That Time They Forgot I Was On The Plane

I’ve been catching up on Handicap This! webisodes I spent the first 2 weeks of May preparing to travel, traveling, and then recovering from the travel; so watching webisode #13, titled “US-Careways,” seemed very appropriate.

Feel free to watch before you continue reading.

My experiences traveling are different than Mike’s although there are enough similarities to relate.

Here’s the thing about traveling with a disability (from my experience), no experience is ever the same; even with something as standard as TS@ procedures.

I have family settling in North Carolina (with Florida being a close 2^nd) faster than should probably be allowed. I needed to figure out streamlining my air travel to anywhere in North Carolina or else my wallet would continue to be emptied in BWI out of sheer boredom.

There’s also the matter of traveling from point A (my home) to point B (North Carolina) could take anywhere from a 2 hour flight to an 8 hour day (if more than 1 flight & layovers are involved).

I got lucky when I remembered that Charlotte is a hub for a major airline (you can probably guess the airline that shall remain nameless) & my cousin agreed to let me be her family 3^rd wheel for a few days.

At least I thought I was lucky (see: title of this post).

I did everything possible to prepare airline staff of my needs. I told them what I needed & asked questions for further clarification. I got nervous when I boarded the aircraft; due to its size, but sitting by the window helped. I slept the entire flight thinking I was in the clear.

I like to sit towards the back of the aircraft for two reasons, it’s easier on my spine & the grounds crew needs time to retrieve my wheelchair, sitting towards the back allows them to do this without agitating me.

 As I approached the door of the aircraft to deplane I caught the eye of one of the flight attendants.

“Oh no. We forgot you were onboard. Will you need a ramp?”   

 You what? Will I what?

I look out the door to see a flight of airplane stairs & they’re steep.

I guess that’s what that ‘do not walk behind the wings of the aircraft’ warning was all about. And come to think about it no one asked about whether I’d need assistance upon arrival.

Now I know to bring it up before leaving the departure gate before boarding……

I was tempted to ask the flight attendant just how she thought they’d set up a ramp safely now that half the plane was empty and the other half were waiting, but I held my tongue. I told the person I was traveling with (another cousin) to go in front of me so I would have a better grasp on spatial awareness (by looking at her shoulders instead of the stairs).

I made it down the stairs & I looked for my wheelchair, which was placed (brakes on, to my surprise) in front of the wing, just barely.

While waiting for my luggage to be unloaded I snapped a picture of the plane to send to friends & family, with not so comical commentary, to let them know we had arrived safely. Not long, maybe 3 seconds, after I press send I start getting replies.

“How did you make it down the stairs?”

“Didn’t you tell someone you needed help?”

“What if you couldn’t walk?”

The last question was the one that really got to me. I’m fortunate that I have good enough mobility that I can make do when unexpected situations arise. As unpleasant as being a forgotten passenger was the situation could’ve been worse. I could’ve been stuck on the plane until they got the ramp, however that would’ve happened.

Getting into the terminal was another challenge. I was told, and I’ve also read, beforehand that the Charlotte airport is going though major renovations. I hope this is true, because if things stay as they were a few weeks ago the accessibility is pretty terrible.

I hope that eventually, meaning sooner rather than later, that every flight can be given a jet-way that leads straight into the terminal so stairs and/or the need for additional ramps isn’t even a thought.

I’ll probably use the airline & the airport again. It wouldn’t be my first choice. If there is a next time, for whatever reason, I’ll be better prepared. I hope the airline will be as well.

When I’ve retold my experience to others they’re shocked that the flight crew forgot I was on board. It wasn’t the first time it’s happened & it probably won’t be the last. I do my best to express my needs and concerns to who needs to know, and maybe a few who don’t. That’s all I can do. But that doesn’t make it suck any less.

Do you have any interesting travel stories?

HAWMC: Review

I did a recap page for Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month I wanted to do the same for HAWMC so everything can be found in one place.

