Disability Travel - Hi all, I've been a member but never posted here

At least not in this section!
I asked in the general forums last time I flew about accommodations or what I should do etc when flying while disabled. They were lovely and solved my problems, but pointed me here.
I have no flights coming up until December but thought I would stop in and say hello as I am starting planning holiday accommodations for this coming December:)

Luckily I have never had a major issue flying. I have Cerebral Palsy, on bad days I use a wheelchair, most days I use a walker and I'm deaf in my right ear. I think I have it down to a science explaining my disability to the able bodied next to me, and that they need not worry if I shake like I'm cold or don't hear them. My biggest problem is that I am petrified of take offs and landings (thus why I joined this site) so I always have to talk myself into it and find something exciting about the trip. Books at the airport gift shop usually cheer me up :)

I have only had one issue when flying, and that was when an agent insisted I walk from the jet way to the plane...I made it, clinging to the walls for dear life. Other then that, it's been just the usual cancelled flights :)

So glad this forum is here for disabled passengers! I have only flown back and forth from SFO to SEA many times, never been anywhere else

Welcome to this section of FT. While much of my time is spent over in the other forums I do drop by here once in awhile to see what other disabled travelers are dealing with. I'm sorry you had the one experience of walking the jetway. I use leg braces myself and cannot do stairs... although I am able to walk somewhat I have found it so much easier to request a wheelchair escort from ticketing to my gate. The gate agents are then clued into my challenge and do all they can to assist me to my seat. Hope that helps.

Welcome to the Disability Travel Forum!

One of my golden rules for TWD (traveling while disabled) is to make things as simple as possible for the people you're dealing with. While we understand that people who use wheelchairs may be able to stand, walk some, walk on level surfaces, walk up steps if there are handrails, etc, etc, for the employees we're dealing with it's pretty black and white: ambulatory/non-ambulatory; hearing/deaf; sighted/blind.

So just keep it simple. If asked if you can walk up stairs, and you can walk up 3 but not 10, or up stairs if there's a railing but not if there isn't, say no.

Hi and welcome. I always go for the easy route. Wheelchair all the way for me otherwise I would be in too much pain by the time I got on the flight. I've got Fibromyalgia and Osteo Arthritis. You will find lots of hints here to help your journey pass wth as few problems as possible.