Swing into Spring
March 21, 2010
Until very recently, the weather on the East Coast was lousy. It seemed to be raining nonstop for a while. Even with a raincoat and plastic to cover my legs, I still managed to get soaked. For people with disabilities, this weather is particularly challenging. We want to get out but it can be hard for us. That is not to say, it is easy for everyone else, but between our wheelchairs and getting in and out of vehicles, the logistics tend to overwhelm even the most stalwart of us.
This is why my post isn’t about somewhere interesting I’ve been or something I’ve done, because I haven’t been able to psyche myself up for an outing. But all of that is about to change – spring in all its anticipatory glory is finally here. You can feel it in the air, hear it in the birds calling out to one another, and sense it in the longer days. So I intend to take full advantage of this gift we’ve been given – in the coming weeks I intend to write about the places I have been and my impressions of what I have seen and done.
So although I have nothing more exciting to report then the start of spring, I’m stoked by the new possibilities it represents. So let’s all get recharged and get out there!
Hit the Road
March 21, 2010
As the nice weather returns, Americans like to hit the road. Of course, driving is essential to everyday living here. We commute to work, volunteer in the community to help others, or simply to need to fill up our refrigerators and buy dental floss.
But for those of us with disabilities, driving can be a real challenge. For one thing, a careful evaluation of a prospective driver’s individual needs and capabilities has to be made, usually at an area hospital or rehabilitation specialist such as Kessler. This can determine the adaptations that can best meet those needs. Fortunately, with the right adaptive equipment, it can often be done.
Some of the useful adaptive aids are:
- Left foot accelerator – eliminates left leg cross-over
- Right hand turn signals – eliminate right hand cross-over
- Foot pedal extensions – raise height of brake and accelerator pedals
- Hand controls – operate horn, wipers, turn signals, dimmer switch; can also operate brake and accelerator
- Steering devices – allow steering by spinner knobs, amputee ring, quad fork, or tri-pin, for example
- Custom seating – creates balance, positioning, and stability
- Lifts and ramps – permit access into and out of the vehicle
You should approach buying adaptive equipment the same way you’d approach buying a new car-by making competitive comparisons, reviewing the functional options, and trying them out yourself. There are plenty of dealers and manufacturers of adaptive vehicle equipment you can choose from and the web is, as always, a great source of information.
An excellent source of information can be found at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov (Select Disability Information.)
And feel free to share your driving hints with us!
Finding a Seat Should not be an Adventure
March 13, 2010
This past Thursday I went to a matinee at the nearby Papermill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ. I wanted to find out how local theaters handled seating for handicapped people and was somewhat less concerned with the particulars of the play being shown. Fortunately, there was a special area of seating reserved for people in wheelchairs and their companions, so finding an unobstructed seat in the orchestra didn’t turn out to be a problem at all.
The play itself was only mediocre, but it was fun to see the actors on stage and the audience which ranged from high school students to very old people. Everyone was engrossed in the action on stage and the cast got a standing ovation; at least, from the audience members that were able to stand.
In short, nothing very dramatic happened, but the theatrical performance was a nice interlude during the week. I would suggest that all of you check out your local theaters to see what provisions they have for handicapped seating. You might be pleasantly surprised that the drama is on the stage, not in finding seats.
Flying with Oxygen
March 7, 2010
Our problems with Marlene’s motorized chair reminded us how important it is to make sure equipment is in good working order before traveling. It occurred to me that it’s even more important when you’re traveling with oxygen. Why? Because oxygen is considered a hazardous material by the airlines. And recent data indicates that up to 10% of in-flight emergencies involve lung disease.
While you shouldn’t let COPD or other respiratory ailments stop you, you should definitely plan properly. I checked www.faa.custhelp which stated that “FAA rules prohibit passengers from using their own oxygen tank onboard an aircraft…However, if the air carrier agrees, a passenger can provide their oxygen tank to the air carrier 48 hours ahead of the flight to examine and test the oxygen equipment to assess its integrity. If the air carrier agrees to test the oxygen equipment and determines it is safe for use, the air carrier will return the device to the passenger for the flight. Some airlines do provide aircraft-approved oxygen to passengers for a fee, although they are not required to do so.
