On her blog, accessibletravelnyc.com, Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad writes about her experiences visiting New York City attractions with her family, including her sister, Annie, who is a wheelchair user. Lachhman-Persad’s aim is to inspire and empower people with disabilities to plan trips to NYC. In this video, she and her family offer tips for getting around the City with a wheelchair as they visit Times Square, dine at Carmine’s and see Oklahoma! See the video above, and for more in-depth information, read her article about spending a day in the Theatre District.
Video Transcription
New York City presents challenges for visitors with disabilities, but you can easily get around with a little advice.
Hi! I’m Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad. My mom is Pearly Lachhman. My sister, Annie, is a wheelchair user.
PEARLY: Annie was born with cerebral palsy. We’ve been trying to bring her out more often.
LAKSHMEE: I’ve created a blog called accessibletravelnyc.com to showcase experiences from a wheelchair user’s perspective.
Most of New York City’s subway stations are not yet accessible. However, all MTA buses are wheelchair accessible.
Taxis are a great way to travel around New York City. To book a yellow taxi, the City offers an app called Accessible Dispatch. The ferry is another great way to explore Brooklyn and Queens from Manhattan.
ANNIE: There’s so much to see.
PEARLY: Annie says there is so much to see in New York City. There are so many attractions here, and most of them are wheelchair accessible.
LAKSHMEE: It’s best to always contact visitor services. Usually, there is a specific telephone number and email. If you’re out and about, and you’re looking for a wheelchair accessible restaurant, look in their window, see if you see a Wheelchair Accessible icon. And then, if we want a fancy meal or a nice meal, we typically scout out a restaurant and then call them to find out if they’re accessible.
We love seeing Broadway shows. Annie especially enjoys them. All theaters in New York City are wheelchair accessible. We’d like to recommend visiting theateraccessnyc.com. You get orchestra seating at a lower price, and that’s for you and your caretaker.
Because our city is so friendly, and our attractions and cultural institutions are accessible, it’s just a wonderful place to visit.