Travelling with a disability

Rutherella

That is an awful experience to be having. I have the dubious privilege of having mostly invisible illnesses, but have also had experiences at times when I've had to use mobility devices. I completely agree that peoples attitude towards a person completely changes when they perceive them to be disabled - I had some really challenging experiences even just using a walking stick.

Can I just say, I think it's really fantastic to be as independent as possible, and to use whatever tools are necessary to do so. My sister also has health problems but she's able to travel a bit more than me, and she makes use of the assistance programs offered by our airlines and ferries. It is a bit embarrassing for her at times to have to ask for help, but I am so proud of her for having the guts to say "stuff it, I am going to do the thing". While there's no excusing the rubbish she gets dealt, the experiences she's able to have in life absolutely make it worth the effort.
To you I say the same; I don't know you, we've never met, but I'm so proud of you for putting yourself into the world, even though it can be a seriously challenging and ableist place. I am in awe of your courage in travelling internationally - a thing I've always been scared to do. Please don't listen to the people who want you to limit yourself so that you don't cause trouble. Of course, be safe and reasonable with yourself, but GO YOU GOOD THING.

clazza

I am sorry you have had those experiences. There really needs to be specific training done by airlines with their staff so that they learn how to deal with disabilities. I have some hidden disabilities due to having many medical conditions and I also use a walking stick. I do find that when I have the walking stick I am treated a little better sometimes (depending on the situation) as it serves as a symbol of disability. I think as someone who has a disability I am perhaps more aware of those around me who also have one. Unfortunately most people just don't realise the difficulties that come with disability and so it is ignorance rather than rudeness sometimes that causes them to fail to help. It is shocking though that people would ignore you when you are asking for help.

jjdrer

I have been asked if I would like to join a group to go on a Paddle Steamer on a river. I use a walker. I've been asked if the changing flow of the water will unstablize me. We don't know how wide the walking spaces are yet either

jjdrer

I know a lady who is vision impaired and can only see shadows or light coloured clothes ahead of her. She has a badge but it is labelled VIP. Many people don't know what that means. She doesn't use a stick as she has memorized where things are and can also see some shapes

davidnicholas

I know a lady who is vision impaired and can only see shadows or light coloured clothes ahead of her. She has a badge but it is labelled VIP. Many people don't know what that means. She doesn't use...

Not a term I have seen used. Unfortunately I and perhaps others would read it as very important person (or passenger), and that would probably make matters worse.

Jill21

My mother (whom I help to care for although she is highly independant) - feels similar. She is almost completley deaf and has hearing aids and although it's not a 'visable' disability it definatly impacts her everyday life.
It's very sad but most people don't consider the needs of others unless they have been 'brought to light' - that is to say I might not realise a person was hearing impaired and takes a moment longer to register or move out of the way when someone says excuse me. Unfortunatly until you've lived this you're just not as curtious as you should/people used to be.

Winston31610082

I am curious as to what you seek to experience when travelling. is it new cuisines and cultures? Personally I am constantly looking out for different architecture and less keen on engaging with "locals"
Having just returned from a trip to Europe, I must say there is widespread acceptance for accompanying pets in all public spaces, though wheelchair accessibility was not great due to mostly older roads and buildings.

keyz12

It's sad that you had bad experiences while travelling. I'm wheelchair bound but can walk a little bit with support. I'm lucky on flights where the staff really look after me and even fellow passengers reach out to help or offer assistance. On the train or bus it's different, I'm looked at as an obstacle as I am in the way of others.

pam

Bad manners have no place in society. Keep tavelling and enjoy your life. You have to wonder if people do have a life ,when they are on their phone. Bumping into people, not whatching traffic when crossing. The list goes on. ignorant and totally rude.

site77

I think that the airline has the obligation to check before the flight if it has any passenger with priority and special service and communicate these conditions to the service and stewardesses , so that it can maintain the comfortable service more attentive and efficient, in the name of the quality of the company

Emerald

I fully understand, although not vision impaired, I am profoundly deaf and don't hear anything except noises in my head. I have a phone app called Live Transcribe which is no perfect but helps a bit. I try to use that often but there are till some people who don't understand it and some who don't want to.
When I don't have the phone app on, I still have some people who talk to me as if I can hear them, it's frustrating but I just nod or agree,
I am the other way round, I can see but can't hear, most people are nice about it fortunately but there are still some who are rude even though I can still talk, I am ignored by a select few I won't mention just because I am now Deaf

capfantastic

Travelling is risky at the best of times. Good on you for your adventurous spirit.

Superstar666$

Don’t have to have a disability to be invisible, just be old!

