Breaking Barriers: How East Broad Top Railroad is Embracing History and Inclusion with FCIDD

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness month, a time to promote inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities in all areas of society. This month, the FCIDD is spotlighting the work of some of it's supported partners.

 What began as a donation request from Nathaniel Geyer, President of the Capital Region Civitan’s Club, for their Sensory Picnics evolved into an opportunity to reduce handicaps on the East Broad Top Railroad National Historic Site (EBT).  Volunteers through the Capital Region Civitan’s Club guided staff of the EBT Foundation to a grant opportunity through the Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FCIDD). The FCIDD project grant made it possible to improve access to the EBT for those that typically wouldn’t be able to visit our guided turn-of-the-century machine shop complex and those who may have higher anxiety levels when around loud machinery and steam locomotives.

The FCIDD process was eye opening and encouraging. In the Spring of 2024, the EBT Foundation was awarded funding to purchase an ADA golf cart, new door ramps, social story software, and various sensory items to help eliminate sensory stressors (e.g., noise cancelling headphones, fidgets, etc.). Without the support of the FCIDD and the Capital Region Civitan’s Club, the EBT Foundation would not have been able to welcome the 204 visitors that required mobility assistance to the EBT, a 400% increase since opening in February of 2020!

The ADA golf cart was put into use as soon as it was unloaded by a 94-year-old visitor. She was able to see the shop complex and roundhouse, where the trains are kept, with ease. Cameron, a regular passenger, was also a big fan of the golf cart and what it means for his classmates. He said, “some of my friends have never been to East Broad Top because it is hard for them when there are loud noises or too many steps.  The sensory things for special needs people help my friends be able to come.  I want to bring my friends to visit this summer, some of them for the first time.” Cameron likes to organize a visit for his classmates at least once a year; now they can get into the gift shop with ease and see the shop complex without fear of getting mired in the gravel and stuck between rails.

Cameron hasn’t been able to get into the machine shop complex due to his power chair. With the ADA golf cart Elizabeth, Cameron’s mom, said that it “is nothing short of amazing! It's been super exciting for Cameron because he has spent the last five years watching videos on YouTube of the guided tours of the shop complex but he has never really been able to get over there and get inside and see it with his own eyes. He's looking forward to joining some of the shop tours this summer. He is excited to be able to experience the shop tours first hand!”

"The FCIDD grant has allowed us to continue making our historic site as accessible as possible. We would love for more individuals and families to have a deep connection to the EBT like Cameron and his family."