by Jill Gunzel
AUGUST 2004: New tips were added to #4 and #8, below.
If you've already read about the following trip to L.A., click on the NEW sign and read about the trip to Oregon, April 2000
Allison's trip experience
THE FIRST TRIP: Tucson to Los Angeles, January 2000
Throughout the last year that I've been a part of the email support group for caregivers of stroke survivors, I've learned the importance of each of us remembering WE are a part of everyone else's education in stroke and handicap accessibility. In January, Mom and I took a long planned trip to California, for four days, involving air travel, rental cars, and a hotel. When we set out on the trip, we agreed to a few things:
1. We will treat this as an adventure.
2. We will maintain humor, as our initial response to everything we
encounter.
3. We will educate as many people along the way, as possible.
4. When we get home, we'll share what we learned.
SO, in the interests of #4...I'm about to write about our experiences. I am sure, that as some of you more experienced folks read this, you will know better ways to have handled things. PLEASE, share these with the group. Your pre-trip tips helped me tremendously, already. We did a lot of things well, but we learned a lot about what we will do better, next time.
I have broken my "story" into sections, so you can skip to parts that interest you. Enjoy your "trip".
Click on the chili for the topic you want to see.
Note: If you would like to read the information straight through, rather than going clicking on links, below, just click here on this chili.
#1...Using the trip as a goal for therapy
#2...Planning ahead...foreseeing potential problems
#3...Accessories to take along....travelling with a commode
#4...Arriving at the airport (with luggage, wheelchair, parking, etc)
#5...Shipping...wheelchair, commode, luggage
#6...Boarding the aircraft
#7...Disembarking and luggage claim
#8...Rental cars...it took TWO HOURS to get a car that would fit our needs!
#9...Hotels and handicap rooms
#10...Parking....TAKE YOUR HANDICAP PARKING SIGN WITH YOU!
#11...Checking out of the hotel
#12...Returning your rental car
#13...Another way to board the aircraft
#14...Getting your car, when you get home...without getting an airport ticket
#15...Parting Thoughts
I'd love to hear from you. Please let me know if some of these
tips have helped you, or if you have some ideas or experiences of your
own that I might share with others.
Drop me a line!
#1...Using the trip as a goal for therapy #2...Planning ahead...foreseeing potential problems #3...Accessories to take along....travelling with a commode #4...Arriving at the airport (with luggage, wheelchair, parking, etc) #5...Shipping...wheelchair, commode, luggage #6...Boarding the aircraft #7...Disembarking and luggage claim #8...Rental cars...it took TWO HOURS to get a car that would fit our needs! #9...Hotels and handicap rooms #10...Parking....TAKE YOUR HANDICAP PARKING SIGN WITH YOU! #11...Checking out of the hotel #12...Returning your rental car #13...Another way to board the aircraft #14...Getting your car, when you get home...without getting an airport ticket #15...Parting ThoughtsDrop me a line!