About Accessible Escapes
Accessible Escapes (AE) was founded on the principle that every individual adult with a physical disability can travel to and experience movie, music and food festivals without accessibility and accommodation concerns. At AE, we live by our tagline that travel knows no limits. As founder and CEO, it is important for me to document and share my experiences where accessibility challenges traveling to or during the event deflect from a positive enjoyable experience. And, perhaps most importantly how to get past those obstacles to truly enjoy the event and experience.
I will work to share the joys of what it’s like to travel without complications but also to voice when organizations or companies fail to do what is necessary to make sure those with physical mobility challenges are accommodated. In sharing my personal stories and experiences I hope to amplify the voices of physically disabled individuals regarding accommodation issues when concerns are raised with organizations and companies that fail to do what is necessary to make sure those with physical mobility challenges are accommodated. I plan to make Accessible Escapes a viable source of knowledge for physically challenged individuals so that now and in the future people with physical mobility challenges know they can.
About The Founder
Chike’ Hasani Coleman was born in Flint MI. During birth, cerebral palsy was diagnosed. Fortunately, it is mild and primarily affects lower extremities, with mobility achieved using an electric wheelchair. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2010) and Parkland College (2008) with degrees in sociology. Both institutions were accommodating to his physical challenges which facilitated his academic success.
Chike’ started writing film reviews in 2009 and began producing his own television show Reel Reviews in 2010 on Urbana Public Television (UPTV) with a focus on film (e.g. movie and television) criticism. Reel Reviews was inspired by the popular Siskel and Ebert film criticism series on national public television. Reel Reviews remained in production from 2010 to 2022, pivoting to a remote virtual format during COVID. In 2013, Chike’ created a movie and film review website,Wheelchair Watcher, where he posted in-depth reviews of movies, TV series and streaming media for his numerous fans. Chike’s has authored film reviews for: The Champaign News Gazette, Smile Politely and We Live Entertainment. Chike’ has reviewed over 1,000 film and TV media.
Since 2022, Chike’ has explored and attended film festivals in Sarasota, FL, Chicago, IL, Saint Louis, MO and Champaign, IL, all to identify and critique noteworthy productions for enjoyment of his growing audience.
Chike’ founded Accessible Escapes in 2024 with the idea that people with physical disabilities should have the ability to travel independently and have vacation experiences they enjoy on their own terms and not be affected by accommodations. Chike’s focus for reporting on his travel and accommodation issues will be three things he loves and enjoys passionately: movies, music and food.
When he’s not traveling, he is happily spending time at home exploring the latest British television series phenomenon. His ambition is to leave the world better than he found it.
