How I Create Magic Through Accessibility in Attractions at Disney
Originally published at Disney Parks News
Disney’s commitment to inclusion means so much to me. Growing up in a small town in Indiana, I never knew someone with a mobility disability. I’m in a chair, so anyone can look at me and see that I am different. Yet, when I started my first role as a vacation planner at Magic Kingdom Park, there was someone who looked like me and was a leader. That made me feel like Disney might be the place for me.
Over the years, I was able to go back to school and get a bachelor’s in business leadership and a master’s in organizational management. I’ve been with the company for 18 years. And, as part of the Services for Guests with Disabilities team, I use my passion for guest service, education, and personal experience to be a resource and voice to raise awareness for our guests and cast members with disabilities at Walt Disney World.
I am also an active member of the Enabled BERG, one of our business employee resource groups, that promotes respect, equality, and appreciation of people with disabilities through community, awareness, education, and inclusion.
I’ve helped with many attractions including Mad Tea Party and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. One attraction will always stick out to me: Kali River Rapids. I worked with Walt Disney Imagineering and Facility Asset Management to think of a way for someone in a wheelchair to get into the ride vehicle without having to transfer out of their chair to sit on the dock, just to hop down into the boat. We were able to create a device that would allow the person with a disability to transfer straight across from their chair and then slide down steps that are wide enough. That way, each time the person transferred to another step, they felt secure.
We were also able to think of different ways a person in a chair may use the transfer device, and where they may put their hands to get into the boat and back into their chair. We were able to add different bars to the device that the person would be able to hold onto to make themselves feel more secure.
It’s exciting to watch as new rides become even more accessible to guests with disabilities. While I didn’t work directly on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, I’m proud to know it offers the widest range of accessibility options of any ride at Walt Disney World. The trackless moving vehicles allow for an easy loading and unloading process for guests in wheelchairs. The ride even offers captioning and audio description devices available upon request for guests with hearing and visual disabilities to experience this fun adventure.
I am fortunate enough that I get to be a part of a team that gets to think about the disability community and how they get to be a part of the magic. I am really excited for Disability Pride Month because it is a time to give more of a voice to disability awareness. There is always so much going on at Walt Disney World. So having a spotlight on disabilities from a cast or guest perspective helps all of us continue to learn.
