Inclusion EVERY DAY at Erie Canal Boat Company!

— From the desk of Inclusion Specialist, Liza Beardsley!

Imagine this…. 

It’s a Saturday morning in late June and you’re looking for something to do with your family. The sun is shining and it’s time to get the whole family outside to enjoy some fresh air. You’re walking along the the canal pushing your son’s stroller, your husband pushes beside you in his wheelchair, and you’re blinded by a sea of orange.

Those orange RAA volunteer shirts sure are bright!

There’s so much going on you don’t even know where to look! Ahead of you are people trying out all sorts of bikes. Hand-pedalled bikes and tandem bikes and tadpole bikes, oh my! A glimmer of sunshine catches your eye on the water and you spot the bright yellow kayaks floating along the water. You smile softly to yourself, wishing you could try it out with your family. 

Taking it all in, you spot the kayak dock and to your surprise, a wheelchair is heading right towards the water. With great interest, you notice those people in the orange shirts offering the perfect balance of support while also encouraging independence as the woman slides into the kayak herself. Not far behind her , a man slides into the tandem kayak, obviously very happy to be joining her there. 

Suddenly, you feel your son’s hand tugging on your shirt, saying that he needs to go to the bathroom. You start to panic, wondering if there are any public facilities available.

Pleasantly surprised, you spot the new and improved accessible bathroom located right next to the canal — complete with an adult Changing Table! Plenty of room!

Walking back, you approach one of the orange-shirted volunteers and ask when the next event is. 

“Today is our annual Extravaganza, but this adaptive and standard cycling and kayaking rental equipment is available to you EVERY DAY at Erie Canal Boat Company! You and your family can come enjoy a day on the canal any day you’d like!’

Excitement. Comfort. Joy. Just another day of inclusive business in Fairport!

WANT TO CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELF?

• Check out the fabulous *new* Social Stories will help you understand how to rent kayaks and cycles from Erie Canal Boat Company all summer long.
• Virtual videos take you on the canalway so you can log your miles on the Canalway Challenge, even if it’s raining!

And DON’T MISS THIS!

Bring the whole family and join us for the *free* Accessible Adventures Extravaganza on June 21 & 22 at Erie Canal Boat Company, 7 Liftbridge Lane West, Fairport 14450. Contact us for any questions you have about accessibility and adaptive amenities! 585-491-6011, RAA@RochesterAccessibleAdventures.orgcreate new email

The backstory:

Erie Canal Boat Company is Rochester Accessible Adventure’s first Inclusion Partner! Celebrating 10 years in 2025 of working together, this partnership has led to the first inclusively operating kayak and cycle rental business on the Erie Canal!

And that partnership is developed into a whole MOVEMENT to get all communities along the canalway to transform how they operate so that people with and without disabilities — yes, the whole family! — can experience the beauty and fun of recreation together along the canal.

Check out more of this story at A 524-mile Vision of Accessibility and Inclusion! – Rochester Accessible Adventures — and follow along with us as our partners like Stony Point Art Studio, Elevator Alley Kayaking, Capt LJ Tomboy Adventures, Village of Brockport, Erie Canal Museum, Geneva Business Improvement District, and more make this move to inclusive business practices! More adventures for all of us!

#MakeInclusionHappen