Toledo winters are magical. From outdoor adventures to cozy indoor activities, there is no shortage of family-friendly activities in Toledo as our city offers accessible activities for individuals with disabilities. Destination Toledo has recently released its Accessibility Guide—an excellent resource for local attractions, written by an Occupational Therapist. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and read on for a round-up of disability-friendly winter activities for families in Toledo.
Accessible Winter Sports
Ability Center of Greater Toledo
5605 Monroe St. Sylvania
419-885-5733
abilitycenter.org
They offer a diverse menu of indoor adaptive sports and recreation through the winter season, including adaptive judo, pickleball, esports and crash football.
Glass City Metropark
1521 Front St. Toledo
419-407-9714
metroparkstoledo.com
This Metropark offers three adaptive sleds that are free and available first- come-first-serve. Personal wheelchairs are allowed on the Ribbon Trail.
Ottawa Park Outdoor Rink
2015 Parkside Dr. Toledo
419-936-2875
ottawaparkrink.com
Enjoy adaptive sledding during the winter months.
Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter
7060 Sylvania Ave. Sylvania
419-885-1167
sylvaniatamoshanter.com
Offers adaptive hockey, sled hockey and specialized skating sessions for individuals with diverse abilities. The Gliding Stars Adaptive Ice Skating program makes ice skating accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Team Toledo Ice House
1258 W. Alexis Rd. Toledo
802-846-5298
teamtoledoicehouse.com
Adaptive Sports Ohio (ASO) provides athletes with diverse abilities the opportunity to participate in sled hockey through the Walleye Sled Hockey Practice.
Accessible Winter Trails
Oak Openings Preserve Metropark
4139 Girdham Rd. Swanton
419-407-9700
metroparkstoledo.com
As the largest park in the regional Toledo Metropark system, Oak Openings offers all-terrain power wheelchairs to navigate across the outdoor landscape. Contact 419-265-2920 with any questions.
Toledo Botanical Garden
5403 Elmer Dr. Toledo
417-407-9718
metroparkstoledo.com
The Toledo Botanical Garden offers a flat 1-mile trail featuring the Doneghy Inclusive Garden with well-marked barrier-free, ADA-compliant paths, sensory textured pathways and textured colored edges for individuals with visual impairments.
Wildwood Preserve Metropark
5100 W. Central Ave., Toledo
419-407-9700
metroparkstoledo.com
This park offers accessible paved trails, accessible routes to the historic Manor House and grounds and handicap-accessible Metz Visitor Center. Individuals can also reserve an all-terrain motorized track chair and adaptive trikes for free to explore park trails. Those interested in reserving adaptive equipment may fill out the online equipment request form. The Manor House is also wheelchair accessible.
Accessible Indoor Winter Activities
Toledo Zoo and Aquarium
2 Hippo Way, Toledo
419-385-5721
toledozoo.org
The zoo offers accessible events such as the Zoo for All Nights at the Lights, which offer sensory-friendly accommodations, access to parts of the broader light exhibits before the Christmas display, and access to sensory bags, including noise-cancelling headphones, a whiteboard and dry erase marker, fidgets, a social story and a misting fan. The Toledo Zoo has ADA-accessible pathways and accessible winter attractions during the cooler months, including:
• Toledo Zoo Aquarium: Flat viewing paths and interactive touch tanks
• ProMedica Museum of Natural History: Offers ramped and elevator access to all indoor exhibits
• Arctic Encounter and Aviary: Offers climate-controlled indoor viewing areas
Toledo Museum of Art
2445 Monroe St. Toledo
419-255-8000
toledomuseum.org
Designated as a Certified Autism Center (CAC), where 80% of the staff has been trained in sensory-inclusive support measures, the museum offers several inclusive features.
• Ramps, wheelchair-accessible restrooms and a wheelchair-accessible entrance is available at the Plough entrance to make a visit to the museum more inviting and comfortable for individuals with disabilities.
• Manual wheelchairs and walkers are available for free. There is also one power wheelchair available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Sensory kits with fidgets and noise-cancelling headphones are available to museum guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
Imagination Station
1 Discovery Way Toledo
419-244-2674
imaginationstationtoledo.org
Designated as a Certified Autism Center (CAC), this local science center offers several inclusive spaces and features to support individuals with special needs:
• Sensory-friendly museum hours are offered every third Sunday of the month from 10am-12pm
• The KeyBank Discovery Theater hosts sensory-friendly movie screenings on Tuesdays at 4:15pm and Sundays at 12:30pm
• Sensory Support Kits are available to check out, which include noisecancelling headphones, fidgets, earplugs, social stories and weighted lap pads
• Calming Spaces are available near the Little KidSpace entrance
• Restrooms are wheelchair accessible and the lower family restroom features a height-adjustable adult changing table
