From charming and inclusive communities to world-renowned culinary experiences to moving museums and historic sites, amazing adventures await travelers who have autism and other developmental disabilities. Explore NYC’s inclusive food scene with stops at eateries that center people with disabilities, then head up to nearby Hudson Valley for nature, art, historic sites, and a town designated as an Autism Supportive Community Check out video of entrepreneur, producer, public speaker, and Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum” star Dani Bowman’s visit, and plan your own incredible weekend in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Credit: @robstanforddesign on Instagram.
FRIDAY
10:30AM: Check into the San Carlos Hotel
Drop your bags off at the San Carlos Hotel, a boutique luxury hotel located in Midtown East. Your spacious, apartment-style suite is situated just 10 minutes from Grand Central Terminal, where you can find plenty of transportation options making it a great hub for exploring the city. The San Carlos Hotel also has accessibility features that include 36-inch wide openings to all common areas, hotel corridors, and guest room passages, an accessible lobby entrance door and ramp, registration/check-in counter, business lounge, and fitness center, as well as braille signage throughout the property. Accessible guest rooms are available and feature accessible clear floor space, accessible kitchenette access, an accessible bathroom with roll-in shower and grab bars, and visual alarms and notifications if needed.
11:30AM: Joyful brunch at Cafe Joyeux
Credit: Marta Zielinska
Start your weekend off with a delicious brunch at Cafe Joyeux! This joyful non-profit cafe has locations all over the world and promotes inclusion by hiring crew members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Pay a visit to the first Cafe Joyeux in the United States, right in Midtown Manhattan, where you can sip on coffee locally-roasted in Brooklyn, indulge in French-inspired delights, and meet the friendly crew members.
2PM: Admire film through a new lens at the Museum of the Moving Image
Next stop is the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI)! Right around the corner from Cafe Joyeux is the Lexington & 53rd subway station, where you can take the M train to Steinway Street towards the Museum of the Moving Image (note: this route is not ADA accessible, so you can take a taxi/rideshare or the Q101 bus from 2nd ave & 61st street to get to the museum if you have difficulty with stairs). This museum is an amazing destination for both cinephiles and casual movie lovers and is the only institution in the United States dedicated to the art, technology, and social impact of film, television, and digital media. Discounted admission ($3) is available for people with disabilities, and free admission is available for one accompanying care partner. Sensory kits are also available at the front desk. The museum is also wheelchair accessible and has a wheelchair for visitors to borrow if needed.
Be sure to check out “Behind the Screen,” where visitors can make their own stop-motion animation. In the Media Game Lab, you can create virtual reality, pixel characters, and more with the help of experienced educators. Screenings of all genres are also offered every month. If you’re planning a visit in March, the MoMI hosts the Marvels of Media Festival, recognizing the outstanding work of autistic media-makers with exhibitions, films, screenings, and in-depth panel discussions.
5:30PM: Dinner at Contento
Photo credit: Anna Pakman
Dig into the flavors of East Harlem with West African, Caribbean, and soul influences at Contento! Call a taxi or rideshare, or take the M, R, N, or W to the 6 train towards Harlem. For a more scenic route, take the NYC Ferry from Astoria to E 34th Street in Manhattan, then hop in a cab to the restaurant. Rated as one of the top 10 new restaurants in 2021 by the New York Times, Contento is co-owned by two wheelchair users and made to be accessible for all. The layout includes wheelchair-accessible space at the bar, clear passageways, and thoughtfully-designed bathrooms with grab bars and touchless sinks. Adaptive flatware is also available. All staff has been trained to welcome visitors with a variety of disabilities and dietary needs can be easily accommodated. Don’t miss the extensive wine list, featuring a whole page of New York State-grown wines, and some fun facts about the disability community.
SATURDAY
9AM: Head to the Hudson Valley
Rise and shine! Grab breakfast at your hotel and fuel up for a journey to the Hudson Valley. Admire the passing scenic views on the hour and 50-minute drive up to Poughkeepsie or head to Grand Central and take a Hudson Line train to Poughkeepsie Station. Half-price disability fare tickets are available. From there, rideshare and taxi services are available and you can find most major car rental companies in Poughkeepsie (if you need your rental to be wheelchair accessible, take Metro North to Mamaroneck and pick up an adapted rental from Bussani Mobility).
11AM: Check into Homewood Suites Poughkeepsie
Drop off your bags and get ready for the day ahead at Homewood Suites Poughkeepsie. Settle into a spacious suite that can sleep up to eight people, where you’ll have your own full kitchen, dining area, and two bedrooms, one with a king bed and one with two queens. Connecting rooms are also available. Accessible guest rooms feature entry or passage doors that provide 32 inches of clear width, bathrooms that have roll-in showers and grab bars, audible and visual notifications, and more. For a full list of accessible features, visit the hotel’s website.
