First, I want to say thank you to all of those who answered my questions about traveling with a power chair. Secondly I want to apologies for not being able to read them until now. I especially want to thank Boedus and raimy and Finetoon not just for reading my bog but for being so helpful with their suggestions and ideas. Unfortantly I could not read them untill today.
How did the trip go, the trip all in all was just what I needed, time away and time with a wonderful friend. The purpose of the trip was to see my dear friend graduate nursing school. That in it's self was wonderful for me, but even more I was honored that my dear friend asked me to be the one who pinned her (a nursing pin is given to each graduate signifying completion of the nursing program)
I was so excited to be able to do this for her, and honored she asked me to be the one to do the pinning.
Now to answer the question I am sure you all are asking how did traveling work out with me and the power chair? over all it went better then the last time I traveled. Compared to were I live the accessability was so much better there were very few places I could not go, or obstacle I could not handle.
As for how my chair traveled with me..sigh. I so wish I could have read the replies to my biog. earlier. Even though traveling with my power chair was some what easier then last time. I still had the problem of it being loaded on to a small aircraft. Because I could not read the suggestions and information Fintoon left me I did not call the airlines ahead of time to explain to them that the chair does not come apart that, it can not fold or lay flat, and it would be best to ask me these questions before trying to load it instead of trying to load it onto the plane for a half hour then coming on board to ask me. All the while having disgruntled passengers upset because the plane isn't taking off on time. The larger plane did not have trouble loading the chair, they just had a hard time keeping track of the manual chair I also brought for all those places that I knew the power chair would not be able to go.
The unfortunate thing that did happen was the crew of the smaller aircraft did have trouble loading my power chair due to its size, so the did cause damage to the chair there are some scratches and the right arm of the chair will need to be replaced. But the airline has been most helpful they have sent me the paperwork to be filled out by the company I use to do repairs to my chair.
Even though there were these unfortunate incidents the trip as a whole using the power chair was really not that bad. The airline crew did their best and was very curtiuse, kind and helpful. The airline kept in contact with me when the manual chair was missing and when the power chair was damaged they were quick to call and send out all the necessary paper work.
I think it would be a wonderful idea if the airline companies would give courses to all their employees on what it is like for persons with disabilities to fly. Part of the course homework would be an assignment where the person must book a flight on their airline in a wheelchair/power chair. Why? because, one, those that design the plane could see how going down the aisles of the plane even in those small plane"wheelchairs" isn't the greatest comfort because you always, bumping those in their seats, and getting to the restroom, even though it can be done, it isn't without its problems. As for the other employers I think by taking the course they will have the experience. A experience that may serve them well in the future.
As for disabled travelers, doing our best to inform the airlines ahead of time of their impending travel and what kinds of special needs the person my have and what things the staff might be able do to make the flight, etc easier for all involved. Because we as travelers can not just assume airlines, buses, trains etc. to know what we as travelers need.
As I come to a close, I think of all the trips I hope to take in the future and of how much the information those here have given me will help not just me, but for those who will read here in the future, and I smile because I so hope this is the beginning of what I wanted this blog to be, helpful to others, and a place they can say hey I go through that to
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