Florida . . . and How to Get There

Every once in a while a really useful book comes across my desk. My latest discovery is Wheel-chairs on the Go: Accessible Fun in Florida.

It’s of particular use to me because I live here, but since we get more tourists than any other state in the union I assume many readers will value this 424-page guidebook as much as I do.

Written by Michelle Stigleman, whose husband is a quadriplegic, and Deborah Brunt, this book is jam-packed with descriptions of access to beaches, theme parks, tourist attractions, sports stadiums, lodging, typical vacation activities, plus quirky fun and thrills.

For example, the guide lists 80 beaches that loan beach wheelchairs to cross the sand. It mentions Reef Raiders in Key West, which has a hoist to lift snorkelers in and out of the water from a roll-aboard catamaran, and the town of Mount Dora, where you can find accessible adventures in gliders, hang gliders and hot air balloons.

Photo courtesy of Wheelchair on the Go

Another interesting site is Foxfire Golf Club in Sarasota, which has adaptive golf carts that swivel out so you can take your swings. There’s even a listing for an RV Center that rents an RV with a wheelchair lift, roll-in shower and hand controls.

If none of these appeals to you, the book also describes fishing piers, party boats, rental boats and charters that can accommodate anglers in wheelchairs. You can either roll on board, or staff can help lift you aboard in your wheelchair or into a boat seat.

The book tells you where to sign up for turkey, deer and other hunts specifically open to physically disabled hunters and where to find hunting lodges with guides and adaptive equipment.

By far my favorite feature is the comprehensive list of bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), resorts, hotels and motels with details such as the heights of the beds, open bedframes where lifts can be used, roll-under sinks and the numbers of rooms with roll-in showers. You’ll also find listings for condos, houses for rent, cabins, campgrounds and houseboats.

Here is a typical listing, this one for a B&B in Key West:

“Cypress House, circa 1888, is 1 block E of downtown and has an ADA

The description goes on to mention parasailing at Sunset Watersports in Key West, where a crew helps put wheelchair users into boats, and then into parasailing harnesses.

Wheelchairs on the Go is avail-able in bookstores, online at www.wheelchairsonthego.com and by phone at (888) 245-7300 or (727) 573-0434.

Ed Long: When the Going Was Bad

I had an interesting telephone interview with Ed Long, the recipient of MDA’s 2002 Personal Achievement Award for Hawaii and a finalist for the national MDA award. Ed was selected for the honor because he’s focused for decades on improving the rights of and access for people with disabilities. He’s also worked in the banking and advertising industries and has written several books about living and traveling with a disability.

Ed has been affected since early childhood by Becker muscular dystrophy and has used a wheelchair since he was 19. He’s now 65 and for 15 years has used an electric wheelchair with a respirator attached to the back.

Before moving to Hawaii in 1999, Ed lived in Boston and San Diego and spent time in Japan and India. I wanted to find out what traveling was like in times before accessibility was a widely acknowledged issue.

Ed Long with wife Sachiko and daughter Yuuki

Ed told me about an experience he had in 1970 when he wanted to fly from Los Angeles to Honolulu. In those days for a flight of several hours, the airline required a certificate from his doctor stating that he’d been medically dehydrated — that he’d had no liquids in the last 24 hours. They wanted to make sure he wouldn’t need to urinate during the flight!

Because he didn’t have the certificate he wasn’t allowed to board. His friend who went to meet the plane in Hawaii called him and asked, “Where are you?”

“I’m not dehydrated,” he replied.

“In those days,” Ed told me, “when I showed up for a flight with a respirator the airline used to go crazy.” Since much of his travel occurred before airports had jetways, Ed was often placed on board by the forklift that loaded the food. Forklifts had no sides or railings to hold onto, so going up was risky business. “I’d roll in with dinner,” Ed said.

Ed visited Bombay in 1975. His plane was met by a very large Indian man who picked him up under his arms and legs and carried him off the plane like a baby. Ed asked him what his regular job was and he told him that was it — carrying people who needed help off the airplane.

“I meet every plane,” he said. Four months later when Ed was returning home the same man was still there — this time to carry him onto the plane!

Southwest Gets It Right

Speaking of airplane trips, I’ve been converted into a true fan of Southwest Airlines. If Southwest goes anywhere you’re going, I urge you to fly with them. It will be the most hassle-free airline trip you’re ever likely to take.

I recently flew Southwest on three successive legs of a trip. Unlike other airlines, Southwest didn’t require gate agents to fill out an elaborate, time-consuming form about my scooter battery. They asked me if it was a dry battery, and when I said yes, they attached a red tag to it saying it was safe.

That whole process took about 30 seconds. When I got to the gate they put me at the head of the preboarding line and then did an unheard-of thing: They invited me to roll my scooter right onto the plane.

Since Southwest has no first-class or business seats and since no seats are reserved or allocated in advance, I was able to transfer right into the first-row bulkhead seats.

Even more amazingly, at all three airports when the flights landed my scooter

I also found the Southwest personnel to be friendly and caring. None of them acted as if they considered my special needs to be a problem or a nuisance.

If that’s not enough, Southwest offers some really cheap fares.

To see whether Southwest flies where you want to go or for special Internet fares, check it out online at www.southwest.com or call (800)IFLYSWA.