Do you have a mobility issue? It doesn’t matter what caused it; adjusting to life in the chair can be difficult. Many people get depressed at the thought that life as they know it is over. Nothing could be further from the truth!
If you’re struggling to adjust to your new “life on wheels” or know someone who is, we think you’ll find this piece helpful and informative. Below, you’ll discover many fun, exciting outdoor activities for wheelchair users that will help you get back out there and start enjoying life to the fullest again.
Fair warning, though: Some of these activities for wheelchair users aren’t for the faint of heart! Don’t worry if you find yourself balking at a few of these. At the very least, our list will get your mind turning on the subject and open up a world of possibilities you may not have considered. Ready to take a closer look? Let’s get started!
Indoor Wheelchair-Friendly Activities
There are tons of fun activities for people in wheelchairs, thanks in large part to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, which not only protected people with disabilities from being discriminated against in employment opportunities but also ensured access to public spaces.
Because of that law, the possibilities are virtually endless where wheelchair-accessible activities are concerned. Here are a few examples:
Museums and Art Galleries
Let’s start with the obvious. Thanks to the law we mentioned above, museums and art galleries are all wheelchair-friendly, so you’ll have no trouble getting in, moving around, and seeing all the wonders these places have to offer.
Go alone or go with friends and family. It’s the perfect rainy-day activity.
Team Sports
Just about any sports people play without wheelchairs can (and probably already has been adapted to) play in a wheelchair. It’s just a matter of finding a team! Bear in mind that it can be a real challenge to find a wheelchair sports team in a smaller town so you may have to do some driving if you’re serious about playing.
So what kind of sports are we talking about? As we said, it could be just about anything, including:
And more!
Note that, as with any sport, you’ll need to buy some equipment to play, and many sports require a specialized wheelchair.
The particulars, of course, depend on what sport you’re interested in playing. Not all of these sports are indoor activities, but enough of them are that we decided to list them in this section.
Bowling
There are lots of fun leisure activities for wheelchair users, and although bowling might not be an obvious choice, it’s a lot more enjoyable than first meets the eye. While it technically qualifies as a sport, the fact that you can enjoy it solo is the main reason we didn’t include it on the list above.
If you want to join a league and improve your game, contact the American Wheelchair Bowling Association.
They host nearly a dozen tournaments every year all over the country, giving you not only an opportunity to showcase your skills but also to travel. That’s a win-win!
Pool
Believe it or not, the fact that you’re in a wheelchair can be a plus in terms of playing pool because you’re at eye level with the table. The National Wheelchair Poolplayers Association of America describes billiards as “the only sport that almost everyone can play, regardless of one’s physical ability.”
Give it a try and see for yourself. Once you master the game, you’ll be the star of every pool hall you visit!
Wheelchair Accessible Outdoor Activities
Many people, especially those who have only recently experienced a mobility issue, don’t realize just how many outdoor activities there are for wheelchair users. The list below is hardly comprehensive but was meant primarily as a starting point to get your mind turning on the subject.
The reality is that the more you look, the greater outdoor activities you’ll find. There’s virtually no limit to the things you can enjoy. Here are a few examples:
Wheelchair Hiking Trails
Hiking in a wheelchair might seem like a bit of an oxymoron, but there are plenty of wheelchair accessible hiking trails scattered all across the country. You may have thought your days of enjoying the great outdoors were over. Think again!
Most state and national parks have websites telling you which trails are wheelchair-friendly, so planning a family outing is a snap. This is one of the most enjoyable, family-oriented wheelchair mobility activities.
Fruit Picking
Most cities and towns have farms in outlying areas, and some research is likely to turn up several within driving distance of wherever you are. Many (but not all) of these allow individuals to pick their own fruit or produce by the basketful.
It’s a fun way to enjoy the great outdoors in a safe environment and get something of practical value at the same time. Even better, once you’ve picked your fill, you and the family can go home and turn the ingredients you just picked into something delicious. What’s not to like about that?
