AbilityTips
Know your battery
If flying with a motorized wheelchair or scooter, bring documentation that describes whether the device is powered by a wet, dry, or gel battery. The battery type determines whether the battery must be removed for transit in the airplane (gel typically does not need to be removed).
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LATEST DESTINATION REVIEWS
Guest Journal: “Facing Disability: a peer guide on living life after a spinal cord injury” by Thea Flaum and Annie Hambleton
A family dealing with a new spinal cord injury almost always finds themselves in a lonely place. There are few resources available, and often even fewer people who understand what they are going through. Every aspect of a family’s home and life must be reassessed, old holiday traditions and family vacations included. This is why FacingDisability.com was created to connect families suddenly coping with a new spinal cord injury with the voices of experience.
Guest Journal: “Featured Traveler: John Birdsall” by Carrie Bailey
There is no adventure John Birdsall won’t tackle. Whether it’s skydiving in New Zealand or traversing little known locales in Iceland, John meets each challenge with unparalleled enthusiasm. I was fortunate to find John at backpacker’s hotel in Wellington, New Zealand, and received an education on traveling with a disability that opened my eyes to what a true adventurer can accomplish if he is willing to make the effort.
Guest Journal: Frontier Airlines did what? by Melissa Hayes
The recent incident on a Frontier jet involving a passenger with quadriplegia clearly demonstrates the ongoing issues of travel for the physically challenged population and brings to light the lack of consistency in approach.
Guest Journal: Riding the rails by Carrie Bailey
“All aboard!” The whistle and roar of the train set in double rail tracks built many years ago harkens back to a romantic era when the world seemed larger and traveling was less a mode of transportation and more of a destination in itself. Yet with dining cars, sleeping compartments, and parlors that open to the rugged landscapes and night skies, the lure of the track has been gaining momentum as travelers seek alternatives to their expensive gas powered vehicles. For those with a fear of flying or distaste for the scent of bus depots, the train offers a pragmatic alternative when travelers are willing to tolerate the stops, starts, confusion, and gentle rocking motion that carries passengers to their destination in the slowest time available for any major transportation service. Amid the advantages and disadvantages of rail travel, savvy persons with mobility related needs can utilize the rail system both for transportation and adventure and enjoy the ride.
Flying tips for individuals with mobility impairments and slow walkers
Flying is a fantastic mode of travel. It can’t be beat in terms of safety, performance, or convenience. However, for the disabled traveler, flying can be a daunting proposition. As an avid traveler, I have experienced more than my fair share of surprises and challenges when dealing with air travel. However, careful planning and proactive management can help minimize unplanned hiccups.
Delta Airlines gets a spanking…
Traveling with a disability is challenging as it is, but add to that the requirement of good customer service and you might have a tricky situation. Take this example: Delta Airlines was recently fined $2 million for failing to provide adequate customer service and support for physically challenged travelers.
Guest Journal: Traveling with an invisible disability by Carrie Bailey
Vertigo can attack without warning or be a constant presence in a traveler’s life for those affect by vestibular issues. It can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and even cause a traveler to fall and sustain injury. I’ve lived with bilateral vestibular loss for seven years. Bilateral vestibulopathy occurs when both of a person’s inner ears are damaged and results in a condition known as oscillopsia, which causes the sufferer to experience their line of vision as though it were being filmed by a camera strapped to the top of a bobble head toy attached to the dashboard of a teenage driver’s car going down a bumpy country road.
Cruising is about to get a little bit better
Having traveled by air, land, and sea, I must say that I find cruising to be the most convenient way to do a vacation. Pretty much all I have to worry about is getting to the boat on time, checking on the ports, and packing clothing with extra room to grow.
TSA Screening
With all of the attention currently being paid to airport screening, I wonder if travelers with physical challenges will be impacted. Consensus says no. One person even remarked that “The fact that the general public is going through this may help their understanding of the kind of barriers people with disabilities face every day.” (Phyllis Guinivan)
Guest Journal: The Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire by Carrie Bailey
The Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire, located in the woods of Kings Valley, Oregon, just thirty minutes outside of Corvallis, the Shrewsbury Renaissance Festival delivers all the lively faire attractions deemed appropriate to the less cynical age of wonder and exploration between the 14th and 17th centuries. By the shaded hillside, men with colorful arms compete for the attention of eager fairgoers and the air resounds with the artisan metal weaponry they yield with the flair of actors and hearts of knights. Visitors come to enjoy the show and shop for elegant and labor intensive hand crafts and period items that be purchased from a wide array of vendors…
TOP 10 DESTINATIONS
- Welcome to AbilityTrip
- San Juan, Puerto Rico, US Territory
- Punta Cana, La Altagracia, Dominican Republic
- Maui, Hawaii, United States
- Half Moon Cay, Bahamas
- Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda
- George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
- Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos
- Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas
- Anchorage, Alaska, USA