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Ever had a delay and a hard time making your connection? Most of us regular travelers have. What I didn’t realize was how tough it was if you had someone along who had a disability, or who happened to be handicapped. Now mind you, it was bad enough for me, but for him it was a real trial.
My father and I had arranged flights from Greensboro to the airport in Newark, New Jersey. There was a two-hour layover there before the London plane. However, because we had to sit on the tarmac in a stuffy little commuter plane for over an hour-and-a-half at Greensboro, waiting for a flight slot, and then delays in landing at Newark, we arrived precisely when our next flight was due to leave. This meant a dash to that gate, and it was 28 large gates away! I’m guessing close to a third of a mile from our starting point.
Handicapped - Wheelchair Accessible Symbol used in public locations
So carrying all our luggage, my elderly father and I raced at top speed. He couldn’t keep up, so I shouldered his luggage, as well, to help him. We arrived there, breathless, red-faced, sweating, exhausted, and angry. And truth to tell, I was also a little ashamed. You see, I had constantly chafed at my father’s comparatively slow pace, being fearful he was going to make us miss our connecting flight. Yet, he did the best he could, poor man.
And yes, we did make the flight, barely; being the last ones to board (they held the flight, as it turns out and didn’t bother to tell us, so it seems we didn’t have to race to get there). But this was my first experience in traveling with a person who had a disability. It made me realize, as hard as it was for me, how much harder it is for them. The truth is, seeing people pushed around in wheelchairs by airport attendants – I thought they had it pretty easy. Not so! That was my ignorance and stupidity in thinking that. But in my own defense, my father’s age had not only crept up on him without his really being aware of it, but me as well. Neither of us realized he was facing new limitations that now affected the way he had to travel.
One more thing, the flight attendant who welcomed us aboard couldn’t have cared less how we felt, either mentally, emotionally, or physically. I suppose if I had told him my father was ill as a result of our frantic race, or made any sort of a scene at all, he would have just barred us from taking the plane. Truth is if we wanted to fly, we just had to shut up and take it. But what’s the moral of this story? Well, for disabled or handicapped travelers, the onus is on them to take care of themselves. Oh yes, they can get help if they prearrange it, some assistance, and they should, but in the final analysis, it is up to the handicapped traveler, and/or their traveling companions, to arrange such things for themselves, because the truth is, if you don’t do it, nobody else seems to care much one way or the other.
Wheelchair Gate Hiroshima Japan - Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Yes, this may sound a little negative, but it isn’t really meant to be. You see, with the massive number of people traveling, most airline workers are truly overworked, and have trouble just keeping up with their normal duties. So, it isn’t unreasonable for them to feel that you should make your arrangements for traveling. After all, they do offer services for the handicapped and disabled, if asked ahead of time, if prearranged.
And that’s what you as a handicapped individual or traveling companion to such a person, must do. Plan ahead of time! Take EVERYTHING into consideration. For instance, what I do now is allow for even greater layover times between connecting flights. Two hours used to be about right, I felt, but now I go for four, or even five hours. Even more, if customs is involved, because between that, collecting and rebooking luggage, security checks, going to the next gate, etc., time can go by quickly. I don’t want my father having to do something he physically shouldn’t, endanger his health in any way, just to make another plane on time. It just isn’t worth it.
Also airlines, as mentioned above, do offer assistance to disabled passengers, including the use of wheelchairs, etc. Allow time for this, because it takes time for them to get to you. It also takes time for them to board you, so you must be at your gates before boarding commences. The same holds true for many other means of transportation, trains, buses, and taxis, but again, you can’t just take it for granted. You must arrange things ahead of time, be aware of what’s available there.
Wheelchair Lift Tijuana Trolley San Diego, California - Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Furthermore, you must research every place you are going, every airport, train station, and anything else you are using for transportation. If they don’t have escalators, check to see if they have elevators. If you need to go to a different terminal, make sure the transportation there is handicapped accessible. Again, it is up to you to make sure that they have what you need, because once there, if they don’t – well, good luck. You might just end up dealing with a flight attendant such as I did – one who obviously didn’t care! This brochure from the Department of Transportation, New Horizons, Information for the Air Traveler with a Disability, is a big help and makes for a good starting point.
Pittsburgh International Airport Wheelchairs Services - Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
And don’t just research air terminals, bus depots, and trains stations. You also have to make sure that you have cash in the local currency when you need it, because for someone in a wheelchair, for instance, suddenly having to arrange to get somewhere to get that currency may not be at all easy or quick. You could well spend half a day in the effort, pay too much, and use up a lot of time on a trip that is precious, perhaps even a-once-in-a-lifetime one. So with regard to this problem, use Currate.com. It’s the best way I know, truly, to find the current exchange rates. Currate.com has reliable, regularly updated exchange rates. It has actual images of over 180 of the world’s currencies.
And with Currate.com’s currency converter calculator, figuring out how much currency you need, and more importantly what it should cost you is so easy! Currate.com even has a Google World Currencies map where you can visually select the country of your choice and just go there. Truthfully, it doesn’t get much easier than that.
And for those who are handicapped, instead of trying to navigate their way around in crowded places to find this information on displays in busy terminals, they can just use their Internet browser capable mobile phones. All they or anyone has to do is just go to Currate’s Mobile Basic Currency Tool. For phones capable of more advanced features, you can use Currate’s Mobile Currency Tool with Currency Images. This way, the traveler, handicapped or otherwise, has instant access to everything they need with regard to matters of currency conversion. They don’t have to go anywhere to find this out.
Currate.com Mobile Version - available on iPhone Web
Remember also that you have to make sure of those hotels, as well. Many older and smaller ones just aren’t handicapped accessible. I’ve been in some that have such steep and narrow flights of stairs that even healthy people are in trouble. There are places the disabled or handicapped just won’t be able to go, such as historic buildings that aren’t handicapped accessible (castles, towers, fortresses, many manor houses), so be aware of this ahead of time and plan your trip accordingly.
There are always alternatives to climbing those endless flights of stairs to get a panoramic view. For example, if you can’t handle the equivalent of a 30-story climb to the top of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London, then why not try the London Eye? The view is just as spectacular.
The important thing to keep in mind is that for the handicapped or disabled traveler, whether older or just a child, much is still possible. Traveling can still be a great and rewarding experience, and a lot of fun. But it does mean that the handicapped traveler, and any traveling companions, must research and plan. They should also be flexible. They should be willing to travel a little more slowly. And if someone in the party just has to climb those stupid stairs and can do it, let them. I, for one, could have just as much fun in some tea shop or a drink in a local pub, just chatting and getting to know other travelers, or even some of the locals. After all, there is more than one way to have fun while traveling!
References:
Slow Travel
http://www.slowtrav.com/europe/disabled_travel.htm
Access-Able Travel Source
http://access-able.com/dBase/links.cfm
Rick Steves’ Easy Access Europe
http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/articles/rick-steves-easy-access-europe.htm
How To Travel With Mentally Handicapped People
http://www.ehow.com/how_2038705_travel-mentally-handicapped-people.html
Kids Vacations for Disabled Children And Parents
http://www.beachcalifornia.com/california/disabled-kids-vacations.html
