Flying easyJet isn't exactly easy, especially if you have a disability. I've been reporting that fact for a few years now.

First there was the case of Philip McLoughlin, who was stranded in Lourdes because easyJet refused to fly him back home. The reason? Well, Mr. McLoughlin uses a wheelchair, and according to the gate agent easyJet "does not accept disabled travelers on their own."

After posting the new Department of Justice (DOJ) definition of a service animal, I've received a number of inquiries asking if this means that emotional support animals will be banned from airplanes. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I pointed out in the previous post, these new standards were established by the DOJ and apply to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They differ drastically from the standards already established by the Department of Transportation (DOT) which apply to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). And as we all know, the ACAA, not the ADA applies to air travel.

Here's the difference between the two standards.

With the release of the updated ADAAG on July 26, 2010, the Department of Justice (DOJ) finally addressed the use of Segways as mobility devices. Well, kind of.  Let's just say it's a first step. I think the whole issue will ultimately be decided by case law, but at least the new regulations give consumers and business owners a little more guidance about what is and what isn't an assistive device.

As predicted, the revised ADAAG was released yesterday, on the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). And although the new regulations are full of new scoping requirements and a number of Title II revisions, they also include several Title III revisions, which will affect travelers. In particular, the Department of Justice (DOJ) limited the definition of a service animal to exclude all but traditional service dogs. An exception was also included for properly trained miniature horses; however the new regulations totally disallow exotic animals and those animals that solely provide emotional support.

It's seen by many as a step forward, as in some cases the ambiguity in the previous regulations left a lot of latitude fore abuse. Additionally, it gives folks in the hospitality industry a black-and-white definition of what does (and what doesn't) qualify as a service animal. Here's what the new law has to say.

As you can imagine, I get a lot of products and gadgets to review. Admittedly, some are more appropriate for travel than others. Which was why I was taken a little bit aback when I received a sandal in the mail with the message "For a pair in your size, e-mail me today" attached. The mailing was creative, the offer intrigued me, and hey I was about to set out on a long road trip, so I figured it was a good opportunity to test drive the shoes. What gal in her right mind could refuse?

Home on the range!!

Can a city slicker teddy bear like Cherrie find happiness on a Montana dude ranch?  More important, can they even begin to accommodate her special needs? Gladly the answer is a resounding yes.  To that end, here's a short report and a few photos on her recent dude ranch experience.  Look for expanded coverage in an upcoming issue of Emerging Horizons.

As a travel writer I try to be impartial when conducting my editorial research.  That said, I also realize that because of my profession, at times I receive special treatment from folks in the hospitality industry. To be honest, after a hard day on the road I really don't mind the perks and upgrades; however at the same time I realize that the average traveler probably doesn't receive that same amount of individual attention and customer service. That's why I always like to point out exemplary customer service when I'm traveling incognito. Such is the case at a property I visited yesterday.

Candy makes a new friend at Pahaska Tee Pee, just outside the Eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

After a very relaxing stay in Yellowstone, we headed east towards Cody, Wyoming. Although we saw a good chunk of the park, an automobile accident prevented us from exploring the Mammoth Hot Springs area. No worries though, as we’ll be able to swing down and take that in after we visit a few Montana dude ranches.

Well, it looks as if the Department of Justice is positioning themselves to take
advantage of a PR opportunity, with the upcoming  20th anniversary of the
enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). According to a recent
memo filed by the Access Board, "On April 26, DOJ submitted final rules to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. If cleared within OMB's
standard 90-day review period, DOJ may publish the updated regulations in late
July or early August." Personally, knowing how the government works, my money
is on late July – July 26, 2010 to be precise.

Cherrie on the North Crater Flow Trail at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.

Craters of the Moon National Monument is appropriately named, as the volcanic rocks are somewhat reminiscent of a lunar landscape.  Not that I've been to the moon -- most likely there are access issues -- but it's the scenery I envision being up there. In any case, this Eastern Idaho National Monument is most definitely worth a visit.  Not only is it a little off the beaten path and pleasantly devoid of the tourist crowds, but there are also several accessible trails within the park.

There's no shortage of public art in downtown Boise.

Boise is an excellent destination for wheelers and slow walkers, as the downtown area is flat with wide level sidewalks and plenty of curb-cuts. Additionally, the streets are laid out in a grid, so it's pretty hard to get lost. Add in a super collection of public art, and you have all the ingredients for a great self guided wheelchair-accessible art walk. It's fun, easy and free.

