Rules of the Road
February 21, 2010
Using a wheelchair or scooter can be quite a challenge. Too often we’re forced off sidewalks because of ruts, lack of curb cuts or improperly parked cars. Then we’re in the street, along with vans and SUVs. Imagine your typical SUV driver, about nine feet off the ground and then consider yourself in a wheelchair about six feet below his eye level. It’s enough to cause heartburn just thinking about it!
If you drive in the street by day, why not use some of the elementary safety precautions cyclists use, such as a helmet, headlights and taillights. You might also want to add a flag to the chair to make it easier to see you. However, if night driving is one of your guilty pleasures, you might be advised to go a step further and adding a bit of bling to your vehicle: white micro-lighting to light your way, illuminated spokes, or even multicolored strobes (if you’re into disco-light effects).
There are more basic steps you can take. It’s a good practice to turn off power whenever you are not driving the wheelchair. This saves a bit on battery juice and decreases the danger of you or someone else accidentally bumping the joystick. Don’t put heavy loads on the back of a manual wheelchair. It may make the wheelchair tip over backwards. Avoid riding in the rain. Wheelchairs are generally not waterproof, especially the electronic components. If the electronics gets wet, the wheelchair may behave erratically. Wheels lose traction when wet, especially with urethane tires.
Downhill is Easy
February 21, 2010
Watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver made me think about winter sports and what people with limited mobility could do. Not that I have visions of downhill racing in my future, but I wondered what is available to us. I used to joke that the luge would be perfect sport for me because all I would have to do is lay there, but I was quickly disabused of that idea after the tragic death of a luge Olympian. It’s the last time I’ll joke about a sport I know nothing about.
As you would expect, there are winter sports programs in the Southwest and Northeast that cater to people with disabilities. There are programs for the visually impaired, the deaf and all types of physical disabilities, serving all age groups. Needless to say, these programs don’t come cheap but scholarships are available. Kids with spina bifida, adults with traumatic brain injuries and everything in between have programs to suit their needs. For more information, check www.dmoz.org/Sports/Winter_Sports/Skiing/Disabled/ or www.new-horizons.org/recspg.html for information about programs near you.
For those of you who prefer to do it alone, motorized wheelchairs offer their own kind of fun. Whether you want to do wheelies, spins or donuts, wheelchair sledding provides its own excitement. All you need is a strong frame wheelchair, a parking lot with a dusting of snow or ice, and nerves of steel and off you go. Be careful of unseen chunks of ice or snow, which can damage your frame and salt which can rust component parts. Make sure you clean off your chair to prevent such damage.
Experts tell us that rear wheel drive chairs negotiate the ice and snow best because of their centers of gravity. I guess that’s the last time I’ll curse my chair for being too big in the rear. However, it is not advisable to operate any wheelchair in 4” or more of snow. There are also some specially designed all terrain wheelchairs for the snow. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any posts about manual chairs but I am sure there are some creative people out there who have figured out a way to use them as well.
So just remember to dress warm, wear your seat belt, make sure you take a friend along for safety, and head to the snow for some fun. The faint-hearted need not apply.
Ship to Shore
February 15, 2010
Let’s get one thing straight first; in New Jersey you go to the shore, not the beach. The beach is for other people; people from New York or California, perhaps. Maybe you’ve already formed your opinion from the ubiquitous reality show of the same name, but the Jersey Shore evokes very different memories in its many visitors.
There’s a lot of diversity among shore towns, ranging from the stately Spring Lake to the boardwalks of Wildwood and Seaside Heights to the glitz of Atlantic City and the Victorian charm of Cape May. Different towns appeal to different people: young singles and college students, married couples with kids, investment banker types, retirees and birdwatchers of all ages. For every interest and stage of life there is a Jersey shore town for you.
Most of the beaches are private, belonging to the townspeople, so if you want to enjoy the shore, chances are you will have to get up early, put up with a lot of traffic to get there, pay to park nearby, and pay to get on the beach for the day. But once there, the delights of warm sand, blue skies and a cool breeze will make it worth the effort. The beaches are, by and large, handicapped accessible. They all claim to be, but I can’t say for sure because I haven’t been to all the shore towns that dot New Jersey’s coast.
