Accessible Philadelphia Guide for Disabled Persons

Philadelphia prides itself on allowing all visitors to explore the city independently. One way it achieves this feat is through its accessibility compliance. This ensures that all visitors, including disabled persons, can relish their visit to the city. Also, with wheelchair-accessible restaurants, hotels, museums, historic sites, and various services available, visitors of all abilities can be confident that they can enjoy all the City of Brotherly Love has to offer.

This guide will assist differently abled travelers in planning their visit to Philadelphia. This will also serve as a jumping-off point for learning about top accessibility attractions and services in this city. So, let's dive in.

How to Get Around in Philadelphia for Disabled Persons

Disabled persons visiting Philadelphia require accessible transport means to access the various attractions and services in the city. In addition, some wheelchair-accessible transportation services they can use to explore the town include:

SEPTA

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) can transport visitors from one part of the city to another in minutes. Most of Philadelphia's SEPTA stations are wheelchair accessible. Visitors can use this transport means to conveniently get to whichever city destination they want to visit.

Philly PHLASH

The Philly PHLASH provides an easy, quick, and cost-efficient way to access key Philadelphia attractions and cultural institutions. Generally, some things you can expect with Philly PHLASH include:

• Wheelchair and stroller-accessible buses Services are available on select days during peak visitor times.

Accessible Taxis and Car Services

In Philadelphia, all taxi dispatchers must accept requests for wheelchair-accessible vehicles and coordinate service calls with other cars. 2-1-5-Get-A –Cab's mobile app allows users to create a default setting for accessibility. Uber and Lyft also offer wheelchair-accessible transportation services in Philly.

Vehicle Parking Resources

All visitors and residents of Philadelphia can obtain a disability parking placard via the Pennsylvania Department of Transport. Upon receiving this placard, passengers and drivers with a disability can park in designated areas in Philly, except for areas where parking is prohibited.

What Wheelchair Accessible Organizations and Services are Available in Philadelphia?

The wheelchair-accessible organizations and services you should look forward to attending in Philadelphia in 2023 include:

Art-Reach

This organization envisions a world where disabled persons and those from low-income communities have equitable access to arts. Moreover, the program focuses on underserved communities by maintaining public art access in Philly, creating accessible arts programs, and advocating for underserved communities in Philadelphia.

Mayor's Office for Disabled Persons

This initiative serves the needs of Philly residents who have disability issues. This also helps ensure compliance with the Americans with disability act.

Institute of Disability

The Institute of Disabilities at Temple University advocates for persons with disabilities in Philadelphia. They also offer support and training to support the community.

Liberty Resources

Liberty Resources is an advocacy organization that serves people with disabilities by providing services, peer support, and life skills training to ensure complete independence.

9 Wheelchair Accessible Places to Explore in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a vibrant city that allows visitors to experience diverse art, culture, and history within a relatively compact space. Below are some wheelchair-accessible attractions you can explore while visiting the City of Brotherly Love.

Independence Hall

The Independence Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where America's founding fathers defied the King of England. They later gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, this makes it one of the best historical sites to visit to understand the country's origin. You don't have to worry about accessing Independence Hall in a wheelchair. This is because the building's first floor and east wing are wheelchair accessible. This also features a photo album of the assembly room, accessed via the stairs. Moreover, the west wing houses the original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence and is entirely wheelchair accessible. There's also a free ASL interpretation available with timed tickets.

Liberty Bell Center

An iconic American symbol, the Liberty Bell, was established as a longstanding symbol of freedom and independence. The Liberty Bell Center offers visitors a personal and up-close experience with this vital piece of American history. This historic site is stroller and wheelchair accessible, meaning your mobility limitations won't hinder you from accessing it. There's also an open-captioned and audio-described video presentation and assistive listening devices to ensure people with hearing and listening disabilities get an excellent experience during their visit to the Liberty Bell Center.

Benjamin Franklin Museum Center

Opened in 2013, the Benjamin Franklin Museum Center presents Franklin's life and achievements through informative exhibits, interactive features, original artifacts, and reproductions. Also, the Museum is wheelchair accessible, with ADA-compliant bathrooms and an elevator to the gallery.