Rick Greenwald demonstrating the ARE -- which makes a telescope wheelchair-accessible -- at the Centennial Observatory in Twin Falls, Idaho.

If you happen to be in Twin Falls, Idaho on the second Saturday of the month, then head on over to the Herrett Center for Arts and Science for a free Star Party in the Centennial Observatory. Located on the College of Southern Idaho campus, this state of the art observatory boasts one of the world's largest wheelchair-accessible telescopes, equipped with some cool technology that makes star gazing accessible to everyone.

Candy and Cherrie enjoying thier cruise on the Snake River Canyon.

Today we explored the Twin Falls, Idaho area, by land and by water -- with a little bit of short distance air travel thrown in, just to spice things up a tad.

Cherrie and Candy mapping out their summer Wetern States road trip.

Well Charles , Cherrie and I are on the road again - in search of more accessible destinations and activities for our readers.  This summer road trip will take a little over three weeks, and hit some of the highlights and offbeat attractions in the west.

I've been getting a lot of questions this week about the "new" Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for cruise ships. This flurry of inquiries was preceded by a recent DOT press release touting the new regulations as something to celebrate on this upcoming 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Frankly though, people are a bit confused.

Readers are asking me questions like, "Does this mean cruise ships will now have to provide accessible shore excursions?" and "Will it require a specific number of accessible rooms on each ship?" and "Does this mean that expedition style cruises will finally be accessible?" 

Every now and then I read an article that just leaves me scratching my head. Such is the case with this piece by Reannon Muth, which recently appeared on the Matador Network. From a quick glance at the title it appears to be a positive take on emotional support animals flying on commercial air carriers; but once you get to the meat of it,  you quickly learn that's not the slant. In fact, this airline-employee-turned-travel-writer is pretty vocal about people passing off their pampered pooches as emotional support animals, while the airlines basically turn a blind eye to it all. It's not that I disagree with her stand about emotional support animals; it's just that her facts are a little off kilter.

Or perhaps it's just artistic license -- you know embellishing the facts a bit just to make your article more interesting. Either way, it does a great dis-service to the traveling public, so to prevent the dissemination of misinformation, here's the straight poop on what the law has to say about flying with emotional support animals.

Over the years the Duck Tape PR Folks have sent me press releases, samples, photos and videos about how to use their products when you travel. Some ideas were practical (keep it in the glove compartment in case a hose breaks); while others bordered on ludicrous (take a roll of tape and some bubble wrap to make a pillow on your next flight). And although the latter example provided me with ample fodder for a bevy of happy hour jokes; I'm pleased to announce that out-of-the-blue I actually stumbled upon a practical accessible travel use for the product.

At long last, there's some good news on the financial front. With price increases and service cuts rampant across the travel landscape, the US Forest Service went in a different direction.  They slashed prices -- well, kind of.

easyJet is racking up quite the reputation with disabled travelers these days. And unfortunately it's not a good reputation. As you may recall, back in December easyJet prevented Jason Roberts from boarding his flight from Luton to Dortmund. The reason? He was considered a danger because he couldn't walk to board the plane.

In an ongoing effort to clarify the regulations regarding the transport of lithium-ion battery powered scooters, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently released their interpretation of the law. It should be noted that the PHMSA has total jurisdiction over this issue, as it's considered a safety issue. In other words, their interpretation is the law of the land.

In an effort to keep readers continually informed about  the ever-changing world of accessible travel, I've added a cool new feature to the Emerging Horizons website -- Know Before You Go -- which will contains timely articles, access updates, travel tips and new resources for slow walkers and wheelchair-users. And the first article includes useful information about how to obtain free parking at Florida cruise ship piers and get a free pass on the state's many told roads.

By now you've probably  heard that Spirit airlines will start charging for carry-on baggage. To be honest, I saw it coming. After the airlines started charging for checked baggage, a new breed a travelers emerged -- folks that were determined to beat the checked baggage fees by carrying aboard their steamer trunk-sized luggage. And the flight crew did very little to enforce it all -- after all they were having a hard enough time getting folks seated and ready for departure. So I guess this new policy is one way to enforce it. But what about disabled travelers?  Will they now have to pay to transport their wheelchairs, canes and walkers? In a word no. Those items are exempted from the new carry-on charges.

Although I often complain about the unfairness of denied boardings for wheelchair-users, I finally came across an incident that (IMHO) was justified. Of course the subject of the incident in question was not just your every day run-of-the-mill wheelchair-user. There was something different about him. He was dead. Yep, that's right, dead -- gone, expired, passed-on, history, dust.