Instead of listing just the title of the post I listed the prompt subject from WEGO Health before the post title. Hopefully it gives you a better idea of what HAWMC is all about

 Getting Started: Why I: Write
Introductions: Let Me Introduce Myself
Wordless Wednesday: Symbols Of My Condition
Sharing Resources: The Best Resources
Aspiration: If I Could Do Anything…..
Letters: A Note To Self
Sensationalize: It’s So Sensational!
Animals: Lions? Tigers? Or Bears?
Caregiving: Handle With Care
Wordless Wednesday: A Favorite Picture
Favorites: Apps That Make Me Happy
Hindsight: Hindsight Is 20/20
Haiku: CP: The Poem
Spread The Love: Spreading The Love
Sharing: Sharing Is Caring
Misinformation: Have You Been Misinformed?
Wordless Wednesday: Wordle
”I Take It Back…..”: A Take Back
Vintage: A Vintage Photo
Burnout: Feeling The Burn
Adversity: Adversity Controversy
Day To Day: 10 Things I Can’t Live Without
Technology: If There Were No Social Media
Wordless Wednesday: Three Pictures Of My Health Focus
Learning: I’d Like To Teach The World….
Pain-Free Pass: A Pain Free Pass
Titles: My Book Of Days
Must Follow!: Follow Along
Congratulations: A Victory Lap
Recap: My HAWMC Recap

BADD ’13: Is There Internal Prejudice?

Today is Blogging Against Disablism Day If you want to know more about Blogging Against Disablism Day visit Diary Of A Goldfish. She outlines it better than I ever could, since she founded it and all.

I’m something of a BADD veteran; I say that with the only qualification being that I couldn’t remember how many years I’ve participated until I looked it up.

I think there’s an assumption that the disability community is one of the most accepting communities out there. I’m not saying that it’s a correct assumption or not since it’s impossible to judge such a thing. I just think it’s an interesting assumption. I wonder where it comes from, the reasons behind it and such.

Maybe people think it’s because most people with a lifelong disability were teased at some point and that’s what makes them more accepting, you know, because others haven’t been of them, or something.

Earlier this year someone gave me the idea that others (in the disability community) might see me as a faker because I use a wheelchair.

I thought this was a strange statement. I had never considered the possibility, even though it probably has happened, at least once. Even though I never considered this before I’ve put a lot of thought into it now. I’m not saying it’s been in the forefront of my mind for months but it’s been a passing thought (more than once).

 It’s not that I’m oblivious to the idea that I’m judged based on my abilities and/or disabilities. In fact I know it’s going to happen, so much so that I brought it up in a job interview.

I don’t remember what the question was, or even my full answer, but I remember saying that there have been times that I’ve been seen as “not disabled enough” and how I thought that was a form of prejudice.

Then I waited to for the interviewer to hang up the phone, thus ending the interview. Actually I thought about hanging up the phone myself to save myself the embarrassment, or even worse, more questions (especially ones that could result in a bad interview & then not getting a position I really wanted).

I think it’s a common problem of Cerebral Palsy (although I could be wrong). Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella condition, meaning it varies in severity. I wasn’t able to get a wheelchair of my own until insurance requirements changed. The rational was, “she can walk, so she doesn’t need a wheelchair.” Never mind that CP causes muscle fatigue and assistive devices, like a wheelchair, can help with that.

I’m no stranger to prejudice. I think that goes for anyone who considers themselves to be part of the disability community. That’s not what I want to explore. Been there done that. But are there ever internal prejudices within the community, as there are in the “outside” world?

If I was going to think this though, which I’m not sure I have that’s why I’m putting out there on the internet, I’d have to start with myself. Do I judge people? Do I have prejudices? Of course I do; to put it very simply. (I admit shamefully)

As much as I say I’d rather focus on abilities than disabilities it’s largely with people that I know and in controlled situations. Someone walking or even rolling down the street? That’s often another story.

I’m not sure when or how it turned into judgment, but somewhere along the line it did. All I really wanted to do was know a person’s story, but was never brave enough to ask. (Or at least that’s what I told myself.)

In an attempt to defend myself I’m going to tell you that this doesn’t stay within the disability community. It happens with everyone I pass on the street or see on a daily basis. I’m a non discriminating judger of people.

Now that I’ve caught myself (and called myself out) on it I’m going to be more mindful of my actions, known and unknown to those around me.

What do you think? Does the disability community have internal prejudices?

For more BADD posts visit Diary of A Goldfish, The BADD Facebook Page, or BADD on Twitter.

HAWMC Recap

I’m participating in WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month.

Recap my experience?