Mazes
One of the most interesting and unusual activities for wheelchair-bound adults, mazes are an option many people don’t consider. They offer a chance to get outside and enjoy the sun on your face while giving you a safe, structured, controlled environment that’s easy to navigate in a wheelchair. Plus, solving mazes is a fun mental exercise, as is chatting it up with any fellow maze-goers you encounter.
It’s one of those fun wheelchair activities that are every bit as enjoyable on your own as it is with friends and family, so anytime you have a free afternoon, head to the maze nearest you and prepare to have fun! It is one of the most intriguing wheelchair outdoor activities on our list.
Skydiving
This one might give you a pause. Skydiving? Really? Actually, yes!
Bear in mind, though, that not every company that offers skydiving can accommodate people with mobility issues, so you may have to search and call around to find the “right” outfit. But it’s possible with a bit of persistence.
Even better, you’re bound to make friends with other people with mobility issues, and the pictures you’ll be able to share with them of your adventure will inspire them.
Skiing
Although snow and cold weather can pose some real mobility challenges, even for those not in wheelchairs, it might surprise you that if you can get to the ski slopes, you can ski them, thanks to adaptive skiing technologies.
These modifications to conventional skis see you sitting atop two skis, enabling you to take in some world-class scenic vistas and even tackle the beginner (and perhaps even some of the intermediate) slopes.
If you can use one of your legs, you can take things to the next level and try your hand at mono-skiing.
But be aware that you’ll need to train for it—it requires tremendous upper-body strength!
Ziplining
As with ziplining, not every company that runs a zip line can accommodate people with mobility issues, so you’ll likely have to research to find a zipline outfit that can adequately accommodate people with limited mobility (some can’t or won’t for insurance reasons). It’s well worth the time spent researching, though, and will give you an experience and memories that won’t soon be forgotten!
Boating
While there are lots of wheelchair activities for adults that don’t apply to kids, this one is great for people of all ages. Most charter companies have experience accommodating people with mobility issues. They will happily give you, your friends, and your family an afternoon in the sun and on the water that you won’t soon forget.
If you’ve never been boating before, pick up some Dramamine, just in case. Once you’re on the water, it is a terrible time to discover you’re prone to motion sickness!
Paddle Boarding
While there are many fun activities for disabled adults in wheelchairs, you may have thought that paddle boarding was off the table. It’s not!
If you’re unfamiliar with them, paddle boards are bigger than surfboards, and they’re wide enough to be modified to accommodate a wheelchair mounted right on the board. It’s a fun, relaxing way to spend time with friends and family on the water.
Physical Activities for Children in Wheelchairs
Slot Car Racing
Okay, this first one isn’t all that “physical,” but it’s too much fun not to mention. Slot car racing is a fun, social experience that kids of all ages will enjoy. It’s an exciting, competitive event that helps to develop or maintain fine motor skills, which makes it one part practical and one part exciting.
Even if your child doesn’t win the day, it’s still a contagious rush that both you and they will love.
Ice Skating
Be warned – not every ice skating rink will allow wheelchairs on the ice, so call ahead to be sure. The ones that do, however, are pure gold in terms of entertainment value for your child.
If you don’t know how to ice skate, you’d better start practicing because the first time you take your kid to the rink, it’s almost certain to become their new favorite thing.
Mini Golf
As with ice skating rinks, not every mini-golf course is wheelchair friendly. Wheelchair accessible, yes, but often, the holes are packed so closely together that it can be hard to navigate in a wheelchair. Still, doing some homework in advance will reveal the best options, some even all-indoor courses, meaning you and your kids can enjoy them even on rainy days.
Either way (indoors or out), it’s a fabulous way to spend a couple of hours, and your kids will want to do it again!
Horseback Riding
Of all the activities for kids in wheelchairs, this one stands apart because the bond between a child and a gentle-natured horse can be incredibly therapeutic, bordering on magical.
