Visit the aquarium

“My hands had started to shake at some point. Moving forward, we were then met with the first large tank, filled with busy, colourful fish of different shapes and sizes. I felt my heart begin to race, and the sweat on my palms thicken. “There’s a bench for me to sit on and observe from across the room at a (safe) distance. Thank god.” After admiring the exhibit for a bit, I realized the beauty in what I am seeing, and how lucky I was to be here, which helped to calm me down. “I’ve got this.” Riding on the coattails of my newly found optimism, we entered the next room: the glass tunnel that is completely surrounded by sea life, sharks included. “Nopenopenopenopenope...!” I stepped off to the side, closed my eyes, and took a nice deep breath. “I am not under water. I can breathe. The animals cannot touch me, and I cannot touch them. I am safe. I am safe. I am safe.”

“When I first arrived, I was thrilled, the atmosphere, the sounds of the water, the chatter of families and kids pointing at penguins, it all brought me back. But then something unexpected happened. The staff let me know that wheelchair users get in for free. At first, I smiled and thought, “Wow, that’s really nice!” But then the reason behind it sank in, it’s because there’s no access to the top floor. No elevator, no ramp, no way for wheelchair users to see the entire aquarium experience.”

“As I approached the building I was so excited. My heart was pumping with so much adrenaline. When I first walked in and turned the corner I immediately saw these beautiful fishes in this amazing dark blue water. I have never been to the Georgia Aquarium and I have lived here all my life. When I was there I felt like I was under the ocean. I was like a kid in a candy store. I kept saying “Wow and Oh my god”. What really strikes me about this place was the bottlenose dolphins. Those animals are extremely smart and their athleticism is amazing.”