ASK LOIS: My wife uses a walker. Are there any events, venues with access for the disabled?

Lois K. Solomon, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
·6 min read

Q: I have questions about handicap accessibility, which I’m sure would also interest many of your South Florida readers. My wife recently started using a walker and she can’t climb any steps, and we quickly learned how life-changing that is. Now, when I see an event you discuss, I have to spend a lot of time researching whether it’s feasible to attend at all. I look at parking (a walker alone doesn’t qualify for a handicap sticker), curb cuts, possible steps and even whether a festival is entirely on grass, which can be difficult for using a walker. Can you recommend any handicap-friendly events, or are we now destined to just reading about them in your newspaper after they happen? — Chuck Dale, Boca Raton

A: Chuck, I had always assumed access for the disabled was a basic legal requirement all over the United States. But after getting your question, I started researching and learned how wrong I was. I remember when the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act was passed in 1990, but now know it sets standards for public accommodations, such as restaurants and movie theaters, mostly for new construction, and requires existing facilities to remove barriers only when it’s easy and won’t cost them too much.

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So it’s hard to know before you go how complicated a trip will be. I called several sites near you in southern Palm Beach County and northern Broward County to find out if they will accommodate people using walkers at their upcoming events. Most sites were accustomed to hearing this question and said they felt certain your wife would not encounter impediments on their properties.

I found sedentary activities for you such as art classes and more active adventures such as community festivals. If you’re concerned about barriers you may encounter, check the venues’ websites, as they often explain how they comply with the ADA in detail.

All events are free unless otherwise noted. Whatever day trip or evening out you choose, I hope you and your wife find it welcoming and easy to navigate.

Feb. 3: Free Fun Saturdays

The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 561-395-6766; bocahistory.org

Admission fees are waived on the first Saturday of each month. Learn about the history of Boca Raton in this museum inside the old Town Hall, originally designed by architect Addison Mizner. Here’s what Mary Csar, the museum’s executive director, said about disabled access: “We have a ramp from the parking lot into the museum. The parking lot is behind the building where we enter, and it is paved. The path to the second door is pavers. We also have a lower reading rail for the timeline exhibit in the hallway (for people in wheelchairs to read easily).”

Feb. 3: Introduction to Painting (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Bailey Contemporary Arts, 41 NE First St., Pompano Beach; 954-786-7879; pompanobeacharts.org

On the first Saturday of each month, the center teaches the history of painting as well as theories of color. They have lots of other classes, such as drawing and clay wheel throwing. A spokeswoman said it’s easy to park right in front of the building, without grass or steps to hinder access. Cost is $25.

Feb. 3: First Responder Expo (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Town Center at Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Road; Instagram.com/bocapolice

In the Town Center mall parking lot, visitors will be able to see the city police’s SWAT, bomb and dive trucks up close along with firefighting and K-9 demonstrations. There will also be free blood pressure and cholesterol checks. And free food! Head to the northwest corner of the lot.

Feb. 3-4: Boca Raton Museum Art Festival (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 561-392-2500; bocamuseum.org

Check out the work of 170 artists from across the country who are showing their ceramics, paintings, mixed media, jewelry, photography, sculptures and so many other forms of art. Or spend the day at the adjacent Boca Raton Museum of Art (admission is $16 for adults, $12 for seniors age 65 and older). The museum has an ADA-accessible doorway and elevators to take you between floors. Service animals are welcomed, and for those in wheelchairs, all galleries are accessible. The museum details its access policies at this link: bocamuseum.org/visit/visitor-policies/accessibility.

Feb. 8: ‘A Conversation with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’ (7-8 p.m.)

Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium at Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Building 31UN, Boca Raton; 561-297-3185; olliboca.fau.edu

The Watergate news-breaking duo reunites to discuss the good old days of old-fashioned investigative journalism and how the American media landscape has changed. The talk will be moderated by Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg. When I asked the sponsor, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, about disabled access, here’s the response: “Since all of our patrons are senior citizens, our facility is handicap-accessible. Many of our patrons use walkers. There is a ramp going into our auditorium, easy parking, no steps.” Cost is $75.

Feb. 9-18: Delray Beach Open

Delray Beach Stadium & Tennis Center, 201 W. Atlantic Ave.; 561-243-7360; yellowtennisball.com/en

Whether you’re a tennis fan or not, it would be fun to get out in our gorgeous weather and watch athletes such as Taylor Fritz and Genie Bouchard play on our local courts. According to Jax Kenney, director of ticketing: “We have a ramp in the stadium that leads to our two ADA/Handicap seating sections. If someone has a walker, we allow them to buy those same ADA seats because they’re closest to the ramp into the stadium. Essentially, it’s a series of benches with gaps between so those who have wheelchairs can sit next to their companions. It is located between the East Box and the East Grandstand section. We have handicap parking right next to the front entrance, which is paved from the parking lot to the stadium so there isn’t any grass on the path or that would obstruct them on the grounds.” Standard admission starts at $47.

April 11: O-Town Motown (8 p.m.)

Boca Black Box Center for the Arts, 8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 561-483-9036; bocablackbox.com

O-Town Motown is an Orlando-based group that sings the tunes we all love from the golden era of Motown, including songs made famous by Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye. Here’s what the theater says about its access: “We do have accessibility for handicapped people. Plenty of parking in front of the venue, and there is a ramp. We suggest people with special needs call the box office to ask them where we suggest that they sit.” The theater also has comedy shows and drama performances. Tickets are $48 or $63 for front-row seats.

Do you have suggestions for other activities or venues that provide access for disabled patrons? Send to AskLois@sunsentinel.com.