BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Solo Travel Travel and Disability

My friend Linda, who has MS, wrote to ask whether I had any experiences or thoughts about handicap accessibility during my travels this summer.

Like most "typicals," (as Asperger's Syndrome kids call us--actually they say "neuro-typs" since theirs is an anomoly of neurons, of brain structure, neurology as it were) I'm only marginally aware of what the obstacles to traveling present themselves for a person disabled in one way or another. I noted with satisfaction the provisions for wheelchairs in all the national parks. Trails that had been especially designated as to the limits of their accessibility.

The Servas host books have a whole range of symbols to indicate how handicap accessible a host's house is, whether they can accomodate a guide dog or not, etc.

What do our Bella readers think of this problem? Any experiences to relate? I'll be incorporating the best of these replies in a piece on the Independent Travel Page.

I'd suggest to not be timid about your needs if you're disabled! I was amazed, when my mom and I went to Chicago a few weeks ago (among other things, she has Fibromyalgia and arthritis really bad in her knees, so she took along a walker to help her out), how many people wouldn't move or give her a seat on the buses, and by the people all spread out with their luggage in the handicapped-reserved seats on the train, which meant we had to walk halfway through the train car (I was also surprised that the conductor, who helped her on the train and to stow her walker, didn't make them move. Yes, she wasn't in a wheelchair, but she was more disabled than they were, and they obviously only sat there so they could spread out their luggage). I wish I'd been a lot more aggressive in telling people to get off their heinies so my mom could sit down.

<img src="/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

It can be frustrating when difficulties occur even with careful research and planning for traveling companions with disabilities or physical limitations.

Many years ago when my mom and I took the train to Washington D.C. with my daughter in a stroller - I was pregnant with my son. I was so surprised that we had to stand up on the train back to Maryland, a pregnant woman and an older lady who was obviously worn out.

What I most remember was that my mom was very thirsty and we both commented how glad we were that we had filled my sleeping daughter's baby bottle from a drinking fountain so she was OK. A moment later we looked at one another as the 'light bulbs' went off, and I reached down to unscrew the cap so my mom could have a drink.

We had already appreciated the presence of curb cuts so we could get the stroller around town easily. I commented that we had the benefit of the water because we plan first for children, and had the benefit of the curb cuts that were made for the benefit of people with disabilities.

We had no idea that my son would be born with Down syndrome, or develop insulin dependent diabetes when he was 7 years old.

Many of the accommodations that have been won for people with disabilities come in handy for the mainstream public and all families. Something that seems to be in short supply is still the courtesy and sensitivity that my mother taught and practiced.

If she had been sitting on that train, she would have been the first person to rise and offer her seat to someone else.

I think that people get perturbed about reserved parking spaces for people who have wheelchair plates or tags because they believe it would still have been empty and waiting for them if not reserved as a 'handicap' space. Of course, they are wrong - those spots would be the first taken, and not often available even if they were not reserved by people who need them.

My son used a wheelchair for a few weeks after tripping in a park while being filmed for a Sesame Street video. I was so surprised that I could not get his wheelchair out of my back seat unless I was parked in a wheelchair spot! I actually discovered this problem when I parked in a regular spot, and could not get the wheelchair into the back seat again. Backing out into the parking lot and scurrying to get that chair in while my son laughed at my confusion was something else I will not soon forget.

While he was using the wheelchair, I was shocked at how many people just ignored him, not wanting to look or even acknowledge a person using a wheelchair. Getting in and out of doors was a real nightmare in crowds.

Occasionally a wonderful knight without shining armor would speed over to help, always a person who had helped a loved one using a wheelchair. I always wondered whether I would be a person who looked away if my family had not been initiated into the disability community. It is quite likely I would have had only my mom's good manners to rely upon.

She also taught me that pregnant women and small children always must go to the front of the line in a crowded restroom. I did not realize that women of a certain age also need that courtesy, and wondered why she would let other women in front of us (unless it was an urgent matter for one of her daughters).

Once in a Denny's restaurant near Sacramento, California, I was in a wheelchair stall when a woman in a wheelchair came in and started yelling at me. She said those stalls were just like parking spaces, and she should not have to wait for insensitive jerks like me.

I could not help but laugh, and she gave me an icy stare when I came out, but had the grace to blush when she rolled past our table and heard my son arguing with his sister.

It takes all kinds!

Pam W
SE of Seattle

Home Accessibility and Visitability
for Families of Children with Special Needs
[url=BellaOnline ALERT: For anti-spam reasons, we restrict the number of URLs allowed in a given post. You have exceeded our maximum number of URLs.

Yes, that's a big problem. You know, in Beijing, the capital of China, we have several subway lines, there are some lines still under construction. It is convenience for traffic. But the problem is it only has elevators down to the underground, none to the above. So that is impossible for the disabled people to take subways. Chinses government is preparing for the 2008 Olympic, hope the things can be better at that time.

Absolutely - you must shout about your needs otherwise how do the rest of us know.

I don't mean an obvious move out the way to make it easier for others.

I have a holiday home which we had to make wheelchair friendly "because it could be done."

We now have our first wheelchair visitor booked in and I'm really worried. Although it's been done to the specifications, no wheelcahir user has actually used it.

I mean it's one thing getting out the tape measure, and lowering the light switches but having someone come for a ten day holiday what if it doesn't work for them?

Hi Rachel,

First, congratulations on making your property wheelchair friendly. I hope you will find that it's a good move.

Don't worry! There are things you can do to make the visit go smoothly. If there is time before the visitor comes, see if you can borrow a wheelchair and experiment for yourself, or perhaps arrange for an informal run-through with a person who uses a wheelchair.

The guest is a person who happens to operate from a sitting position. Focus on the person, not the chair. As someone in the accommodation business, you have probably dealt with every possible type of visitor, personality-wise, already - so you are prepared already. The fact that you are in the business of hospitality strongly suggests that you like people and that you are good at making them feel welcome.

So, relax and your guest will feel relaxed too. All they want is a holiday. ;-)

If you have time, I can suggest some reading which may empower you. Candy Harrington has a website, so does Scott Rains. Both of these individuals are travellers who write and who use wheelchairs. You can find them on the internet by searching their names. Candy has written a couple of books, including one about wheelchair-accessible inns and B&Bs. They will show you one person's take on what it's like to be a customer operating from a wheelchair.

It's great that you have made your place wheelchair friendly and I think it's smart business, too. There will be lots more people with reduced mobility in the years to come - retired baby boomers who still want to travel and are looking for nice comfortable places.

Best of luck,

jill

PS If you don't mind my asking, do you advertise your property on the internet? If so, I would love to have a look at it. If you don't want to post the link or details publicly, please feel free to email them to me privately - budgettravel at bellaonline dot com should do it. Thanks!

Reply to Pam W. :
Keep up the good fight for manners and civility ;-) And Yay to your Mum.