Chapter Check-In: Connecticut


Spotlight: Connecticut

My Take
Visitors come from all over the world every fall to take in the majestic fall foliage. Driving tours are the norm, and Route 8 is an easy and great place to start. But if you want to get out of your vehicle and explore, the River Trail at Falls Village, Connecticut, offers one of the better accessible trails. The accessible portion is just under a mile long, following the Housatonic River through one of its flattest portions. This is one of only a handful of fully accessible sections of the Appalachian Trail.


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Connecticut Chapter

If one mile doesn’t sound like enough of an adventure, you might want to try Connecticut’s extensive rail-trail system. The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and Farmington River Trail both offer long, accessible paths that are perfect for a casual stroll or a handcycling outing. Just make sure the area you plan to tackle is suited for wheelchairs.

Mystic-seaport2
From Mystic Seaport to the accessible Farmington River Trail (below), Connecticut has a lot to offer.

Skinny on the State
Connecticut may be the third smallest state in terms of area, but we have 3.6 million residents, and that makes it the fourth most densely populated state in the nation. Having lived here my entire life has shown me that there’s more than enough to do — it’s only a question of finding the time to do it all. With the Long Island Sound beaches to the south, the Connecticut River running through the middle and beautiful forests throughout, there are good accessible tourism options year-round.

Places to Go
Located just about midway between Boston and New York on the Long Island Sound, Mystic, Connecticut, has plenty to offer, whether you’re looking for a traditional tourist trip, a romantic getaway or just a day-long excursion. The Mystic Seaport is the largest maritime museum in the world, the Mystic Aquarium is one of the best in New England, and don’t forget Mystic Pizza, made famous in the eponymous 1988 Julia Roberts movie.

farmington river trail
Farmington River Trail

In addition to the expected ships and boats, Mystic boasts a 19th-century seafaring village with over 60 historical buildings that have been preserved. Only about a third of the Seaport buildings have accessible entrances and many others have accessible entrances but limited interior access. Make sure to check the thorough access guide at www.mysticseaport.org/visit/plan-your-visit/accessibility/physical-access before plotting your trip. If you’re tired of a landlubber’s perspective, Argia Cruises offers a two-and-a-half-hour harbor tour that is scenic as well as informative.

Getting Around
Accessible transportation in Connecticut has greatly improved over the last few years. All CT Transit buses are equipped with either lifts or ramps, and service covers most all areas. Reduced fares are also available for seniors and people with disabilities. Both Metro and Yellow Taxi, two of the state’s largest cab companies, now have a bounty of accessible vehicles. Between these two services alone, visitors now have options that used to be lacking.

Available Health CareMystic Pizza
Connecticut isn’t right on the cutting edge of health care, but when it comes to SCI-related options, it has a surprising number of offerings. The two main rehab facilities our United Spinal chapter interacts with are Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford, Connecticut, and Hospital for Special Care in New Britain, Connecticut. In addition to traditional rehab options, Gaylord has an Ekso exoskeleton and the Hospital for Special Care offers rehab using a ReWalk model. Our chapter maintains support groups and peer assistance programs at both facilities. Both facilities do admirable jobs of partnering with local SCI/D nonprofits to supplement their offerings, as does Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital in Hartford. Mount Sinai collaborates on a great adaptive rowing program on the Connecticut River, while Gaylord also has an excellent adaptive sports program.

Must See. Must Do
West Hartford Center has not only been the community’s hub since colonial days, it also is a great accessible district for shopping, contemporary restaurants and just hanging out. Enjoy an outdoor concert on Webster Walk, shop in the newest retail center — Blue Back Square — take in a movie at Bow Tie Cinemas, or treat yourself to a delicious dinner at Restaurant Bricco. Its modern Italian cuisine is some of the best around.


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