I would recommend a project for someone ambitious – visit all the Jersey shore towns. There are about 47 towns, which should keep you occupied for a couple of summers to come. You can check out the restaurants, the accommodations, recreation, and the unique character of each location. And then you can say that you know the Jersey shore.
Cruising away from Winter
February 15, 2010
As I look out of my window on a gray afternoon and see the piles of snow remaining from winter’s latest onslaught, I find myself imaging balmy Caribbean breezes and dazzling beaches under an endless blue sky. My thoughts turn to the possibility of taking a cruise, something I’ve never done.
Traveling with Marlene has always consisted of seeing new things and meeting people from other places. We’ve never been catered to on any of our trips and it might be nice for a change, especially since she’s in a wheelchair now.
Today’s ships are required to provide accommodations for persons with disabilities, and, although there’s a lack of guidelines telling them how to it, many of them seem to do it well, especially on the newer ships. Today you can find state rooms with wider doorways, more spacious floor plans, and roll-in showers with grab bars for those in wheelchairs. Sight-impaired guests can find Braille signage and reading materials; hearing impaired people can find portable devices. Accommodations are made for service dogs, including special orientation tours of the ship.
Still, you’ll want to speak in advance about your needs to the ship’s Access Specialist or Compliance Department. Some areas of the ships may be difficult to access for people in wheelchairs. It’s also important to explore onshore accessibility, as some ports are easier to wheel around than others. Getting to shore can also depend on various factors – for example, will it be a gangway or a tender lift that serves as a means of access? In the case of the tender lift, weather and conditions make a difference, as well.
You’ll also want to check in advance if you need aids that the cruise ship doesn’t supply (oxygen, for example). The cruise line can then provide you with the names of the specific vendors they prefer to deal with.
According to a recent Travel Section in The New York Times, cruise prices are rising, so I suppose I should look into this soon. I can almost feel the breezes – and the sun on my skin.
New York Stadiums II
February 8, 2010
I know there are a lot of nostalgia buffs out there who think of Yankee Stadium as the “house the Babe Ruth built,” but the new Yankee Stadium is much more user friendly for people with disabilities. It seems they have thought of everything, including open forums for people with disabilities to give their input. The importance of seeking input from those with disabilities cannot be emphasized enough, since those are the very people who know what they need.
In addition to having elevators, escalators, ramps, handicapped accessible restrooms and seating, Yankee Stadium has assistive technology such as free listening devices (you must leave a valid driver’s license or a or non-driver photo ID card as security), printed material available in Braille through their Disabled Services as well as close captioned video boards. It is also nice to know that service animals for guests with disabilities are permitted.
There are electrical outlets to recharge motorized wheelchairs and other medical equipment, storage for manual wheelchairs and wheelchair transfers. However aisle-transfer seats are subject to availability (i.e. it is better to call ahead). Guest services are the best place to start if you have any questions or special requests. (Yankee Stadium’s four Guest Services Booths are located in the Great Hall near Gate 6, on the Field Level at Section 128, on the Main Level at Section 221 and on the Terrace/Grandstand Level at Section 320C.) Monument Park is accessible via elevators near Gate 8.
For information on pick-up or drop off locations, contact Disabled Services (718) 579-4510 (voice) or (718) 579-4595 (TTY) or disabledservices@yankees.com. I would also suggest calling or e-mailing Disabled Services prior to purchasing seats to make sure that all your needs can be met.
Lastly, ticket prices vary, depending where you would like to sit. You can get tickets for Yankees Premium Offerings or less expensive seating. The Stadium also offers enhanced accessibility for people with limited seeing or hearing impairments. My advice is to start way ahead of time because like anyone else, seating is first come, first serve, especially if it is for a popular game.
Even the Babe would approve!