Museum of American Revolution

The Museum of American Revolution is the country's first museum dedicated to the United States War of Independence. It offers an inclusive and clear picture of the American Revolution through immersive displays, an extensive collection of art and artifacts, and interactive exhibits. The Museum of American Revolution is fully wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs available at the front desk. There are also assistive learning devices and easy-to-read film captions.

Betsy Ross House

Built over 250 years ago, the building located at 239 Arc Street was once the home of Betsy Ross and where she created the first American flag. While this historic building wasn't accessible, the stairs in the breezeway were removed and replaced with rails to facilitate entry into the first floor. Betsy Ross House has an accessible gallery restroom and offers a complimentary audio tour with visual aids.

National Museum of American Jewish History

This museum sheds light on the history of Judaism in the U.S., from the colonial period up to the present day. Its permanent exhibits trace Jewish immigration as far back s the 1800s and the 1900s. It also traces the contribution of the Jews to the economy, the arts, and political movements. The National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH) ensures that everyone can enjoy their visit, including people with disabilities. It offers wheelchair access throughout and loans standard wheelchairs to visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. It also offers free film and video captions and assistive learning devices for Dell Theatre programs. Additionally, the wayfinding signage at NMAJH includes braille. Visitors are allowed to have service dogs and paid personal care assistants accompanying visitors are admitted free of charge to the museum.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

This art museum has one of the largest art collections in the U.S., spanning medieval times, the ancient world, the Renaissance, the Impressionist movement, and the modern day. The Philadelphia Art Museum is accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. Visitors who use wheelchairs can access the museum via the west entrance, sign language interpreters are available free of charge, trained service dogs are permitted throughout, and there are also specially adapted guided tours.

Barnes Foundation

The Barnes Foundation is the home of one of the most significant collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern paintings. The Barnes Foundation is fully wheelchair accessible, even though some of its collection galleries may be unable to accommodate large mobility devices. Assistive listening devices are available in the auditorium, accessible restrooms are available on the main floor and lower level, and sign language interpreters are available with three weeks advance notice. Additionally, paid personal care assistants are admitted into the building free of charge when accompanying clients.

Franklin Institute

Founded in 1874, the Franklin Institute is a science museum whose exhibits extend well beyond Franklin's scientific work. Its collections include many artifacts from the Wright brothers, including the original 1911 Model B airplane. Other scientific artifacts at the Franklin Institute include the latest discoveries in robotics, astronomy, technology, biology, and more. The Franklin Institute is wheelchair accessible visitors using a wheelchair can enter the Franklin Institute via the parking garage elevator into the Bartol Atrium. Alternatively, they can access the institute via the 20th Business Street entrance. Visitors can borrow wheelchairs at the atrium information desk or the 20th Street business desk. Sensory maps are available for temporary and permanent exhibits.

Other Wheelchair-Accessible Places to Visit While in Philadelphia

Apart from the wheelchair-accessible tourist attractions, you can explore other interesting wheelchair-accessible places during your visit to the City of Brotherly Love. For instance, numerous wheelchair-accessible hotels are offered, including Aloft Philadelphia, Hilton Garden Inn, Kimpton Hotel Palomar, Philadelphia Airport Marriott, and Philadelphia 201 Hotel, that you can visit for accommodation and food. If you are an outdoor person and fancy camping, you can pack your camping gear and choose to enjoy the great outdoors at one of the several wheelchair-accessible camping sites in Philadelphia. Additionally, you can visit the numerous wheelchair-accessible gift shops, including Open House Store, Occassionatte, and the Little Apple Gift Boutique, to buy yourself or your loved ones a gift.

Purchase a Wheelchair Transport Van from AMS to Enhance Your Vacation in Philadelphia if you're with Disabled Persons

At AMS, we have an impressive inventory of wheelchair transport vans you can browse and purchase from the comfort of your home and have delivered directly to your driveway. Contact us today to learn more about the different types of wheelchair vans we offer.