12PM: Lunch at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA)
Credit: @d_rebz on Instagram
Dig into delicious cuisine at one of the world’s premier culinary institutions. Make a reservation at the casually-elegant American Bounty restaurant in Hyde Park, where contemporary and traditional regional dishes come to life alongside a stellar wine list. This New American restaurant, like the CIA’s other establishments, is run by current students and led by faculty and is wheelchair accessible. Not only is the CIA welcoming to guests with disabilities, but the school also strives to create an inclusive environment with accommodations for budding chefs who have disabilities themselves.
2PM: Explore the history of FDR in Hyde Park
Credit: @robstanforddesign on Instagram
Immerse yourself in the world of the 32nd and longest-serving President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, throughout the historic sites of Hyde Park, where he often visited to renew his spirit during times of personal and political crisis. Free admission to all sites is available for visitors with disabilities and up to three companions with an Access Pass. Apply for a free pass online ($10 shipping) or pick it up in-person at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt right in Hyde Park (disability documentation required).
Take a peek into what the Roosevelt presidency was like, from the Great Depression through the New Deal years and World War II at the Home of FDR and the Presidential Library and Museum. As the first wheelchair user elected to the country’s highest office, innovations that helped make FDR’s life easier in his home are on display to visitors today and both floors of the historic home can be accessed via a lift. Two wheelchairs are available at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center for visitors to borrow, free of charge. Explore the only national historic site dedicated to a First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home, Val-Kill or tour FDR’s hilltop retreat, Top Cottage. Two wheelchairs are available at the Stone Cottage Visitor Center for visitors to borrow, free of charge. No advance reservations are necessary. A seasonal tram, equipped with a wheelchair lift, is available May through October to shuttle visitors from the main parking lot to the historic core. ASL interpretation with two weeks advance notice as well as assistive listening devices for amplification are available for the FDR Home, Presidential Library and Museum, and the Eleanor Roosevelt Historic Site.
4:30PM: Stroll the Walkway Over the Hudson
Get some fresh air and amazing birds-eye-views of the Hudson River from the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, the Walkway Over the Hudson! Built in 1888, this former railroad bridge spans 1.26 miles from Poughkeepsie to Highland and sits 212 feet above the Hudson. Take a stroll at sunset for an unforgettable evening view. The Walkway is accessible by elevator on the Poughkeepsie waterfront at Upper Landing Park. It operates seasonally from 9 a.m, until 90 minutes prior to park closing, unless closed for maintenance. To confirm if the elevator is running, call the elevator status hotline: (845)-834-3641.
6:30PM: Sushi and Sake Tasting at Dassai Blue
Credit: Phillip Van Nostrand
Sushi and sake await at Dassai Blue’s new state-of-the-art traditional Japanese brewery! Found right in Hyde Park, take a 30-minute tour of the brewery, where you’ll get to learn about the sake making process and sample the Junmai Daiginjo-only sake alongside freshly-prepared sushi.
SUNDAY
9AM: Breakfast at Willow at Mirbeau Inn & Spa in Rhinebeck
Take a 35-minute drive to Rhinebeck and stop for breakfast at Willow at Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck. Fuel up for the exciting day ahead with a breakfast menu inspired by French bistros and infused with the agricultural heritage of the Hudson Valley. Dig into farm-fresh eggs, fluffy pancakes, local organic sourdough toast, and more while you relax to live music.
10:30AM: Explore the region’s first Autism Supportive Community
Get to know the charming Village of Rhinebeck, rated by the Anderson Center for Autism as the first certified Autism Supportive Community in the region. As you stroll through the village, there are all kinds of independent shops, boutiques, and businesses, 68% of which have undergone training from the Anderson Center to be more inclusive for autistic visitors. You’ll find that many businesses have incorporated at least one supportive practice including quiet spaces, sensory kits, lower light and music, reduced wait times, advance ordering, and more. Terrapin offers reduced noise in their dining space, Megabrain Comics has sensory kits available, Samuel’s Sweet Shop uses only soft and warm lights, and more!
1PM: Break for lunch at The Roundhouse
Credit: @roundhousebeacon on Instagram
After a morning in Rhinebeck, you’re sure to have worked up an appetite, so take an hour drive south to Beacon for lunch! With scenic views of Beacon Falls and Mount Beacon, The Roundhouse is the perfect place for a bite to eat. Menu highlights include tempura fish tacos, a smoked brisket sandwich, and strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Beacon’s Main Street also abounds with options.
