Accessibility in Lehigh Valley

ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem is a cultural venue that regularly hosts accessible events and performances. They provide captioning, sign language interpreters, and sensory-friendly show options.

On the same campus, visitors will find the Banana Factory Arts Center. Their ALL ACCESSible program provides a casual yet in-depth look at the unique spaces and visual-art that make up the gallery. The gallery spaces are open for a no-cost, semi-guided tour and offer sensory-friendly hands-on experiences.

The Crayola Experience is an interactive art and creativity center in Easton that is committed to inclusivity. It features wheelchair ramps, accessible exhibits, and sensory-friendly spaces. It also hosts exclusive night for guests with special needs, like their Sensory Nights which offer hands-on attractions in a quiet environment.

Coca-Cola Park, Home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, prioritizes accessibility, ensuring an inclusive experience for all visitors with accessible seating, parking, restrooms, and accommodations, adhering to ADA guidelines to facilitate the enjoyment of baseball games and events by individuals of all abilities.

The park's “Pigs Care” Program is designed to better help fans fully enjoy their experience. Guests who have non-visibale or visible disability now have the option to choose to wear a “Pigs Care” lanyard to discreetly identify that they may need support, help or just a little more time in the merchandise store, in line at concession stands or perhaps reaching their seats.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom prides itself on fun, Fun for everyone. Depending on guest's specific needs, Guest Services can assist in providing details on their Boarding Pass Program, Multi-Sensory & Calming Room locations, access to American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation for live shows, and much more! Learn more about the park's accessibility through their website or by downloading their guide.

Freefall Trampoline Park in Bethlehem has a special night on the second Tuesday of every month from 6 - 8 p.m. Enjoy a sensory-friendly evening jump with music off, exclusively for jumpers with sensory sensitivities and their families.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo in Schnecksville offers accessible pathways and viewing areas. In 2022, the Lehigh Valley Zoo announced their partnership with KultureCity to make the Zoo, and all its programs and events, sensory inclusive. This partnership allows for neurodivergent visitors to receive correct accommodations and positive experiences while visiting the zoo. While at Guest Services, neurodivergent visitors are given a sensory bag equipped with noise-canceling headphones, verbal cue cards, and fidget toys.

Martin & Co. welcomes everyone to experience the Martin Guitar Factory Tour in Nazareth. Follow a guide on a one-hour tour through the world-renowned factory and experience the handmade craftsmanship that goes into every instrument first-hand. The entire tour, Visitor Center, Museum and 1833 Shop are accessible, as well as accessible parking and restrooms are available. Service animals are permitted on the tour, however walkers, canes and motorized wheelchairs are not recommended for factory tours -- Martin can provide wheelchairs in these cases.

Lehigh Valley Phantoms games and other entertainment events at PPL Center can accommodate those with disabilities or sensory needs. Accessible seating is available on all seating levels of the PPL Center. Guests can request head sets and receivers for the arena’s state-of-the-art Assistive Listening System (ALS) or contact the venue well in advance to request a sign language interpreter. Guest services also offer sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones, weighted lap pads, and other resources (at no cost with valid ID). 

Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University has shows specifically designed to be sensory-friendly and accessible in a no-shushing environment. Guest can enjoy accessible parking, entrances, and seating, as well as complimentary assistive-listening devices and quiet places to go if a break away is needed. 

The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L) is a National Heritage Area in eastern Pennsylvania, spanning 165 miles (266 km). It crosses five counties and encompasses over one hundred municipalities. 

Several segments of this 165-mile corridor offer surfaces suitable for wheelchair users in Lehigh Valley. The Lehigh Canal South segment, in particular, is a good choice. This 13-mile segment follows the canal and Lehigh River, featuring various surfaces like wide paved asphalt, wide crushed stone, and single-track packed dirt.

Don't forget to refuel after a long hike. The D&L Trail offers a continuous route between Bethlehem and Easton so trail users can easily venture into the two historic towns to explore the areas’ many shops and restaurants.

Located near Emmaus, the Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary offers a unique Sensory Trail that provides rope-guided hiking and environmental educational opportunities for the visually impaired. Braille signs and tactile sensory displays allow for an interactive experience for all.

Following an old right-of-way for the former Lehigh & New England Railroad, the Forks Township Recreation Trail offers a smooth, paved section for half a mile through a quiet neighborhood in Easton. Although this is the only wheelchair accessible portion of the trail, it’s perfect for those short on time, clocking in at half a mile. 
Also known as the Towpath Bike Trail, this 8-foot-wide asphalt trail begins near Easton Area High School and passes through various landscapes. The whole trail is pretty gentle and there are benches along the route for resting. 

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is one of the best places in the Northeast to witness hawk migration, and it's Silhouette Trail is accessible to people with mobility challenges. The trail winds through ridge-top forest, is wheelchair-friendly, and has benches with pull bars every 100 feet. The Silhouette Trail won the Trail Accessibility Award from the American Trails National and International Awards, in May 2017, for being a successful trail project that demonstrates integration of accessibility characteristics into its design and construction. 

The trail also connects to the Laurelwood Niche, designed to accommodate educational programs and wheelchairs. The South Lookout provides a smooth, flat viewing area with seating, and nearby benches offer rest spots. Trail-side restrooms are ADA-compliant.

If you have an hour or two, check out the South Bethlehem Greenway, a 4.8-mile out-and-back trail popular for biking, running, and walking. The trail itself is made of gravel or paved asphalt, with a mostly smooth surface. With a generous 6-feet width and a very slight incline, the entire trail is manageable for most wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers.