From a center dedicated to showcasing Deaf artists to an accessible camping experience, these New York destinations are creating welcoming experiences for all. In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, marked every October, check out these great places run by amazing leaders with disabilities. 

Updated 09/27/2024

Jason Thurston, outreach coordinator, International Paper-John Dillon Park (Adirondacks)

A wooden lean to stands behind a fire pit at one of the camp sites at International Paper-John Dillon Park
Photo courtesy of Jason Thurston

International Paper-John Dillon Park, which is owned by International Paper and operated by Paul Smith's College, provides a true “backwoods” camping experience in the “forever wild” Adirondacks that is specifically designed to be accessible. “The details of the amenities and services make it possible for a person with a disability to be as independent as possible whether by themselves or with their friends or family,” said outreach coordinator Jason Thurston. The main campground is a one-mile loop with a six-foot wide trail of level, hard packed stone. All nine lean-tos have ramps, portable power banks let guests charge up their power wheelchairs and can be used to operate a CPAP machine, alternating pressure mattress and other medical devices, fire pits are designed to be accessible, and firewood is delivered every day. Viewing platforms provide spectacular sunset views and there is also accessible fishing and tours of the lake on an accessible pontoon boat.

Jason Thurston, a man in a power chair wearing a green t-shirt, dark-framed glasses, in front of a wooden building at the International Paper John Dillon State Park
Photo courtesy of Jason Thurston

Thurston, a C6 quadriplegic since a 2004 swimming pool accident, never thought it would be possible for him to spend a night camping until he discovered International Paper-John Dillon Park. “After having to depend on people for almost everything after my accident, independence has always been the goal and to camp by myself is the ultimate level of independence,” he said. Thurston embarked on several camping trips to the park before being hired as its outreach coordinator. Now, he is dedicated to helping others realize their independence and creating more accessible outdoor spaces in the Adirondacks. “I hope that people come away with a sense of rejuvenation and increased possibilities. A peace of mind, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world,” Thurston said. “The feeling of being grounded and unplugged can do amazing things for the mind, body, and spirit.”

Kristina M. Parker, Parker Family Maple Farm (Adirondacks)

A rustic bridge stands over a spring fed pond outside the sugarhouse of the Parker Family Maple Farm
Photo courtesy of Kristina Parker

New York State is known for its maple syrup and the Parker family has been delivering this sweet taste of the Empire State since 1889. In the spring, visitors get the full hands-on maple experience at the Parker Family Maple Farm, seeing the tapping process first hand and enjoying the sweet taste of fresh maple syrup during pancake breakfasts. The sugarhouse and gift shop stocked with maple goodies can be visited year round. “Walking the grounds in the summer and fall offer visitors beautiful views of forests and fields of the rural Adirondack Coast,” said Kristina M. Parker, who wears many hats at the family farm. “The fall colors of the sugarbush are amazing. Visitors can feed our resident mallard ducks, while walking a rustic bridge over a spring-fed pond.”

Kristina Parker with her son and niece at the Parker Family Maple Farm
Pictured: Kristina Parker, right, with her son and niece

Being born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy, Parker, who uses a walker to ambulate, imagined her future would involve a less physically demanding career away from the farm and life in a warmer climate. That all changed in 1998 after a fateful ice storm threatened the family farm. “As the heavy ice precipitation fell and stuck to the trees of the Adirondack forests, my family watched in horror,” she said. “In those tense hours and days watching my parents decide how to move forward, I discovered that the Adirondacks are a part of me forever.” Now, she carries on her family’s legacy, carving her own unique path at the Parker Family Maple Farm, which is owned and operated by her brother. You’ll often find her assisting customers in the gift shop and giving tours to groups and school children about the history of maple syrup in the Adirondacks. When she’s not on the farm, Parker can be found exploring New York through her love of adaptive sports. “I love handcycling through the Adirondacks, adaptive ice skating with Gliding Stars near Niagara Falls, kayaking on Lake Champlain, Nordic sit skiing in Lake Placid, and taking in the rich history of baseball, art, and agriculture found in Cooperstown.” Parker also published a children’s book “You’re Mine, Walker and All” about her disability and motherhood.

Dyer Arts Center (Finger Lakes)

Art hangs on the white walls surrounding a grey central staircase in the gallery of the Dyer Arts Center
Photo courtesy of the Dyer Arts Center

Amid Rochester’s thriving arts and culture scene, the Dyer Arts Center is bringing Deaf culture to the forefront. Located in the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, the center is dedicated to exhibiting and archiving artwork made by deaf artists from across the globe. The center distinguishes itself as a leader in Deaf and disabled arts showcasing works by students, alumni, and artists who are Deaf, hard of hearing, and/or allies of the Deaf community in the 5,000-square foot, three-story tall Williams Gallery, the Glass Room, and the Ohringer Gallery. All of its programs are also Deaf and Deaf-Blind friendly, both levels are wheelchair accessible, and the center can accommodate other accessibility requests including sensory-sensitive visits. 

Share New York State adventures with us on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter with #ILoveNY and #iSpyNY, and tag us on Facebook!