About me
Hi I’m Iona Wilkinson I’m 18 years old from South Yorkshire. I love theme parks, this has meant that I have gained some random knowledge all about theme park accessibility. I’m by no means an expert but I hope that through Access Coasters I can share my experiences as well as lots of resources, information and tips all about the accessibility at the parks I visit. I hope I can be a positive voice for accessibility within the visitor attraction industry and help to make the industry more accessible for everyone.
My Story
You may be wondering what made me create a full blog dedicated to theme park accessibility? Well I was born three and half months early (at 26 weeks) this meant that I have sensory processing disorder as well as mobility and visual impairments. I also have dyspraxia and autism. With my need set it can be challenging to visit theme parks and means I require some additional accommodations like an essential companion, quiet/sensory room, queue assist pass and step free access. People often say ‘Iona how do you cope when you go to all these theme parks?’ Truthfully, I don’t really I’ve just built it up over the years because I love rides and the sensory feedback they give.
If I’m not at a theme park then I’m at college. In order to make sure that all my needs are met I have a dual placement. This means that I go to a mainstem college where I study level 3 business – I love marketing. I also go to a specialist college, this is where I learn life skills and have different therapies in order to help me be as independent as possible and be able to visit more theme parks. I work hard at college because one day for my job I really want to work in theme park accessibility.
My Experience in the Visitor Attraction Industry
In 2023 I became the first ever Access Card Ambassador with my role of access card ambassador for theme parks. This role brings me so much joy and is something that is really important to me. I rely heavily on my access card on all my theme park trips so that my access needs are met. In my blogs you will find information about if the access card was accepted and what support was provided to us on my theme park trips. I’m very proud to be the access card ambassador for theme park as the access card is a product that is incredible beneficial to people with disabilities as well business within and beyond the visitor attraction industry.
Disclaimer
The information provided on this blog about theme park accessibility is based on my experiences and the details available from the attractions’ official websites at the time of my visit. Please note that facilities and services for disabled guests may change, and the information may not always be up-to-date. I strongly recommend checking the accessibility section on the respective attractions’ websites for the most current information. The comments and opinions expressed in this blog are solely my own and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any other organisation.