Travel Ecuador - Disabled Travelers Guide

There are millions of us with limited abilities, and each traveler has unique problems. Here are some of the situations readers have asked about, and the solutions which have been suggested. If you have a problem and would like us to help you, contact us and we will do our best to help resolve your issue.

> Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted through
> disabledtravelersguide.com
> Email: mneve@....
>
>
> QUESTION: how? i have a 33 yr. old son, he acquired TBI in 2004 at the
> age of 29. his father,(the president of a famiy business and i seperated
> after 30 yrs. of marriage because of his lifestyle and abuse to me and
> the children. he had the money for expensive lawyers, i didn't. my son
> is home with me. i am 59 and 3/4 yrs. of age. HE HE :):) and broke. i
> work evenings and do therapy with my son during the day. How do you
> manage to enjoy life? how do you tell disabled people when they are sad
> and fed up that Satan is making you test your faith? how can you help
> them be thankful for life when they are sad? and most of all when you
> wear a mask all day long and look for gas money to take them to therapy,
> how do you smile and say it's going to be fine. after you call friends
> and don't have the guts to ask for money when they have given you their
> time and support. and millionare dad can't.
> I need advice i can't pay for a book, but i respect your love to each
> other. i do know how hard it is walking behind your loved one and wanting
> more for them.
> God Bless You!!!
> m

It has always been our feeling that G_D never places more of a burden on your shoulders than She thinks you can bear. However, it certainly sounds as though your load may be a bit much!

There are several anecdotes in our book that address the very issues weighing on you. You apparently did not notice the book is free. You can read it online or download it as you wish, and I suggest you do so.

Look for the story of the farmer and the pumpkin seed. Read the bit about Nate's response when the doctors told him I would never be able to live a useful or meaningful life. And be sure to read the piece about "The Gambler". After doing so, please write us back and let's see what else can be done for you. Remember, our themes essentially incorporate the thought that one should never give up hope.

As for your ex-husband, rest assured there is a special place being reserved for him elsewhere. As he has sown, so shall he reap.

> Below is the result of your feedback form. It was submitted through
> disabledtravelersguide.com by
l: mountainpacific@....
>
> QUESTION: I have a blind client that would like to holiday in Phuket
> for about a month in April 2008. Can you advise on a guide that would be
> available for
> an extended stay?
> I look forward to your reply
> Thank you

We are not sure anyone decent would be available on such short notice. We
usually plan our trips a year or so in advance because the logistics of
traveling handicapped can be so demanding. As a suggestion, Google
something like "guide thailand" and see what comes up. There are a lot
of young people, out of school between semesters, for example, who would
be more than willing to knock themselves out to help your friend. AS far
as Phuket is concerned, there isn't enough there to keep someone's
interest for a month, unless lying on a beech is something your friend
especially wants to do. The country is fascinating, and offers many
different experiences we hope he/she will consider. A good guide, if
well instructed about her/his needs, abilities and desires, should help
a lot.

Download our ebook and have someone go over the text with your friend.
That will help a lot, too.

Best regards, Nancy

> On Tue, 13 Feb <vegamika@....> said:
>> Hi Nancy!
>>
>> How cool that you two are going for the gusto and really living! And I
>> think it is fantastic that you have created this site to motivate others
>> with disabilities! Thank you!
>>
>> My question is this: part of my disabilities include the need for many
>> medical supplies, some of which are IV solutions which take up a great
>> deal of room, and many of which need refrigeration. With all the
>> restrictions at airports with carry-on stuff, and due to the fear of
>> checked baggage often being lost, etc., I have not been able to travel,
>> even from Minneapolis to southern Illinois where my daughter and her
>> family live. Do you happen to know of any solution to this problem?

There are several things you need to do:

The most important is to engage the airlines as part of the solution. Let them know of your need well before you intend to fly.

The next important thing: you need a note of explanation from your doctor regarding the nature of the materials you are carrying, the need for refrigeration, and a statement as to the fact that what you are bringing with you is absolutely necessary and life-saving. Make several copies of this doctor's statement. Carry one on your person, place one in whatever container you are bringing along, and have a third ever ready to show anyone who stops and/or questions you along the way.

If they make you check your supplies and do not permit you to carry them
aboard, ask them to mark you bag(s) with FRAGILE and SPECIA HANDLING
tags. I would even go so far as to buy a plastic MEDICAL MATERIALS tag.
If this is not available, have one made (check under SIGNS in the Yellow
Pages).

As you board the plane, speak to the chief steward or purser about your
irreplaceable, absolutely must-have materials, and ask him/her to help you see to it that these are carefully delivered to you on landing. If the container you are using is easily portable, ask them to have the bag delivered to you at the fuselage on landing, rather than have the bag off-loaded onto the baggage carousel.