“Airlines may let you carry a “portable oxygen concentrator” approved for us by FAA.” A list of approved concentrators can be found at http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=11083&print=go
For more detailed information on the subject of flying with oxygen, visit http://www.portableoxygen.org/flyingwitho2.html.
And remember: don’t smoke.
Without my Wheels
March 7, 2010
Everyone worries that their worst fear will be realized, whether it is a financial loss, a health crisis or a problem relationship. For someone in a wheelchair those fears have already been faced: you are probably making less money, if you are working at all, your health has already been compromised or you wouldn’t be in a wheelchair in the first place, and your relationships have changed because of your disability.
So what is the biggest fear for someone who has already conquered the Mt Himalayas of fears? For me, it was the loss of my wheelchair which helps me navigate the world. That happened when my left foot rest broke off my motorized wheelchair. It was well near impossible to use since I still have both my legs; and though they are sorely lacking even on good days, they are still mine.
There are no quick fixes, as most of you may know, you need a doctor’s prescription, then approval from your insurance company, and only then will your part be ordered. Even for the most patient of individuals, and most people with disabilities are, these are trying times.
I was lucky because a good friend of mine runs the wheelchair clinic at a major hospital and was able to get a technician to see me in a couple days, bypassing the procedure I described up above.
Imagine my pleasure at being independent again. Mobility was mine. This may not seem like such a big thing but to me it was the world.
News from Travel Experts
March 1, 2010
This weekend I went to The New York Times Travel Show in the Javits Center. There were an incredible number of booths, travel professionals and New York Times reporters. I got the scoop from seminars conducted by travel experts that trips to China, Guatemala and Mexico were recommended for 2010 because Europe still remains pricey, even with the recent troubles with the Euro. American tourists remain underrepresented in South America, and everyone is still waiting for the opening of Cuba.
As much fun as it was to meet other bloggers, hear the scuttlebutt, and imagine holidays taking me away from the slush-filled streets of Manhattan, I was again reminded how little of the industry is consciously trying to communicate with the community of people with disabilities.
Arthur Frommer, a distinguished gentleman and a real hero of affordable travel, told me he’d tried to reach out to the disabled community in the days before internet, but hadn’t succeeded. To this day he felt that our needs were not being met.
Matt Gross, The New York Times Frugal Traveler columnist said he’d like to do a column sometime. He noted to me that a relative had cerebral palsy; perhaps he’ll take a look at what’s out there for us. Patricia Schultz, the author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, looked at me with sad brown eyes and said she’d never considered this issue and had no suggestions for me.
Most of the bloggers I spoke to told me to concentrate my efforts on people with disabilities not the travel industry, as though the two markets were somehow incompatible. I left energized, but also thinking that there’s plenty of work to do.
Volunteering around the World
March 1, 2010
Lately, I’ve been writing about traveling and sightseeing in the U.S. Most of the places I wrote about were for recreation and fun. Not that there is anything wrong with that!
But let’s change direction for a moment and focus on volunteering. A friend e-mailed me a website for people with disabilities interested in volunteering abroad. Age is no barrier; they’ve had teens and senior citizens as volunteers.
The organization is Mobility International USA at http://www.miusa.org/ncde/away. Its goal is to empower people with disabilities throughout the world by promoting cross-cultural exchange. For example, American volunteers can use their expertise to help people in other countries, or work with local advocacy groups to help change policies in countries where disabled people have fewer rights.
It’s exciting to think that there’s a global market where people with disabilities can volunteer to use their skills to help others here and abroad. Imagine the possibilities of sharing our knowledge with our fellow human beings around the world. Rather than thinking what we can’t do, here’s an opportunity to see what we can do!
Check out the site and let me know what you think. Better yet, let me know about other sites you find interesting.
