David Bulkowski is the Executive Director of Disability Advocates of Kent County, working with Wheel the World and marketing agency Experience Grand Rapids to collect data on the accessibility of 50 local venues and businesses.
Hundreds more are on the list.
“We've done consulting with the new Acrisure Amphitheater, with the new soccer stadium. We’re definitely on those bigger projects. And smaller projects. We’re doing the consulting on new buildings. Just finished a project with Hispanic Chamber.”
Bulkowski says when it comes to accessibility, the desire is there but sometimes the details get lost.
Take hotel rooms for instance.
“One of the biggest challenges out there for wheelchair users is the pillow top mattress. That mattresses just get higher and higher off the ground and so people get to beautifully accessible rooms and they can't transfer to the bed because it's too high.”
Bulkowski says West Michigan is moving in the right direction
“The most important thing we did was to raise the awareness of various venues and destinations, to understand that folks with disabilities want to get around, want to visit places and enjoy everything like everybody else. And that people with disabilities have money to spend.”
More on accessible travel in West Michigan can be found on the Experience Grand Rapids website.