<glengoodear@....> said:
> Good afternoon
>
> I am making inquirys to travel to New Zealand for my father how is totally
> disabled. He is 60 years old, has MS weighs around 130kg and has a
> motorized wheel chair that would weigh a similar amount. He needs to be
> transferred by hoist to and from the chair and it is impossible to move him without >a hoist. In Australia he has a vehicle to travel in and has height
> restrictions because the chair and him in it are quite high. We would love
> to get him to New Zealand his home country for a few weeks and would need
> air travel, vehicle and suitable motel accommodation. Do you have any
> information that would help us get him there?

You probably have as great an assortment of difficulties as imaginable,
yet it is still possible to accomplish what you wish- though it will
necessitate some expense because of all the limitations with which you
must deal. Precisely because of so many special needs, we would suggest
you enlist the aid of an agent.

First, as we advise in our Disabled Travelers Guide, make a list of ALL
the needs you can think of for your Dad. The more you include on the
list, the fewer difficulties you will encounter on the actual trip.

Next, use your computer and Search for "travel agents New Zealand." Then
begin to contact the agents that come up from the search and contact
them with a letter similar to this one you have sent us. Include a copy
of the list you have drawn up so they have a clear idea of what they
need to arrange for you.

In short order, you will have a much greater idea of what will be
required logistically and an approximation of the costs involved. Then
you can make the decision to go or not. We can tell you if you decide to
go, be prepared to see some incredible beauty, as the country is lush
and glorious! Also, you will find the people who live there excited by
the prospects of helping you make your Dad's dreams come true. He will
have a ball.

Please write back and let us know how you make out in this endeavor. We
applaud you for your efforts on his behalf.

Best wishes,

Nancy and Nate Berger

> <nada4109@.... said:
>> Hi Nancy
>>
>> I would like to have a holiday in Greece next year. I have a physical
>> disability so will be traveling with a wheel chair and wheelie walker. My
>> friend will be accompany me, so I will have support in that way.Would you
>> be able to let me know how that will be for my situation.
>>
>> Barbara

Hi, Barb, and thanks for writing! As you can see from our pictures of
our trip to Greece, we had no problems- and you shouldn't, either. You
may want to check ahead on your planned itinerary, however, as the
country is mountainous and some of the areas are not really accessible
to people in wheelchairs. Advance planning is the key. All things are
possible.

When you get back, please write me and let me know how things went for
you. Perhaps you can even offer some new ideas/suggestions I can include
on the website.

Best regards,

Nancy

<luckylep@....> said:
> I have a question about your wheelchair. I might be going to D.C. with
> my husband, son, and my son's grade school class. Is your wheelchair an
> all terrain vehicle, and is it heavy? Does it travel well (airplane)?

You can find out about the wheelchair at www.landeez.com In fact, if
you click on the "Photo Gallery" the fist two photos are of me.

The chair has a mix and match set of interchangeable wheels, suitable
for any terrain you will encounter. With the largest set of wheels, it
weighs only 36 pounds. It does travel well, but takes some practice and
patience when breaking it down to store in the trunk of your car- or a
taxi. If it is raining, you will get soaked putting it together or
breaking it down. However, it is the single best piece of adaptive
technology we have found. It is expensive, a bit over $2,000, but has
enabled us to have access to places we would otherwise have found
impossible. Purchasing it required some re-working of our budget, but it
was well worth it.

Let us know how you get along.

I found your web site when I was browsing the Internet. I went straight to it because I am also disabled and I love to travel. I haven't, however, since I became disabled. I've been one those persons who has limited myself because of my physical problems. I am still able to walk, but I have to walk with two canes. If I have to go a longer distance, I have an electric wheel chair.

I've also sat around feeling sorry for myself. My husband left me after 27 years. We had a wonderful marriage, I thought. Our daughters thought so too It turned out that he had a girl friend he'd been seeing for over ten years. They are married now. It was a shocker not only to me and our daughters, but to all our friends and neighbors. We were very active in our church where we both had a ministry with teenagers. Needless to say, it was shocking to them too.

I've been by myself now for seven years. God and time has helped the raw pain of his leaving and He has helped me not to feel as sorry for myself as I did in the beginning. I'm thankful for 27 wonderful years. My situation is difficult though, because he was the one who packed my wheel chair whenever we traveled around the US

Nancy, I had tears running down my cheeks when I read about you and Nate. I know that you must feel so loved and cherished by your husband. Nate's writing paints a beautiful picture of a great love for his wife. You are blessed and I know that he is blessed for being such a good and caring husband. My heart feels filled with joy for what you too share. I am praying for a man just like Nate!

I really enjoyed reading about your trips and the bit of history about your strokes. I am in awe at your blossoming from a person many would have shuffled off to a nursing home to a woman who could realize her desire to travel. And how you too have traveled. Wow! Nate, I am really looking forward to being able to download your free book. Will there be a link on your website? I am looking forward to reading it.

I live on a very limited income now days, so I doubt that I'll be able to do as much as I would like to do, but having explored your web site,... your optimism and refusal to succumbing to "I can't do that," has lifted my heart and has encouraged me to adopt the same attitude. So thank you!!! Thank you so very much for taking the time to write and share pictures with me (and others). I am looking forward to reading your book. I hope that the Lord blesses you over and over again;