Seward
Alaska SeaLife Center–great sensory input experience for the developmentally disabled
On any of our visits to Seward, we must take Quincy to the Alaska SeaLife Center. It is an amazing experience for people of all abilities, but for Quincy it is truly unique. She is simply captivated by watching the fish, otters and sea lions from the large, underground glass tanks. We can sit for hours in front of Woody, the giant male sea lion and watch him swim graceful arcs past Quincy in his tank.
Aquariums and hands-on learning centers are great places for children with disabilities to experience. Most of these places encourage children to touch and feel and smell and, for children like Quincy, the sensory input is powerful. Plus, aquatic centers have a wonderful sense of calm about them, which is something else that Q is drawn to. There is a serene, almost hypnotic, feeling that comes from sitting in front of a tank of beautiful fish.
We usually walk to the SeaLife Center so we use our large jog stroller for Quincy. She is very comfortable in it and the facility is large enough for maneuver easily with the larger stroller. This is Q and I in front of the sea lion tank. We are waiting for Woody, the very large adult male sea lion, to swim on by.
Here is Woody as he approaches Quincy and I. It seems as if he is looking right at us each time he swims by…I’m not sure he really is, but it feels like it.
In this image we are lucky enough to have both Woody and a female companion swim by us at the same time. It’s amazing the size difference between the two!
This is our favorite spot…Quincy and I can spend most of our time sitting right here just enjoying the show.
Seward, Alaska: a great accessible community to visit!
Seward, Alaska has proven to be another great community to visit if you are disabled or are traveling with a disabled person. We have found that there is much to do here with Quincy.
The boat harbor is a wonderful place to stroll around. There is a great bike path that runs the length of the community so we can stroll from one end of town to the other with Quincy at a safe and leisurely pace. The harbor has great shops and a wide boardwalk from which we can watch the boats and enjoy all the sights and sounds.
One of Quincy’s favorite places in Seward is the Alaska SeaLife Center which is an extremely accessible facility. The SeaLife Center has created a unique experience where we are able to watch sea life from underneath the surface of the water. Quincy is completely captivated watching the sea lions, otters and diving birds from their underground tanks. It is something to stand next to a glass tank and have a massive sea lion swim right on by! It also has an area where Quincy can touch sea life, like starfish and sea urchins. The sensory experience at the Alaska SeaLife Center is something delightful for all ages, but even more so for children like Q who depend on sensory input.
In addition to these attractions Seward also has a great community playground for the kids to play, wonderful restaurants that are very welcoming to families like mine, and, if you are the adventurous type you can always climb Mt. Marathon. The view from the top is breathtaking. But, be warned…it is a very challenging climb! We always enjoy gracious hospitality when we visit Seward and that, combined with great accessibility, definitely gives it a place in my rankings of Great Accessible Communities. If you get the opportunity to travel to Alaska, be sure to make Seward one of the places to visit!
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