Easy Access National Parks

Based on the book of the same name by Wendy Roth and Michael Tompane, Easy Access to National Parks is an accessibility guide to nine of our national parks hosted by Daniel J. Travanti (Hill Street Blues). Aimed at the "44 million people with disabilities" (and one presumes "disabilities" here is very broadly defined), the program interviews park officials and visitors at Acadia National Park (ME), Chaco Culture National Historical Park (NM), Everglades National Park (FL), Mesa Verde National Park (CO), Olympic National Park (WA), Rocky Mountain National Park (CO), Shenandoah National Park (VA), Yellowstone National Park (WY), and Yosemite National Park (CA). While some of the interview footage is genuinely touching (one young girl with cerebral palsy is heartbreaking when she says: "I like the water. I like the sun shining on me," while the gentleman who lost his legs and is still one hell of a canoer is an impressive sight) the tape works better as encouragement to the disabled to visit the parks than as a reference guide. Here, the book with its superior reference capabilities is a better choice. Still, as a lovely and inspiring program, this is recommended. (See HEADLINES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY for availability.)