MandMm

It's great that you can, and do travel. I am 40, and have always wanted to go to the USA, 10 years ago I got a disease which requires me to have chemo every 6 weeks in a hospital, and unexpected lupus pops up randomly putting me in hospital, and I weill get random periods from 3 to 14 days consecutive, where I can't speak, I can't walk, and I'm sweating and ahsking, and i tlooks like a drug overdoes, then progresses into what looks like a fever with a constant panic attack. So given that, I am scared that if I travel, it's going to hit, and I wont have access to the help I neeed, or I will have to spend up to 2 weeks of my trip in my hotel room/hospital. I worry about the financial implications. And as far as people being rude, I would only fear that I would have to work harder to reassure people that I am simply 'coping with symptoms', and not having a hear/panic attack, or that i'm not infected with some crazy disease. Not to mention moving around and the medications that I need for the head to toe arthritis and bone/tendon fussion that came with it. So Ultimately, people being a bit rude towards you, or you perceive them to be rude, it's simply because not everyone understands your needs nor do they have the education in their disease. It's easy to get angry at others for 'treating you different' when you are disabled, but again, no one goes out of their way for fun, to make disabled people's lives misearble, and there are people out there who understand.

kate1

It's great that you can, and do travel. I am 40, and have always wanted to go to the USA, 10 years ago I got a disease which requires me to have chemo every 6 weeks in a hospital, and unexpected...

Whatever you have that may make travel more difficult, just work out the risks, the costs associated with those and finally answer the question, “Am I prepared to pay the costs, if what I was afraid of actually happens?” You then have a choice. Will I or won’t I go ahead. What a difference it makes to your whole being when the mindset shifts from being helpless to the one making the decision. You get your power back and you stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Happy travels to all, whatever your challenges may be.

kate1

It's great that you can, and do travel. I am 40, and have always wanted to go to the USA, 10 years ago I got a disease which requires me to have chemo every 6 weeks in a hospital, and unexpected...

Whatever you have that may make travel more difficult, just work out the risks, the costs associated with those and finally answer the question, “Am I prepared to pay the costs, if what I was afraid of actually happens?” You then have a choice. Will I or won’t I go ahead. What a difference it makes to your whole being when the mindset shifts from being helpless to the one making the decision. You get your power back and you stop feeling sorry for yourself.
Happy travels to all, whatever your challenges may be.

jtmorri

I would have pressed the button or had the person next to you press it for you and ask for anything that you had needed. They may have thought you were fine and since you hadn't asked that you didn't require anything.

You do have to communicate your needs to others as they aren't mind readers. Maybe their training informs them not to treat people with a disability differently as this can be seen as condescending behaviour.

I think it is only bad manner when you ask and then are ignored or brush off and not when you choose not to interact.

jtmorri

I did press the button to request water and when they attended said they would be back shortly. Unfortunately they did not return. The second time she said in a minute and didn’t return. The third...

That is extremely rude and poor customer service.
I would contact the airline and submit a complaint.
Provide date, time of flight etc and flight number. Anything you know about the inappropriate airline crew member can be included.
Keep travelling.

Goulah

I would have pressed the button or had the person next to you press it for you and ask for anything that you had needed. They may have thought you were fine and since you hadn't asked that you...

I did press the button to request water and when they attended said they would be back shortly. Unfortunately they did not return. The second time she said in a minute and didn’t return. The third time she was short with me and avoided me for the remainder of the journey.

ekaj

I'm so sorry you have been treated this way, especially by the aircraft crew. I have a mobility disability and have never been treated rudely by aircraft or airport people. The general public on the other hand are always self-centred, on their phones or just inconsiderate. Like you people seem to think I am invisable. I am lucky that I don't need help with reading things, but I find people will push in front of me to get to the counter or to see some goods. I use a walking stick and a mobility scooter and with both of these people still don't see me.

Unfortunately I think all or most people with a disability are treated this way.

As to your travel plans, if you want to go somewhere, then go. You will not cause problems for others and you should feel you can go where ever you like. You are independent and self-sufficient. You deserve to be treated with respect. I am sure you treat those around you with respect and enjoy being in the company of others. Don't listen to those who tell you to stay at home.

As you say you are elderly, then you have contributed to society over a working life. Now go out and enjoy yourself.

PGS

Funnily enough when I politely passed my concerns at the end of my flight to a staff member I was told “but you look normal”. I was also told that the flight crew were contractors so that was why...

"I was also told that the flight crew were contractors" is not a reason, just an excuse. Letter to HQ...

Goulah

I'm so sorry you have been treated this way, especially by the aircraft crew. I have a mobility disability and have never been treated rudely by aircraft or airport people. The general public on...

Funnily enough when I politely passed my concerns at the end of my flight to a staff member I was told “but you look normal”. I was also told that the flight crew were contractors so that was why the standard was not as high as usual.