I have to admit that I was a little puzzled by a news item that I ran across last week about a grass roots campaign in the UK to make it “more comfortable” for people with invisible disabilities to use the accessible toilets there. Apparently when seemingly able-bodied people walk out of the accessible NKS toilets across the pond, they are getting “the look” or an audible “tsk-tsk” from passers-by. To alleviate this, there is a push to change the symbol on the accessible toilets from the standard wheelchair pictogram, to a pictogram of wheelchair with two able-bodied people. OK, that part made perfect sense to me, as there certainly are folks with invisible disabilities who need accessible facilities. Continue reading
Access Upgrades Abound in Glacier National Park
The accessible Trail of the Cedars in Glacier National Park
If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve probably heard about the wildfires in Glacier National Park. Yes, it is smoky here, and some days are certainly better than others, but with the wildfires near my home in the Sierras are producing quite a bit of smoke too. The firefighters are doing a good job of protecting the historic structures in the park, none of which are immediately threatened. The did lose Sperry Chalet, but that was in a remote area of the park, and quite difficult to protect. A small portion of the park is closed near Lake McDonald Lodge, mostly as a precautionary measure, and to give firefighters unfettered access should the need arise to actively fight the flames near the park’s lakeside properties. Continue reading
Hitting the Road Again
Well we’re off on another road trip adventure to do some research for my next book. And although this trip won’t take us as far as we usually venture, it will require an extended stay near the national parks that we will be covering – Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Continue reading
All Airline Access is NOT Equal
I get a lot of feedback on airlines – some of it good, and some of it not so good. For the most part my advice to folks is to learn the law – in this case the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) – and then complain to the Complaints Resolution Official (CRO) if things don’t go according to the regs. And that works fine if you are flying on a US carrier, or to or from the US on a foreign carrier. That’s as far as the jurisdiction of the ACAA extends. Period. Continue reading
Wheelchair Damage Reporting Regs Delayed – PVA Sues DOT
Wheelchair damage – or the potential for it – is something that many air travelers face every time they board a plane. And although we can’t totally stop the damage (wouldn’t that be nice?) we can enact regulations regarding how airlines report such damage, so consumers can choose the airline with the best record. Continue reading
Still Crawling After All These Years?
A June report of a Vanilla Air passenger having to crawl aboard the plane because no wheelchair lift was available is somewhat troubling to me. I mean, let’s be honest, in this day and age that shouldn’t happen. Continue reading
Should We Celebrate the ADA Anniversary?
Recently I’ve seen a lot of posts and comments from younger people who think we shouldn’t celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), quite simply because it does not go far enough. They claim that without any real enforcement, public entities are not held to the standards laid out by the US Access Board. Continue reading
Grand Canyon Lodging Sale!!
You just can’t beat the views from the rim
If you’d like to save a few bucks on a Grand Canyon visit, then take advantage of this great sale at Maswick Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge and Kachina Lodge. Starting on July 25, 2017 you can save 30% at these lodges for visits from November to January with Xanterra’s “Christmas in July” offer.
What Exactly is an Accessible Trail?
Trail access information plaque
Although it’s relatively easy to determine if a building is wheelchair-accessible (stairs vs. a level or ramped entry), it’s a bit more difficult to evaluate the accessibility of a trail. At first glance it might appear that if a wheelchair-user can manage a trail, then it must accessible, right? Well, not exactly, because not all wheelchair-users have the same ability. Continue reading
Head to Harbor Freight for a Portable Wheelchair Ramp
Affordable heavy duty wheelchair ramp from Harbor Freight.
Photo by Jerry O’Brien
Harbor Freight has been a part of my life for a long time. If you’re not familiar with this bargain hardware giant, they have everything from tools and hardware to tarps, fountains, paint and a whole lot of things I can’t even identify. Truth be told I once saw a small windmill at our local store. Continue reading