Not all equestrian outfits are created equal, and some have more experience working with people with mobility issues than others, so you’ll need to do some research to find the “right” company to work with. Once you do, though, prepare to watch the magic happen.
Most companies offer guided tours and have saddles modified to make riding safely easier for people with mobility issues. Pair that with an experienced guide and the “right” horse, and your child will be over the moon, and you will be too.
Indoor Activity Centers
Most major cities have a facility like this. It’s awesome because it puts a wide range of activities for children in wheelchairs under one roof. Even if you don’t live in a major city, some research might uncover one within reasonable driving distance. It’s worth looking into and will likely become your child’s new favorite place.
Don’t think that these activity centers are only for children, though. There are plenty of activities for wheelchair-bound students, adults, and elderly. They’ve got a little something for everyone.
Note that most indoor activity centers also have at least some outdoor space, offering various outdoor games for wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users alike. These places have “replayability,” so expect to be asked if you can return repeatedly.
Swimming
While there are tons of fun activities for wheelchair users, swimming stands apart because most people who have mobility issues on land have vastly more mobility in the water.
Not only is that incredibly liberating, but it’s also great exercise and a fantastic way to socialize. It’s just a win on every front imaginable.
Biking
What kid doesn’t like riding a bike? Unfortunately, you might think bicycling is just one of those activities for a child in a wheelchair that’s simply out of reach. You would be mistaken!
There’s a unique mobility product called “The Duet” that changes the game and is guaranteed to put a huge smile on your child’s face.
With your help, your child can enjoy the feeling of wind rushing through his (or her) hair as he/she races down the street. You’ll be a hero, and your child will enjoy new freedom.
Activities for Wheelchair Bound Seniors
Picnic in the Park
The sky’s the limit here. It can be as simple as a small family gathering in the sun and enjoying a cookout or as elaborate as a huge extravaganza that includes some active games for seniors in wheelchairs, or anything in between.
The park is essentially your entertainment canvas. What you choose to paint on it is entirely up to you!
Fishing
This can take many different forms. Most boat ramps and piers are wheelchair accessible, and if you’ve got a motorized wheelchair that’s up to the task of handling some uneven terrain, you can venture out to your favorite fishing hole and relive some of the memories of your youth.
You can step things up a notch and charter a fishing boat if you like. Most charter companies have experience accommodating people with mobility issues, so you know you’ll be in good hands.
Dance
We listed this one under wheelchair activities for the elderly, but anyone of any age can enjoy this.
Not all dance instructors are adept at teaching dance to people in wheelchairs, so what you get out of the experience will be at least partly a function of the time and effort you put into the research beforehand.
Still, when you find the right dance class and instructor, you’ll have a fabulous time and a great learning experience.
Travel
Of all the wheelchair activities for seniors, this one’s probably the most open-ended. Many seniors love nothing better than hopping in an RV and seeing the country in their golden years.
If that’s a dream of yours, don’t let the fact that you’re in a wheelchair stop you or even slow you down. With a few simple modifications, your RV can be tweaked to accommodate your wheelchair, allowing you to go anywhere and do just about anything.
Even if you don’t like traveling in an RV, there are plenty of other wheelchair-friendly travel options, so don’t think that you will be limited for a moment. You won’t be!
Wine Tasting
Almost all wineries are wheelchair accessible, offering more than just wine tastings in the café. You’ll be able to tour the grounds, and many wineries even offer overnight accommodations if you want to explore the place more leisurely. What’s not to like about that?
Final Thoughts on Outdoor Activities for Wheelchair Users
As you can see, there are many great indoor and outdoor activities for wheelchair users, and our list barely scratches the surface. Although we have broken the collection of activities above into various age-related classifications, there’s a considerable amount of overlap here, and most of the items on this list are suitable activities for wheelchair users of any age.
Don’t worry if some of the stuff discussed here isn’t your cup of tea. There are plenty of great wheelchair-bound activities to choose from, so don’t think for a moment that just because you’re not as mobile as you used to be, life as you know it has ended. It hasn’t! These ideas are proof of that.