New York Stadiums I
February 8, 2010
Last year saw the opening of two new stadiums in New York – Citi Field for the Mets and the new Yankee Stadium. Both are beautiful new stadiums, and I’m glad to say that both new stadiums are significantly more accessible than the older ones.
With wheelchair seating for 830 people, Citi Field has nearly five times as seats for individuals with disabilities than the Mets’ former home. Accessible seating to fit all budgets is available throughout new stadium.
While Jackie Robinson never played for the Mets when he broke major League baseball’s color barrier, you enter the new stadium though a striking rotunda that evokes his glory years in Brooklyn. I wish the Mets’ own history was also celebrated, but I guess it will be as time passes.
When you’re inside the building, eleven elevators are available to help you get up to your seats. And when you get there, whatever else you do, keep your eye on the ball! Every time a Met hits a home run, a huge apple ascends beyond the centerfield wall with a Mets logo that lights up.
Public transportation to Citi Field is pretty good. There’s direct access from New York’s Penn Station and it’s a short trip. However, if you’re disabled, there are some important things to note. The subway comes directly to the Mets-Willets Point station. Customers needing to use the station’s accessible features must board the local. Green lights illuminated in the shape of a circle around the 7 route marker identify the train as a local. Access is available from 90 minutes before until 45 minutes after baseball games.
ADA access to the station is from Flushing-bound trains only. If you’re coming from the Long Island Rail Road, you’ll have to transfer at Woodside to and from the game. To go to the game, exit the train through the right side doors; take ramps to the Roosevelt Avenue exit and cross Roosevelt Avenue.
If you drive, accessible parking spaces are readily available on a first-come, first-served basis. Be careful, any vehicles in the accessible spaces without proper hang tag or licenses plates will be towed away. Try to get there well over an hour before the game to avoid major traffic snarls and enjoy the game!
The park is also close to several major thoroughfares, including the Grand Central Parkway and the Long Island and Van Wyck Expressways.
For more information call the Mets’ Customer Relations Office at (718) 565-4367.
New York Museums
February 1, 2010
I have always loved museums, especially the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a child I was always impressed with its majestic stairs, almost like the entrance of a cathedral to art. Well, times have changed me and I could no longer navigate those elegant stairs, but the museum had a side entrance on 81st Street for people with disabilities. There is a ramp through which you enter and a place to check your coats, briefcases and any other things too cumbersome to carry throughout the museum. The guard briefly checked my bag which I brought with me. There are also manual wheelchairs that can be borrowed in case walking is too difficult.
Admission is what you can afford, so it is up to your conscience and your wallet to determine what to give. I chose to start on the 2nd Floor and the elevator was right next to admission. There is a lot to see in the museum so I won’t bore you with a critique of each painting, but there is something for everyone. I was interested in the Modern paintings that the Met had on display, since previously it seemed that the art world ended after the Post Impressionists. Anyway, there was an exhibit that I wanted to see but couldn’t figure out how to get to. The guards were very obliging and took me down a back way, past offices at the museum. After I was finished, they led me back the way I had come.
I personally find the museum’s layout confusing but the guards were able to point me in the right direction and I soon found my way out. What a lovely way to spend the afternoon.
I then traveled on to the Guggenheim since I was in the neighborhood. The handicapped accessible doors were not working but a guard opened them for me. The museum’s lobby is not as expansive as the Met so there was a constant flow of people which was a little disconcerting. Admission is $10 a person. Seniors and people with disabilities are charged $8 which is hardly a discount but available to those who want to use it.
The guards at the Guggenheim were just as helpful as those at the Met. They explained which floor I should start at and how to proceed. If I needed help, a supervisor would be able to take me a back way to see an exhibit not readily accessible. By this time, I was a little overwhelmed by all I had seen so I went quickly around, not absorbing too much. I decided 2 museums in one day is too much so I will have to revisit the Guggenheim to give it the attention it deserves. (It’s definitely manageable for people with disabilities and provides Braille signage in its galleries).
