Barrier Free Travels

Well we're over in the Pigeon Forge area of TN this week, for a little editorial research; and I have to say, the weather is wonderful. Very mild - don't even need a sweater. And this time of year in the Smokies is absolutely beautiful. We don't get the change of seasons so much in CA, so I do love the fall colors. And the changing leaves are beautiful here. It's nice to hit things in prime time every now and again.

It was a pretty uneventful flight yesterday; although I have to say I was a bit disappointed at the UAL ground crew in DEN, as they seemed to not pay too much attention to pre-boarding disabled passengers; especially one lady who used a walker. The gate agent told this passenger to come and pre-board, but the pre-boards were called with the elite passengers and by the time the lady got up to the gate (she walked as fast as she could) it was time to call group 2. The gate agent did very little (OK nothing ) to assist this passenger, and told her to just go down the jet bridge.

When she got to the aircraft she was confused about what to do with her walker, and there just wasn't anyone to assist her. This nice man (another passenger) was trying to help her, (and he ended up taking her walker back to be gate checked and offered to assist her in boarding the aircraft) but there just simply wasn't any assistance from the UAL staff. Fortunately, the ground crew in Knoxville was better, and there was a wheelchair waiting for the passenger at the door. Still, when I went to retrieve my gate-checked bag, her walker was nowhere in sight. I had a really bad feeling about that one, and I hope the passenger got everything back in one piece.

After we arrived yesterday, we went to see Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede. It's a fun family show, much like the one in Branson. Access is excellent at the theater, and I was impressed with the staff's attention to their disabled guests. It's so obvious when some extra time is put into staff training in regards to disability issues. The accessible seating allows for unlimited companions, and the line of sight is excellent. I saw a good number of wheelers and slow walkers there and they all seemed to be having a good time. Of course they feed you well there too, which was very welcome after a day of flying and no food.

This morning I'm off to interview an innkeeper who just added an accessible cottage to her farm stay B&B. I'm looking very forward to a fun morning on the farm.

We have a full schedule this week, including time in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and a visit to Oak Ridge (the secret city in days of yore).

It looks like it's going to be a beautiful trip. Again, the weather gods have smile on upon us!!

Cruising is becoming a very popular vacation option for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. And with popularity comes change. And that's a very good thing.  Years ago there were almost no truly accessible shore excursions in the Caribbean; and although we aren't exactly overwhelmed with them today, at least the numbers have increased.

Some companies have truly gone out of their way to make their tours accessible. They have researched the local possibilities as far as access goes, trained their employees about how to load wheelchairs, and even purchased accessible vehicles.

But still, travelers need to ask a lot of questions before they book an accessible shore excursion; because in many cases, accessibility is in the eye of the beholder.

Such is the case with an e-mail I got last week from a company claiming to provide accessible shore excursions in a region that has very few accessible vehicles. The message went on about how they could accommodate wheelchair-users in all their great activities, but they never really gave access specifics. Since the photos they sent didn't include any photos of wheelchair-users and their website didn't mention wheelers either, I grew suspicious.  So I asked if they had wheelchair-accessible vehicles that folks who could not transfer out of their wheelchairs could ride in. I further specified that these folks could not be carried or lifted. 

The owner wrote me back and was amazed by my e-mail.  "What a great idea," she wrote, as if the idea of providing accessible vehicles on a wheelchair-accessible tour had never even occurred to her. She said that they do not have those vehicles, but perhaps they could rent one locally.  Of course I wrote her back to tell her that she couldn't, as they just aren't available in her area of the world.,

So although she wants to make her tours accessible to all, the fact of the matter is that a lot of lifting and carrying is involved.  Now, some folks are OK with that; however I think you should put that information somewhere on your website, because many folks just can't transfer. Plus I have to admit, if you can transfer, you can take a regular taxi tour and just put your chair in the trunk.

The bottom line is, you still need to ask a lot of questions before you book an accessible tour of any kind. And don't forget the obvious questions, such as if wheelchair-accessible transportation is included. And like me, you have to specifically define what exactly wheelchair-accessible is. Remember, the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked!

Every now and again I read a blog entry that really chaffs my hide. Thus was the case this morning. I don't know if it was the attitude of the blogger or the terminology he used in an entry titled "How to Fly the Friendly Skies;" but, it just really got to me. So I need to vent.

