Be Inclusive Brochure

Be I nclusive

In sparking cultural change.

Inspired Be

To do even more, together.

Since 2010

MORGAN’S MISSION, HISTORY, PASSION

The mission is driven by a deep desire to build a more inclusive world through innovative endeavors designed with those with disabilities and special needs in mind but created for everyone to utilize. This passionate pursuit began in 2006 when former businessman Gordon Hartman observed his daughter with special needs – Morgan – wanting to play with other vacationing kids at a hotel swimming pool. The children were leery of Morgan and didn’t want to interact with her. Then and there, Gordon resolved to create opportunities and places where those with and without disabilities and special needs could come together, break down barriers and gain a better understanding of and appreciation for one another.

That led to the construction of Morgan’s Wonderland, still the world’s first and only UltraAccessibleTM, fully-inclusive theme park, featuring more than 25 attractions that include wheelchairaccessible rides, playgrounds and other uplifting elements. The Hartmans had no way of knowing if Morgan’s Wonderland would succeed, but the park has far exceeded expectations and has encouraged them to do what they can to help the estimated 15 percent of the world’s population – or 1.2 billion – dealing daily with physical and cognitive disabilities.

Blessed with and inspired by Morgan, the Hartmans have committed to date more than $115 million to the disability and special-needs communities, and they’ve raised to date another $156 million from generous foundations, businesses, organizations, public entities and individuals. Yet they’ve come to realize the need to do much more. That’s why they declare: “We’re just getting started!”

- Gordon Hartman Morgan’s Dad

Be

A mazed

Since its grand opening on April 10, 2010, Morgan’s Wonderland has welcomed over 3 million guests from all 50 states and 123 countries. From the very beginning, anyone with a disability or special need has been admitted free of charge. In 2024, guests will enjoy $6 million in new attractions. Attractions will include an Ultra-AccessibleTM, fully-inclusive zipline, spanning the park’s 8-acre catch-andrelease fishing lake, the first-ever 4D virtualreality roller coaster, a Pirate Island barge ride, and the first of its kind - Jette’s Wonder Bikes. The Hartman family has been selected as one of the inductees into the 2023 IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) Hall of Fame for their pioneering work with Morgan’s Wonderland.

The phenomenal success of Morgan’s Wonderland has led to other “world firsts” including the debut of Morgan’s Inspiration Island splash park in 2017. It’s just like Morgan’s Wonderland but with the addition of water. It features five spacious splash pads and a River Boat Adventure ride. The Wheelchair Valet, offers an array of waterproof wheelchairs including unique pneumatic wheelchairs powered by compressed air. Use of these chairs eliminates the concern of water damaging guests’ expensive personal wheelchairs. Morgan’s Inspiration Island earned instant international recognition by virtue of being named to TIME magazine’s list of the World’s 100 Greatest Places in 2018.

Be

A stonished

At what we have Accomplished.

ACHIEVEMENTS THUS FAR

Children and adults with disabilities and special needs often sit on the sidelines as spectators instead of getting into the game. At Morgan’s Sports complex, athletes with and without disabilities can actively take part in an array of sports offering fun and fitness such as basketball, softball, soccer, tennis and pickleball. Morgan’s Sports is also the current home of Morgan’s STRAPS (South Texas Regional Adaptive and Para Sports), which attracts local athletes of all abilities as well as members of the armed forces undergoing treatment at nearby military medical facilities.

Only 13 minutes away from Morgan’s Wonderland, Morgan’s Camp offers a summer camp-type experience year-round to everyone, especially those with physical and developmental disabilities. Ultra-AccessibleTM, fully-inclusive facilities include a challenge course like none other that reaches 22 feet skyward, with multiple elements that allow campers in wheelchairs and their buddies to tackle the course together. Other activities include ziplining, hiking, bicycling, swimming, horseback riding and much more in the ruggedly-beautiful hills on San Antonio’s northern edge. In 2023, as a leader in camping, Morgan’s Camp was listed on Newsweek’s America’s Best Summer Camps.

Morgan’s MAC (Multi-Assistance Center) utilizes our specially-educated Navigators to guide clients with special needs and disabilites, or MAC Members, to providers that can assist with both medical and non- medical problems. In today’s complex world, children and adults with disabilities and special needs often have difficulty finding the help they need, and get discouraged and give up. Navigators at Morgan’s MAC use the Morgan’s proprietary MACNavTM System to “close the loop,” to ensure MAC Members are receiving the assistance necessary to improve quality of life. Powered by unrivaled software, the MACNavTM System also helps Navigators chart MAC Members’ progress and schedule all-important follow-up visits.

Completed Projects In Progress

Future Projects

MAC Phase II

Ambulatory Surgical Center

Morgan’s Wonderland Expansion

Inviti ng Ever yone to Be Invested in the future of Morgan’s.

Investing involves risk, but prudent investing can reap huge rewards. That’s been the story of Morgan’s and its deep desire to build a more-inclusive world through innovation and perseverance.

The Morgan’s investment in inclusion began as an unsettling incident at a hotel swimming pool, but that circumstance convinced a father with a daughter with special needs to make inclusion the mission. That rejection of Morgan Hartman who simply wanted to interact with other kids who didn’t understand her made Gordon Hartman proverbially “see the light” and launch an inclusion movement. The phenomenal success of Morgan’s Wonderland has led to other unique Morgan’s initiatives and the growing reputation of San Antonio as “Inclusion City, USA.”

But, as Gordon Hartman contends,

We

don’t just talk about it. We create inclusive opportunities.

- Gordon Hartman, Morgan’s Dad

The foregoing information in this booklet outlines the many ways Morgan’s is integrating inclusion into society. It’s also an invitation for everyone to join Morgan’s in pursuit of a world where everyone has a “seat at the table.” This is going to require maximum sustained effort, but Morgan’s has witnessed incredible progress in a relatively short span of time, so much so that Hartman further contends: “Together, we ARE making a difference!”

Proud Be

To be part of Morgan’s legacy.