to experience the beautiful scenery and take some great pictures.  Overall it was a great trip that provided an accommodating new experience for our family.  As I was looking through the information the Shenandoah Park Rangers gave us there were some accessible hiking and camping options.  I'm not sure what that would mean for Nadiya exactly but it is an interesting idea and maybe an adventure for another day.  We needed to head home because we had another adventure in store for the next day.



This Is Where Our Food Comes From

        

        The next day we went to Larriland Farms in Woodbine, Maryland.  Surprisingly this was a great experience for Nadiya as well.  This particular farm has several picking fields with different types of produce ready throughout the harvest season.  Check their website for what is available for picking each day.  Here is the link for their site.  http://www.pickyourown.com/



Here on the paved road it is smooth sailing

        We picked two different types of apples, some raspberries, grapes, flowers, and peaches on the day we went.  There were signs to follow that directed us to the appropriate fields for each item.  Once at your chosen field I recommend parking on the edge of the grass closest to the gravel or paved walkway even if you have to start your own row of parking.   Some areas have tall thick grass that is difficult to push a wheelchair through.  If it is wet out this will be even more difficult.  However, when we parked close to the gravel path we were able to manage Nadiya's chair fine.  Her Convaid Cruiser managed the hills and dirt very well.  Nadiya was able to get very close to the trees and vines and see where our food comes from.


Anastasiya shows Nadiya a freshly picked apple

            Each picking field has a stand equipped with a farm worker, cash register, and a container for picking.  If you need to cut the produce from a vine they offer cutting shears in exchange for your car keys or a driver's license.  They accept cash, checks, or credit cards at the fields.  You are given instructions as to where you may pick and how to tell if the items are ripe.  You must drive from field to field because it is way too far to walk with bags and bins of produce.
         The farm also has a main barn where you can purchase other produce that you cannot pick.  There is a small parking lot available to park at the barn with a few handicapped parking places.  Of course as usual we were not able to park in the handicap spots because they were taken.



It is difficult not to eat more berries than you pick!

      
                     This entire experience is great for all children.  Many of the things we picked Nadiya does not eat because she is on a strict Ketogenic diet.  Still it is good for her to see where some of the world's food comes from and how it is grown.  It is another wonderful life experience that creates background and helps a child learn.
         David made apple sauce and a raspberry sauce.  I made peach cakes using my Granny's German recipe that has been passed down through generations.  The cake was so good that we took some to Granny so she could try it.  I was given her approval but part of the success of the recipe was having wonderfully sweet and juicy peaches to cook with.

     Some Sports Are for Everyone       

 

Nadiya using the ball ramp

       The following weekend we went on one more adventure that is worth mentioning.  We were invited to go bowling with our friends Lisa and Everett and their family.  We were celebrating their son's 7th birthday.  Lisa chose Greenway Bowl in Odenton because of its accessibility for Nadiya.  She reserved an end isle so that there would be a ramp and made sure that Nadiya had a ball ramp so she could play.

Nadiya bowling at
Challenge Day 2013

     This is Nadiya's game.  She bowls at school for gym class using a similar adaptation.  In addition bowling is usually Nadiya's sport event for her Special Olympics Challenge Day held each spring at her school.  Nadiya was excited to be included at a real bowling alley. It had been a long time since she had been at a real bowling alley and back then she had to stay put in her wheelchair for most of the game.  This day Nadiya was older, healthier, and had much more stamina.David took her out of her wheelchair and she did not get                                   back in until it was time to leave.

David helps Nadiya down the ramp 

        The ramp allowed Nadiya to walk down to the aisle with assistance when it was her turn.  Having the ball ramp allowed her to push the bowling ball down the ramp which sent it down the aisle knocking down the pins.  All four children used the gutter blockers to give them an advantage.  When Nadiya was finished she then walked up the two steps and sat on the bench until it was her turn again.  This was an ideal set up for her.  Nadiya walks up steps with assistance quite well; it is the coming down that is difficult.  This set up allowed Nadiya to have the stamina to play two entire games.  The second game Nadiya got the highest score of all of us.  Everett came in second.  Nadiya was thrilled that she won but more so I think she loved being included on yet another adventure.  Having great friends who understand your child's disability and want to include everyone is a wonderful thing. 

         It can be frightening to take your disabled child out into the world on adventures that would seem to be for typical families.  The unknown can be intimidating and uncertain but the reward for experiencing them can be great.  If your child's medical condition does not prevent them from going out into public you can do this too.  Plan ahead and accept the challenge.  Your family can have these experiences and they will always remember the adventures.  It also reminds David and I that we are more than case managers and caregivers.  We are parents; we are a family.

Anastasiya bowling



Our Family