<p>Thanks to all of your advice, my mom and dad got a wheelchair and we are now looking forward to pushing her instead of having her use her walker. I told her I plan to get her a stuffed Bill the Goat to tie on the front and a big Navy sticker to attach to the back. She was not amused! See you all on I Day!!!</p>
<p>Wheelchair. Check.</p>
<p>To get from the area of Gate 1 over to Tecumseh Court, you will need to push her toward Dahlgren hall, then left down a tree-lined street with some beautiful houses along the left-hand side. When you get to the first right, turn right and go straight. You will have Dahlgren Hall on your right, then Bancroft Hall’s 2nd Wing, and then Tecumseh Court. You can’t miss it.</p>
<p>From there, you will easily be able to walk along Stribling Walk and see the Chapel, the Academic Buildings, and the Yard.</p>
<p>You will see signs saying that the first street I mentioned street is closed to through traffic, but I don’t think anyone will give you any giref since, short of using Gate 3, it’s the only way to get from Gate 1 to Tecumseh Court in a wheelchair without using an elevator.</p>
<p>There is no way to get into the Rotunda of Bancroft Hall or into Memorial Hall from the Rotunda without walking up some stairs. In order to get up the first set of stairs leading from Tecumseh Court into the Rotunda, use one of the ramps on either side of the Court to get the wheelchair to the first landing. </p>
<p>The same holds true for entering the Chapel or John Paul Jone’s crypt. You have to hoof it to get in.</p>
<p>For the record, the Rotunda, Memorial Hall, the Chapel, and John Paul Jone’s crypt are ALL worth seeing.</p>
<p>Regarding the Midshipman Store, it is rather unfortunately located such that the only way to get to it from Gate 1 without dealing with stairs is to go from Gate 1, between Lejune Hall and Dahlgren Hall (i.e. - Don’t turn left up the first street I mentioned), then follow the road all the way around Bancroft, then turn sharp left and go between Bancroft and a small building next to MacDonough Hall that is identified as a natatorium. Go through the tunnel and you’ll be in the Mid Store parking lot. This is NOT a short walk!</p>
<p>All of this is based on there being NO facilities set up for the disabled, which may not be the case. If they’ve made provisions, then by all means take advantage of them, because July is a lousy month to be pushing a wheelchair through Annapolis…</p>
<p>Bless your heart! Thank you for this advice. I am planning on printing out info to remember everything. If anyone has any other ideas about the best way to get around, I would be truly greatful. I have to admit, I am starting to get a bit stressed thinking about the logistics of all of this…</p>
<p>Know what? don’t make it harder than it needs to be. If old person can walk a few steps then you can overcome teh biggest obstacle: getting from T-Court to the mid store. There are some steps going from T-Court to mid-store; if old person can navigate those steps [about 20 all told], then the rest of the day is at the same level. Roll the wheel chair down teh steps and assist grannie down the steps and don’t worry about the circuitous route through Bancroft.</p>
<p>Yep.</p>
<p>If the person can manage a reasonable amount of stairs, you’ll save yourself a LOT of walking.</p>
<p>Just remember the heat, humidity, and crowds along with the stairs. The combination shouldn’t be ignored when planning.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>or simply walk through Gate 1 security, head to the BACK door of Dalghren, and walk right through-
just as you enter through the door for Drydock, use the exit door on your right and exit Dalghren [on the severn river side]… walk through the tunnel to your left and proceed straight to T-Court. Will save a few hundred yards, and dalghren is air conditioned.</p>
<p>The path from the tunnel is a straight shot to the sub memorial, where you hang a right along the path that will take you directly to T-Court, no stairs involved!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>From t-court:
2 choices</p>
<p>1- follow the ramp up to the rotunda; it is a one-step to get over the threshold from there. Once you are inside, hang a right and the elevator will be on your right- it will take you up to Memorial Hall. You have to look for the elevator- it is small and unmarked.</p>
<p>2- option 1 is to use the entrance to Bancroft located UNDER the above ramp/steps, which takes you into the level where Smoke Hall is located- same right, same elevator.</p>
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</p>
<p>The same holds true for entering the Chapel or John Paul Jone’s crypt. You have to hoof it to get in.
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</p>
<p>There is an elevator that will take you down to the crypt. You need to access it through the door to St. Andrews chapel on the side facing Preble Hall [the entrance on the other side of the chapel by the supes house involves steps, which you do not want]. Once you enter the lower level of the chapel, make an immediate right and head down the corridor past the chaplin’s office- the elevator will be at the far end of the corridor on your right- it is a very small one-wheelchair affair, but it will get you up to the chapel without any steps. There is also a door in the same location that opens up to the Crypt, without the steps. There are no signs, so ask for directions!</p>
<p>
yes, that is one way to go, although you will still have a few steps to get into the midstore.
Another alternative is to simply use the elevator from the rotunda [as discussed above], take it to the basement level, head towards the seawall, and catch the tunnel to the back entrance of the midstore where the swords are sold [just ask which way to the ho chi min trail and hang a left- the back door of the midstore will be on your left]</p>
<p>
it is, so be prepared! If you can rent a scooter or electric chair, that would be the best way to go!</p>
<p>if you need directions to the laundry, uniform issue, post office, barber, hairdresser, cobler, kitchen, heck…just ask! I even found a tunnel or two, but lips are sealed as to where THEY go! LOL!!!</p>
<p>It would seem I didn’t look for enough elevators while I was there! :D</p>
<p>and the young people are wondering how it is that a thread on using “walkers” would attract so much attention?</p>
<p>The young people need to realize that the current old people were once young people, and that the current young people will one day be getting pushed around in wheelchairs as old people by the then young people. They also need to realize that the old people want to see the results of their efforts, which often included giving up much of their youth, reflected in the achievements of the young people.</p>
<p>Back from I Day and what a surprise! My mom and dad drove right on the Yard on I Day with their handicap sticker and parked right outside of the Dry Dock. I could not believe it. We got out my mom’s wheelchair, and away we went. Everything was smooth sailing. It was the proudest day of her life and worth every minute to get her there!</p>
<p>So happy hearing about the successful jaunt to and on the Yard for you, your Mid and especially Grandma. We felt same as you’ve noted, and trust it was well worth some minor inconveniences to be able to share this monumental day as a family.</p>
<p>Gloating about “goating” just a bit …as post #7 forecast, “told you so.” And glad your experience worked so nicely. 
:D</p>
<p>Thanks for the positive comments, Whistle Pig, on my mom coming for I DAY. I have to say, I was so impressed by the number of people in wheel chairs and how others made sure that we had a door held for us, etc. Thanks to all of you for your great advice on this thread.</p>