Traveling to New York with a Disability

Here is the review of a person who has visited New York in a wheelchair:

Arrival in New York

• The airports of New York have people who help and assist you until you leave the airport. They will help you with the luggage and to pass the security control.
• The airports are completely accessible and have information points that will assist you with anything you need.
• Transport from the airport to the city center is also accessible with a wheel chair.

City transport

• The Subway is quite old and not well prepared. Few stations are suitably accessible (only about 20%).
• The New York City buses have wheelchair ramps.
• In New York there are lots of taxi cabs with rear ramps. If you ask for a taxi or request one at your hotel, they can specifically ask for one with a rear ramp. 
• The ferries to the Statue of Liberty or to Staten Island are quite accessible, though you will probably need help to climb the ramp. Tour boats also fulfill the necessary conditions.
• The vast majority of the sidewalks have ramps and nobody parks on the corners of the streets, so it is easy to get around.
• If you need more time to cross a street, people understand and respect you while you cross.

Visiting New York

• Major stores and shopping malls are all completely accessible. Normally, you will find a normal access door next to any revolving one.
• In the main tourist attractions (Empire State, Top of the Rock or Grand Central Terminal ...) you will find signs to help you and you will also avoid the lines.

Accommodation

Approximately 70% of hotels in New York are adapted for disabled people. When looking for accommodation online, don’t forget to tick the space for “accessible rooms" and that way you will find a hotel perfectly adapted for your needs. 

• Hotel search engine Introducingnewyork.com

As you can see, having reduced mobility should not be a problem when visiting New York.