Emily Post & the ADA
July 25, 2010
I was reading an article in The New York Times about people fighting over an empty cab which got me to thinking about etiquette. How should people with disabilities be treated? The first answer that comes to mind is like everyone else. But when you think about it, what is the proper etiquette? I do not claim to be the Emily Post of the disabled crowd, but all of us have an idea. In fact we can probably think of examples of what to do and what not to do from our own lives. And let’s face it; the ADA is silent on how people should treat one another.
For example, I have had people speak loudly and slowly to me just because I am in a wheelchair. Admittedly, I have problems, but hearing isn’t one of them. Or people will just ignore me completely which I understand is caused by discomfort because they don’t know how to treat me. I much prefer the person who asks if they can help, rather than taking it upon themselves to help. There is the story about the blind lady who was helped across the street even though she’d didn’t want to be crossed in the first place.
So I open the floor to discussion – what do you consider to be the right etiquette. Tell us some of your stories and ideas and post them on our blog. I’m curious to know how the rest of you feel.
Ten Great Travel Destinations
July 15, 2010
Guess what we’ve got for you? A free ebook that’ll tell you about Ten Hidden Gems: Destinations for People with Disabilities. We’ve selected a variety of sites, in the U.S., Canada and abroad that ought to stimulate your imagination and wanderlust: a small fishing village in Ecuador, a town in Nova Scotia near the Bay of Fundy, and a major university in the Midwest guarded by a black angel, to name just a few.
We’re giving this away to anyone who becomes a member of our site. It’s one step we’re taking in our effort to open up the world to people who want to live as free from their disabilities as possible. We hope you will also respond to our ideas, and add your own suggestions, based on personal experience, so we can continue to expand upon and refine this work. ”
To obtain the free report, go to our home page.
And let me know what you think of it at steve@i-can-travel.com
Travel During a Heat Wave
July 6, 2010
Right now it’s approaching a hundred degrees here in the Northeast U.S. I don’t know about you but for me, heat is like kryptonite is for Superman- my body goes haywire. But let’s say we are not in the comfort of our own home with the air conditioner turned on high – but on vacation. Some cities will have plenty of air-conditioned places for sightseeing, but many others, especially in third-world countries, may not. So do we give up our travels and head home or do we adjust to this change in circumstance? That’s the crux of the issue.
People with disabilities are pretty good problem-solvers, whether we began that way or not. Each of us has our favorite stories about how we thought our way out of a precarious situation. And when we plan trips we try to think of various contingencies that may come up. Yet here we are on our well planned vacation – what do we do with the unexpected?
Me, I’d go with the flow, have plenty of ice and cold drinks to keep me cool. But is that realistic? I am pretty stubborn so my reaction may not be the most rational or best.
Let us know what you would do — or have done — when there’s been an unexpected heat wave and post your comments below. I’d really like to know your solutions. Let’s face it; a lot of brains working together are better than one. After all, that’s the beauty of the internet, right?
My Travel Wish List
July 5, 2010
I was in a bookstore recently, perusing the travel magazines. There are so many beautiful places to see, both in the US, and around the world; how is a person to prioritize? I want to come up with a list of challenging, yet accessible places I want to see. I know there are books which can make the task easier for me and some of my choices will undoubtedly turn up in one book or another. But I want my list to reflect idiosyncratic me – no cheating off of some else’s list. And people with disabilities have the added challenge of creating a list which is doable. I might want to visit Tahiti to see where Gauguin found his inspiration, but can I? (That’s just an example – I’d like to go to Tahiti, but it won’t be high on my list of must see places).
So here goes, in no particular order: Vancouver, the Grand Tetons, Bryce Canyon, The Great Wall of China, Moscow and St. Petersburg, Tuscany, Seattle, Israel, and Egypt. And that’s just off the top of my head.
So my challenge to each of you is to create your own list of places you want to see and post your choices on our site. Let’s exchange our dream trips, so we can all dream and explore together.