3:30PM: Admire art at Dia Beacon
Credit: @heatherripleyart on Instagram
Next stop is Dia Beacon, a museum offering a collection of art from the 1960s to the present as well as special exhibitions. Admire beautiful large-scale sculptures and installations, indoors and out, featuring work from artists such as On Kawara, Andy Warhol, Max Neuhaus, and Steve McQueen. A disability discount is available ($12) as well as free admission for a personal care companion. Parking, galleries, and bathrooms are accessible and there is elevator access to all levels. Wheelchairs are available for visitors, no reservations required.
6PM: Dinner at Hudson Taco
Credit: Anna Pakman
Head across the river for an evening on the Newburgh Waterfront at Hudson Taco, winner of the best tacos in the Hudson Valley. Revel in the upbeat and vibrant atmosphere indoors or outdoors alongside a stunning view of the Hudson River and surrounding mountains. Delicious tacos like chorizo and Asian tuna, empanadas, mushroom taquitos, and refreshing margaritas are all great choices on the expansive menu.
MONDAY
9AM: Breakfast at your hotel
Breakfast is complimentary with your hotel stay, so grab a bite to eat before you check out! After breakfast, it’s time to hit the road towards Storm King Art Center in New Windsor, about a 45-minute drive.
10:30AM: Explore the relationship between art and nature at Storm King Art Center
Credit: @abhiroop.rony on Instagram
Admire the harmonious relationship between art and nature at this 500-acre sculpture park. Stroll through the rolling hills and majestic mountains of the Hudson Valley as you pass over 100 large-scale art pieces. Learn about the collection highlights on a 30-minute narrated tram tour or explore Storm King in your own time aboard the tram loop, which makes stops every half hour. The tram is wheelchair accessible and equipped with wheelchair ramps.
Admission for personal care attendants accompanying a visitor with a disability is free at Storm King and tickets can be reserved by calling (845)-534-3115. Storm King’s grounds consist of varied terrain including rolling meadows, hills, wooded areas, paved and gravel paths, and mowed lawn. The visitor map indicates paved and unpaved paths as well as steep areas. Wheelchair accessible golf cart rides are available to help visitors reach areas with inaccessible terrain. Call (845)-534-3115 to reserve a ride. Wheelchairs are also available at the museum store on a first-come, first-served basis. Gloves are available upon request at the Museum Store to safely interact with artwork.
12:30PM: Pop into the Angry Orchard Cider House
Credit: @girlwiththepurpleshades on Instagram
Finish out your trip with a visit to the Angry Orchard Cider House! Experience the orchard first-hand by taking an Orchard Walk Tour or learn about the cider-making process on a production tour and tasting. Dig into house-made pizza or apple maple grilled cheese for lunch and, if you have a designated driver, pair your meal with a cider flight. Be sure to check out the store and take some cider to go!
GETTING THERE:
New York City by car:
- From Albany: 2.5-3 hours
- From Philadelphia: 1.5-2 hours
- From Boston: 3-4 hours
- From Washington, DC: 4 hours
Poughkeepsie by car:
- From Albany: 1.5 hours
- From Philadelphia: 3 hours and 15 minutes
- From Boston: 4 hours
- From Washington, DC: 5.5 hours
By plane:
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
- LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
- Stewart International Airport (SWF)
JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Stewart Airports all offer Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards to passengers with disabilities such as autism, PTSD, or hearing loss who wish to take advantage of this service. The Sunflower lanyard communicates that passengers wearing the lanyard may need extra help while traveling. Click here for more program information. Passengers may request Sunflower lanyards free of charge at all pre-security Welcome Center locations.
JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Stewart Airports also offer TSA Cares, a dedicated helpline that provides passengers the ability to request assistance going through the TSA screening checkpoint and provides information on the screening procedures that specifically pertain to those with disabilities, medical conditions, and other circumstances. Passenger support specialists are transportation security officers who have received advanced training on helping passengers with disability, medical, or other circumstances through the screening checkpoint. To request support, submit the following form at least 72 hours in advance of travel. www.tsa.gov/contact-center/form/cares.
By train:
- Amtrak, NJ Transit, or Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Penn Station
- Metro-North or Long Island Railroad (LIRR) to Grand Central
- Disability Fare is half-off regular fare tickets and available to be purchased at the station or on the MTA TrainTime app (you can use reduced-fare tickets at all times except morning peak trains arriving weekdays at Grand Central between 6 and 10 am). Personal care attendants can also ride for free on the Long Island or Metro-North Railroad.
- MTA Subway
By bus:
- Bus services to NYC’s Port Authority
- MTA Express Buses
By ferry:
