Washington, District of Columbia, USA

WASHINGTON, D.C. : Overview

OVERVIEW

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States, is located along the Potomac River and is nestled between Virginia and Maryland. As you would expect, the city is full of magnificent buildings and monuments, which are all largely centrally located and accessible for the physically challenged traveler.

LANGUAGE

The national language of the United States is English.

CURRENCY

The official currency of the United States is the US dollar.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

WASHINGTON, D.C. : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Washington, D.C. is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The airports are equipped to handle the disabled traveler. Loaner wheelchairs are available (if needed), as are individuals to assist with transfers and transport to and from their flight.

For travelers unable to walk on the plane, “aisle chairs” are available. These chairs are small enough to fit down the aisle of a plane, with the assistance of airport personnel.

It is best to notify the gate personnel immediately upon arrival if boarding assistance is needed. It takes the ground crew extra time to transport a wheelchair to the tarmac and load onto the flight, which can cause delays if put off. Plus, by notifying the gate personnel early, the traveler has a better chance of being able to board first, which offers the benefits of privacy and availability of overhead bins near their seat.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

In January 2010 Washington DC finally launched an accessible taxi pilot testing phase with two local cab companies, Yellow, and Royal Cab. To order an accessible cab in DC, call Yellow Cab (202) 544-1213 or Royal Cab (202) 398-0500.

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SHUTTLE

SuperShuttle: Offering wheelchair accessible transportation to all three major airports, SuperShuttle can be booked either by phone or through the internet. We have not used SuperShuttle in Washington, D.C., but we have used it in Los Angeles. The van was more than capable of accommodating me and my electric wheelchair, but also had plenty of room for two passengers and our luggage.

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

Wheelchair Getaways: Wheelchair Getaways rents wheelchair accessible vans to the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia areas. According to the website, the company also provides 24 hour emergency vehicle service.

Wheelers: Wheelers rents wheelchair accessible vans and has locations throughout the United States. The company offers delivery and pick-up (for a fee), and 24 hour emergency vehicle service. We have used Wheelers on several occasions in California and have been very pleased with the service. The vans have always been in nice condition, and located where they were supposed to be dropped off.

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BUS

Washington MTA: All Metrobuses are wheelchair accessible, and feature a lift or lowered floor for easy access. The buses are also equipped to accommodate the hearing and visually impaired with audio and visual displays. More about accommodations can be accessed here.

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TRAIN (Light Rail)

Metrorail: All Metrorail stations and train cars are wheelchair accessible. The Metrorail website has very detailed information about the extent of accessible features and services provided.

“Subway system is awesome. All stops are handicap friendly. Park and ride stops provide a nice alternative to trying to find parking downtown.” Ray, 6/8/2010

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WASHINGTON, D.C. : Accommodations

HOTELS

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LUXURY RESORTS

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WASHINGTON, D.C. : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Old Town Trolley Tours: Old Town Trolley Tours can accommodate the physically challenged traveler, but the company needs at least 24 hours in advance notice, and has special rules regarding chairs and scooters. To make a reservation, please call disabled services at 1-800-868-7482.

Tourmobile Sightseeing: “Our tour of Washington D.C. on the “tourmobile” was wonderful. We were the only ones on the “tourmobile” and our guide was informative and funny…most enjoyable. We parked at Arlington National Cemetery, had a short walk to purchase our tickets, then another 100ft to board the “tourmobile.” We could get on and off whenever we desired. The tourmobile provides tie downs for the wheelchairs. We stayed on the tour for about three hours and could have stayed longer. We had the bus/tour for a flat rate per person, which included as much time as we wanted. We did tip our guide and he was worth every bit of what we gave. Not only was “tourmobile” most accommodating, but our guide really went out of his way for us. Our “tourmobile” could have accommodated more than one wheelchair and 10-15 others. However, we had it all to ourselves. The “tourmobile” was super clean. Always call first…things can change.” Helen, 1/25/2010

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ACTIVITIES

Monuments and Memorials: Washington, D.C., is home to many monuments and memorials. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, National World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the FDR Memorial are all centrally located near or around the National Mall.

The Lincoln Memorial does have an elevator (located by the gift shop), so accessing the interior is possible. Other memorials like the National World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial are on one level so there are no challenges with access.

“As you would expect, most if not all of the attractions and museums in D.C. are wheelchair accessible. And many of them are free.” Ray, 6/8/2010

Arlington Cemetery: We visited Arlington Cemetery on our Washington, D.C. tour, and spent a couple hours touring the grounds. There is ample disabled parking at the entrance of the cemetery. The grounds are accessible, but be prepared for quite a hike. Not only is the cemetery expansive, it actually is built on a hillside, so getting to the JFK Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier could require some assistance if you are in a manual chair. Note that the cemetery does not provide wheelchairs or strollers, so be sure to bring your own if you anticipate needing one.

US Capitol: Tours of the US Capitol are free, but they must be booked in advance. We visited on a day where tours were not offered, but were still able to wander the grounds. There is actually very little disabled parking in the area, so take that into consideration if you are driving. The US Capitol is very accommodating to people with disabilities. Accommodations include: Loaner wheelchairs, listening devices with audio description, sign language interpretation, family restrooms, a public TTY, and permission to bring service animals. Click here for more information.

United States Botanical Garden: Located on the west side of the US Capitol (essentially in the parking lot of the US Capitol), the Botanical Garden is accessible to the physically challenged traveler, providing loaner wheelchairs, sign language interpreters (book in advance), and TTY phones.

On our visit, we had no problem with the physical layout of the Botanical Garden, but did encounter challenges when larger groups were present on the paths. My power chair maneuvered around the grounds with ease.

White House: Tours of the White House are available, but must be booked through your Member of Congress well in advance of your visit. Loaner wheelchairs are available, as are adapted tours for the hearing impaired or visually impaired groups of ten or more.

Smithsonian Institution: The world famous Smithsonian is a group of 19 museums, 9 research centers, and the National Zoo. The Smithsonian is committed to addressing the needs of the disabled community and is continually working to improve accessibility. More information about accessibility can be found here.

On our visit to Washington, D.C., we spent a few hours in the Air and Space Museum. I was easily able to navigate my electric wheelchair throughout the museum, and sat in the top row of the IMAX theater for the film we selected.

Corcoran Gallery of Art: The Corcoran Gallery of Art is wheelchair accessible, but guests must enter at the E Street entrance. Loaner wheelchairs are available in limited quantities and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

US Holocaust Memorial Museum: The museum is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. A museum accessibility guide is available.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

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WASHINGTON, D.C. : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTAL

City Scooter Tours: Scootaround Mobility Solutions rents scooters and wheelchairs in the Washington, D.C. area. The tour aspect of the title is in reference to their promotion of self-guided tours, enabled by the use of their scooters.

Bike and Roll: Bike and Roll rents both three and four wheeled electric scooters, as well as manual wheelchairs. Rentals range from two hour to multi-day.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

While Washington, D.C., is a surprisingly compact city, the large amount of sites to see means a lot of trekking. If you utilize a walker, wheelchair, or scooter, make sure you plan your visit carefully to maximize your energy and minimize backtracking.