Flying and wheelchairs, how well do they mix?

'Not much space to manoeuvre!'

An article about travelling with disability caught my eye –

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9628630/Disabled-fliers-face-hurt-and-humiliation.html

Reading this article brought back many memories and a hundred and one stories that I could tell.

Probably the worst story of all of them is about when I was in transit in Birmingham, UK after three weeks working and holidaying in Canada. I was en route to Munich and I was left somewhere in the middle of the airfield with my wheelchair-user partner because we did not fit in the bus taking everyone from one plane to the terminal for transfer. I had suggested that they ask about ten people to get out of the bus, load up the wheelchair and then get the other people in after, but no, this was not necessary as another bus was on its way!

I expect you can guess what happened. No other bus turned up and we stood like dummies on the tarmac. Eventually when the same bus returned, luckily the driver thought to check what had happened to us, it took us to the gate for the next plane. However when we arrived at the gate it had been closed for about two minutes!

No amount of arguing that it was through their doing that we where late could convince them that we should be let on the plane. I have no memory of what happened to the luggage, 

I assume that they had to take it off the plane.

We missed the flight!

I had to use all my remaining energy to get the airline to agree to me using their phone to cancel my clients for the following day’s work and to re-schedule our wheelchair-friendly transport for the two-hour trip home from the airport.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9628630/Disabled-fliers-face-hurt-and-humiliation.html

As far as I remember we got a night in a hotel with dinner far more expensive than the allowance they had given us and the flight home the next day. Compensation for anything else was not forthcoming!

I expect that there are many others who have a hundred-and-one such stories that they could tell.

Have things really improved over the past ten years as the article states?

I think attitudes have changed, wheelchair-users on the whole do not get ignored as much as they used to; my partner would ask a question and then be ignored while I received an answer that I often did not understand.

I am not sure that the actual facilities have changed in the planes themselves, it is still really difficult to get into seats and into toilets, but as far as I have experienced the facilities on the ground, in the airports, are much better.

Any other stories to tell?

Any solutions, improvements or travel tips to pass on?

Creativity gets the new school year off to a good start

A roman bracelet perhaps? 
It is certainly something fit for a princess!

Fun comes hand-in-hand the new school year

Oh, what fun it is to get back to work after a couple of weeks on holiday and jump straight into a really exciting arty project.

The association where I work in Nürnberg is celebrating fifty years of providing help of all sorts to disabled clients and their families!

‘That’s the golden anniversary’ I said to the boss when we met at the summer fete in June, and that is how the event that we have been asked to present at the City Hall on Friday got its name – ‘The Golden Fashion Show’.

Ten children have been given permission to leave school and Kindergarten early on Friday so that they can walk the cat-walk in their hand-made costumes in front of the Mayor and Lady Mayoress, and all the presidents, directors, governors, and many more big-wigs, who will be making, and listening to, speeches. We have been invited to provide a break, in what otherwise could be a rather dull occasion, by contributing just a little bit of glitter and some glamour.

When I got back from my holiday I was thrilled to discover that so many people had got involved in collecting ‘golden rubbish’ from which we have created our Haute Couture Recycled Collection 2012. There were bags full of sweet wrappings, coffee packaging and even some emergency foil blankets, for the children to choose from to create their costumes.

The children are just full of ideas and have a really clear image of what they wish to look like when they have their artworks finished.

Someone asked me today whether we were under pressure of time and feeling the stress of the important occasion.

Of course not!  

The children are so excited and having a ball, dressing up in their golden robes and making sure that everything fits and stays just where they want it.

A fairy and a prince with his golden steed!

The only costume that is not yet finished is my own. But it will be ready soon. It has to be as my dress rehearsal is tomorrow evening!

Olympic fever, it is still not all over!

The Olympic Stadium, Stratford, London, 3rd September 2012

With the Paralympic Games ending this evening, with national and perhaps also international interest in sports for people with disabilities at a high, I thought I would mention that a UK charity called LimbPower are presenting a Primary & Junior Games that will be held at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium, where the very first Paralympic games took place, on 15th and 16th September.

The organisers at LimbPower, whose logo includes the sentence ‘Life after limb-loss’ tell us –

‘This exciting event will introduce young amputees and the young ambulant disabled to a range of sporting activities in a safe, friendly and inclusive environment.’

‘... six to 11 year olds will have a chance to try out a variety of sports including athletics, cycling, football, table tennis, tennis and swimming under the guidance of experienced mentors and instructors. The emphasis is on fun while encouraging the children to have a go at sports and socialise with their peers.’

This well timed event should be a great success if what I experienced of the Paralympic enthusiasm when I was in England last week is anything to judge by. I hope some of those gold medalists find the time to visit the Stoke Mandeville Stadium and motivate these youngster some more.

Notes

http://www.dysnet.org/Keep_Paralympic_Fever_going_for_the_Junior_Games_At_Stoke_Mandeville!

First steps

'Summer flower' 2012

I wonder whether this film could be used to describe conductive upbringing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8323913/Baby-gorilla-takes-first-steps.html

I love the way that this mum gently insists that her toddler spends a bit longer trying out its new found legs and arms. It is amazing how delicately she moves a hand to the right position so baby can hold its weight on its arm and how she knows exactly how little she should help so a movement can take place.

As a conductor I learnt a lot from this gorilla mum!