Why it takes so long to plan a trip
Last time it was Hawaii, this time it’s Italy.
The hotel claims 2 accessible rooms.
My inquiry:
Please send me information on your rooms that are suitable for the disabled:
Room number?
Rate in late October, 2008?
Steps at hotel entrance?
How many?
How high?
Width of entrance door?
Elevator?
Width of elevator door?
Length of elevator?
Width of room door?
Distance between bed and wall?
Height of bed?
Width of bathroom door?
Roll in shower?
Grab bars?
Shower stool?
Handheld shower?Please add any other information that may be helpful.
Thank you.
Their reply:
Dear Madame,
we could have for the requested period 2 double rooms with private bath-room, all suitable for disabled people.
Everything, the hotel entrance, the elevator, the access to the breakfast room, showers inside the bath-room and distances between the bed and the wall are specific for wheelchair users.
When You’ll know the exactly arrival and departure dates, we’ll be glad to send You a special offer regarding these two double rooms.Waiting for your kindly request, we remain with our best regards.
Alessio - Reception
Sigh. Needless to say, there will be several more weeks of back and forth.
India - Guide Dogs Allowed to Fly
The aviation ministry has approved the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) new rules allowing dogs to fly. But don’t worry about dogfights in the air. The new rule applies only to those canines guiding humans “with disability and/or reduced mobility”.
I like the “don’t worry” part (yes, that’s sarcasm). Full story at Guide Dogs Allowed to Fly.
Air New Zealand Says “No”
A Christchurch tetraplegic is being forced to pay thousands of dollars for an in-flight carer because Air New Zealand staff cannot help him into his seat.
Make that “will not” instead of “cannot”; other airlines seem to manage it somehow.
Full article: Airline says ‘no’ to help
Karen Stone
I was dismayed to read of the death of Karen Stone in this month’s New Mobility (and surprised that I hadn’t heard already).
Karen Stone, who used illness and writing to teach, dead at 62:
“She wrote about it (having a disability). It was a big thing when she was writing. She wrote about it as a journalist, and there weren’t many people doing that,” Brown said. “I would say she was a pioneer, one of a group of pioneers, in doing that.”
Some of Stone’s writing:
Independent Living Institute columns
Awakening to Disability: Nothing About Us Without Us
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