I left feeling culturally uplifted, happy to know so much beauty was available to anyone willing to make the effort. As I was leaving, I thought of Monet’s water lilies, painted when he was going blind, or Renoir painting with the brushes strapped to his hands because of his arthritis, or Toulouse-Lautrec’s brittle bones – all of them disabled, but not willing to give up. Art has many lessons to teach.
Airports II – New York’s Big Three
February 1, 2010
Okay, it’s true. I admit it. Airports in general are not fun. They’re large and hard to navigate. They tend to carry a lot of traffic. Security is hassle whether you’re handicapped or not. Still, there’s plenty of help inside the airport if you need it, and New York’s three major airports – John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty – are no exception.
JFK is the airport people love to hate. It’s really large and parking can be a hassle. It also handles more international traffic than any other U.S. airport and inter-terminal transportation by bus used to be extremely slow. Still, it’s improving, so the news isn’t all bad. Now there’s a light rail system called Airtrain, a free, ADA-compliant connection that can get you from one terminal to another in eight minutes. Airtrain also connects to car rental facilities. (Note: It’s generally advisable to make reservations for hand-operated vehicle 24 hours in advance from any of the car rental agencies operating at the airport).
LaGuardia, the smallest of the area’s main airports, is the closest to Manhattan and therefore relatively convenient. Wheelchair accessible buses connect the terminals. The Route A bus serves all terminals, including the Marine Air Terminal, while the Route B Bus serves U.S. Airways/Northwest, Delta and the Central Terminal Building.
Newark, like JFK, operates an Airtrain. Stations are located on the Concourse level near the center of each terminal. The trains run 24 hours a day between each of the major terminals and are free. (From five am to midnight, they run every three minutes; thereafter, they run every fifteen minutes).
Since the airports were built at different times, each has its own special ambiance, but there are some common resources. For example, if you have a medical emergency, you can dial 211 from any public phone at any of the three airports. All are equipped with telecommunications devices for the disabled (TDD/TTY) lines, and handicapped parking close to terminals, and traveler’s aid services.
You won’t catch me admitting that the best thing about New York is its airports, they will get you were you want to go.
Airports I – Philadelphia
February 1, 2010
The general rules of air travel in the brave new world of Counterterrorism have made patience and preparation necessary at all airports — and Philadelphia is no exception. If you’re in a wheelchair you will go through a separate screening area where you will be manually examined. If you’re using a motorized wheelchair, you must know the battery type in advance as some of the older batteries are corrosive.
As travelers with limited mobility know, airlines are required to provide wheelchair assistance on request. Airlines must provide boarding, deplaning and connecting assistance including both personnel and equipment, as needed. However, to make your journey run smoothly, it’s often helpful, when making your reservation, to request a wheelchair or an electric cart to get you through the airport even if you don’t generally use them. Be sure to confirm a day before your departure. (It’s just one less thing to worry about).
Every major airport I’ve been in is ADA-compliant and has accessible restrooms. But if your service dog also needs to do his/her business, it’s reassuring to know that Philadelphia Airport has Companion Care restrooms at both departure and arrival areas. The “animal restrooms” vary in size from 250 to 600 square feet. They consist of a four-foot high fence with a latching gate, a 4-inch deep mulch surface, a bench, a faux fire hydrant, and a biodegradable pet waste bag dispenser with receptacle.
Getting in touch with people outside the airport is no problem. In addition to wheelchair accessible phones, there are roughly 30 telephones that are hearing aid compatible and have volume controls. There are also two video phones using a video interpreter to help people who have hearing and speech impairments communicate and/or a text/typing interpreter to communicate.
Public transportation in Philadelphia, via the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is convenient. SEPTA has an Airport Rail Line off the pedestrian walkway between the main terminal and the bag claim area in Terminals A-East, B, C, D, E. Elevators are located on the SEPTA platforms and pedestrian bridges. The train platforms are equipped with bridge plates to assist people who use wheelchairs in crossing the gap between the train and the platform. For more information on schedules and fares, contact SEPTA at 215-580-7800 or visit www.septa.org