Basically it was a blog about someone traveling to South America. I'm not posting the url, because, frankly he doesn't deserve any traffic. Technically the blogger could be described as a slow walker, as he had an injury prior to his trip that required the use of a cane; however, he really got my goat, when he bragged about wheelchair assistance at airports being  "the ultimate travel secret that only requires one prop - a cane".

He was wowed by the fact that he was whisked through airport security in his airport wheelchair and that he didn't even have to get out of it for wanding. In his infinite wisdom he concluded that was because "no one likes to touch sick people."

Of course nothing could be further from the truth. First off, just because you are in a wheelchair, doesn't mean you are not sick; in fact I know many wheelers who are healthier than their able-bodied counterparts. Second, TSA guidelines (not the personal preferences of TSA agents) dictate procedures at security checkpoints; and these procedures are in place to protect PWDs from injury. To that end, TSA guidelines state that wheelchair-users are not required to transfer from their own wheelchair for any part of the screening process.

But I digress.

I don't really have a problem with the blogger asking for assistance, after all he did have a temporary disability. I don't begrudge anyone who needs assistance an airport wheelchair or even pre-boarding; in fact I encourage all slow walkers to avail themselves of these services.

The problem I have with this ignoramus is that he boldly states he is going to ask for wheelchair assistance every time he travels, even though he is now fully recovered form his injury. And he goes one step further and encourages other able-bodied travelers to do the same; by just going out and buying a cane and claiming they are disabled. Or as he so delicately puts it "metal fold-up canes are cheap."

Now granted, you don't even need a cane to request an airport  wheelchair, and many slow walkers don't even use one; however, able- bodied folks should not use this service just to get through security quicker and on the airplane first. There are a finite number of resources, and if able-bodied travelers use them, they just won't be available to disabled travelers.

Furthermore, most folks are just a step and a stumble away from being temporarily disabled; so keep that in mind the next time you think about misappropriating an airport wheelchair. What gets you fast-tracked through security today, may not may not be available when you or a family member desperately needs it at some time in the future. It's a karma thing. Trust me, it works.

So, if you need some assistance, by all means use an airport wheelchair; but if you don't, leave that valuable resource for others who really need it.

As I was sitting in Dulles at gate 72B yesterday morning, I watched the arrival of five wheelchair passengers. In each case the skycap asked the passenger if he or she would like to remain in the wheelchair or transfer to a seat. Three of the passengers opted to stay in their wheelchairs, while two decided to transfer to a seat in the terminal.

I wanted to butt in and tell them that it might be a mistake to give up the wheelchair, as the walk down the jetbridge can be a long one; but instead I kept my mouth shut. Nobody likes a busybody, and I have to admit if somebody popped up out of nowhere telling me what I should or shouldn't do, I might be taken aback by it all.

Anyway, when it came time to board, the folks in the wheelchairs were wheeled down the jetbridge to the aircraft. The folks that gave up the wheelchairs had a very difficult time. They were indeed slow walkers, and the jetbridge was very long. I expect they were very tired, and quite likely also in pain by the time they made it to their seats.

So remember, if you request an airport wheelchair, it's best to stay in it all the way up to the door of the aircraft. After all, you never know how long that jetbridge will be! 

Well, we hit the road (actually the sky) yesterday, and are here in Manassas for a few days of editorial research. I'm focusing on the historical attractions in the area, with a heavy emphasis on military history. I've also found a few nice accessible trails in the area that I'd like to explore.

The good news is, there are a lot of accessible choices and the weather looks great.

I'd also like to add a special thanks to the innkeepers (Barbara & Jim) at Apple's B&B in Big Bear Lake, CA. We stayed at their property last week while doing some editorial research on the other coast. They served some huge breakfasts, so much so that they gave us doggie bags. Well, they came in handy yesterday. You see, by the time we arrived at our hotel, all the food outlets were closed. Luckily, Charles had a muffin, left over from his doggie bag, in his camera bag. He was nice enough to share it with me, so that was our dinner.

Apples B&B is a great property, and I will be writing in detail about their access in the next issue of Emerging Horizons. I'll also be covering some great trails and recreational opportunities in Big Bear Lake; including the most accessible places to spot bald eagles in the winter.

But for now, it's off to breakfast. That muffin is wearing pretty thin.