Here’s my best shot with what brain cells I have left.

 I had so much fun with this challenge, but I’m glad it’s come to a close. I haven’t been a “post a day” type of girl in a while, but it was fun to try it again. I can’t tell you how much the prompts helped in this process. Sometimes I need to be given a focus instead of finding one myself.

It’s been really hard to pick my favorite post. They were all very different when it came to how I should approach them, even if it may not seem like it to some of you, so that makes them all different on some level. But I do have a few favorites.

My favorite posts involved sharing my “Cerebral Palsy favorites”; from resources, to blogs & tweets, to apps. It’s good to find out just what you know because someone asked you what you know. If you’re anything like me you never know how much you actually know until you’ve actually said it. Make sense?

I also liked to prompts that focused on lifting all limitations. Like what I would do it time, money, and physical limitations weren’t there anymore and what would I do if I could be pain free for one day.

My least favorite(s) was easy to pick. The Pinterest centered post really was. The Wordle post and the Misinformation post suggesting a Facebook poll were close runners up. I like when technology includes as many people as possible. Everyone doesn’t have a Pinterest account, and not everyone wants one either, so when a prompt called for Pinterest I wasn’t very happy about it, and I wasn’t going to make an account just for one posting.

 Most of the above paragraph could be said about the post suggesting a Facebook poll as well. I only just recently started using Facebook on a regular basis again (to do a headcount of Boston friends after the events of marathon Monday). So I took a chance and asked friends to help me with the polling. Thankfully they were more than happy, I think, to help.

If I had to describe this experience in one word?

Surprising.

I can’t end this post without thanking a few people. I’m practicing for the book I may or may not write sometime in the future To everyone who suggested writing prompts to WEGO Health. Thanks to everyone who tweeted, re-tweeted, favorited, and shared my material. The effects of my activism wouldn’t reach as far without the support. Thanks to Jacqui for being my swap partner and to Christina for being one of the first HAWMC veterans to stop by and say “hi.” Thanks to Ronnie for allowing me to “call him out,” and thank him. I hope I didn’t make you want to die of embarrassment. Finally I have to say an extra special thanks to Katy & Andi who allowed me to borrow their time, experience, and social network pages.

If you want to find out more about Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge visit their blog, Facebook, Twitter.

A Victory Lap

I’m participating in WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month.

Today’s supposed to be my “victory lap,” of sorts. HAWMC comes to a close tomorrow (Yay!). I’m supposed to share three things I love about myself, things I’m great at, or just want to share.

Oh the choices……

What can I say that I haven’t already said?

The second part will be the harder goal to accomplish.

Forgive me if I don’t accomplish it.

Let’s just go with “what I want to share,” it seems like the easiest thing to stick to.

1. I’m really proud of myself for sticking with this challenge for the whole month. I thought maybe I’d stick to the 5 post a week schedule and leave the “leftovers” for another time, like when I’ve hit a blogging dry spell. In fact I was so sold on this idea I printed out the HAWMC prompts and highlighted the ones I wanted to stick to in one color, the posts I considered to be easy “fillers” another color, and the ones I planned on saving for later got no highlight.

 Thanks to some help and advice from friends I was able to expand my technological horizons AND buckle down to compose every post. Take that my non existent Pinterest account and no blog related Facebook page!

2. I’m not as great at this blogging thing as I thought I was. I always wish my stats would be higher, let’s face it everyone does, no matter what they say. I’ve been blogging for longer than I care to remember in some form or another. Longevity does not mean I know what I’m doing. In fact the longer I write the more I find out what I don’t know, and probably should.

 I’m not sure how I’ll proceed come May 2^nd, or more accurately later in May because I’ll probably take a break, but I’m looking into doing things differently. I have a renewed passion for blogging. I’m thinking it’s not a bad idea to find a way to use my blog to grow my growing business. Why not multi-task?

 3. As tired as this whole month has made me it’s also forced me to prioritize and all that stuff; in a way I haven’t done since college (well like I thought I did in college). It’s funny almost; I get emails from people all the time telling me how much my blog has given them, or even inspired them. I don’t think they realize how much this blog, and then their wanting to make a connection with me, has done for me.

 Wow that was a lot more of a downer post than a victory lap.

If you want to find out more about Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge visit their blog, Facebook, Twitter.