News Article:

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-40742586

 

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A father from Texas realised there were no theme parks where his disabled daughter could play. So he decided to build one.

Gordon Hartman had just got out of the swimming pool on a family holiday, when his 12-year-old daughter Morgan went up to some children playing in the water. She tried to make friends with them but they quickly left the pool.

Hartman thinks they shied away from her because they didn't know how to react to someone with a disability - Morgan has the cognitive understanding of a five-year-old as well as a form of autism.

The incident played on his mind.

"Morgan is just a wonderful young lady. When you meet her you will always get a smile and she will always want to offer a hug. But there were so many times we couldn't take her places," he says.

 

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"We wanted a theme park where everyone could do everything, where people with and without special needs could play," Hartman says.

He brought together doctors, therapists, parents and other people with and without disabilities to consult on the facilities. These were built on the 25-acre site of a disused quarry in San Antonio, Texas.

 

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Since it opened Morgan's Wonderland has received over a million visitors from 67 countries and from all 50 American states. A third of staff have disabilities and entrance is free to any guest with a condition.

 

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This year, the theme park was expanded with the opening of Morgan's Inspiration Island, a fully-accessible water park.

"Fewer people were visiting in July because the wheelchairs got too hot. So we decided to create a water park next door," Hartman says.

Parts of the island use warm water, which helps visitors with muscular problems. Waterproof motorised wheelchairs are provided, which run on compressed air rather than batteries. There is also an accessible river boat ride.

Altogether, the water park cost $17m (£13m).

 

Official Website:

http://www.morganswonderland.com/park-info/about-morgans-wonderland

 

 

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It's really good to see something like this existing in the world. Stumbling across this article this morning was the first time I've heard of a place like this so I don't know if something similar already exists somewhere.

So have a read, have a heart and enjoy the feels trip. 

Great story, I'd never heard that such a place existed, but think it's absolutely amazing that it does. 

Great find @Reanimated35

Gee I thought Morgan's Wonderland in San Antonio was just a kids park not a disabled park but I guess learn something new everyday.

Edited August 5, 20178 yr by Theme Park

As someone who works as an Activity Officer in Aged Care and has worked in a day centre for people with disabilities I would love to see a billionaire sponsor these in other countries. This looks brilliant. I'd happily work at one.