Welcomes Wheelchairs!

Sprucecot is built according to Universal Design principles. A group from Paralyzed Veterans of America visited Sprucecot and inspired the Johnstones to make the services readily available to wheelchair bound folks, including spinal cord injury victims. The PVA group visit was notably successful and included fishing. The home has some equipment, such as a hoist, a shower chair, egg crates, wedge. The nearby hospital loan closet may have further necessary equipment. An effort is made to obviate a lot of equipment luggage on the airplane for guests. All doorways are barrier-free. Interior doors are pockets. The living room, dining room and kitchen are open and airy. Included in the daily rental fee is wheelchair van transportation. Local car rental folks have hand-operated vehicles if desired.

Meetings at Sprucecot easily accommodate those in wheelchairs.

Sitka has several accessible restaurants:

MacDonald's: for a Big Mac urge
Ludwig's: downtown with special chefs
Fly 'n' Fish: a private lounge and restaurant on the channel downtown that grants privileges to Sprucecot wheelchair bound guests

Several restaurants deliver

Ocean Fishing Opportunities Tour operators that encourage wheelchaired clients: Bike 'n' Hike: manages hikes on Sitka's many accessible trails, with charming and knowledgeable guides. sitkaadventures.com Sitka Tours: Sitka's largest and oldest tour operator with two wheelchair vans in the fleet (747-8443) EstherG Sea Tours: Sightseeing on the sea with a fine fellow who understands puffinsandwhales.com Alaska ATV Tours: Wheelchairs are loaded onto a drop-down-bow boat from a ramp, travel out to Kruzof Island, load onto ATV's and drive across the island to the outside coast beaches. Half day trip. info@akatvtours.com.

Secret Island Charters: An elegant 50' Delta with a ramp onto the afterdeck for wheelchairs. secretislandcharters.com Sitka Charters will arrange a charter if Secret Island is unavailable. Sitkacharters.com Floats: the city floats have long metal covered ramps and are accessible. The city harbormaster pledges total cooperation with making floats and ramps accessible.