After security, we rode the tram.Īt the gate, she helped me with my boarding pass by talking to the airline representative. It was a sad moment to separate from my husband, but I felt confident with my lanyard and flight ambassador. She was able to walk with us until I had to get in line for security. She explained the process to me and my husband. My ambassador helped me check in with my airline and checked my bag. They not only help people with disabilities, but also celebrities. Read more: From pink pencil to nonprofit: How a writing utensil ignited a passion for tutoring in our communityįlight ambassadors are volunteers who help make the journey through the airport smooth and seamless. She assisted me with airport procedures and helped to navigate the airport. My flight ambassador greeted my husband and me warmly with my lanyard and a bag of items. Hearing of this program and other services also gave reassurance to my husband. My dad warned me not to talk to strangers and my mom told me that she will always worry about me. The worry of a parent, especially of a child with a disability, never ends. Information about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program and the flight ambassador eased their fears somewhat. Some of their worries were the same as mine with navigating the airport and transportation at my destination. My parents, while supportive of me traveling, also had concerns. (Photo by Clare Sheedy/PublicSource) Baggage claim confusionįinding the Hidden Sunflower Program not only eased my concerns, but those of my family as well. Read more: Three incidents made me feel like an outsider in Pittsburgh - and drove me to make other Latinos feel included Michelle Steiner displays her photography. I had concerns about whether I could do this in an unfamiliar location, solo. I have learned how to navigate transportation and access my local community independently. Not having a clear path makes it difficult for me to walk in snow, and impossible for a person with a wheelchair. Many times, homeowners do not shovel or clear their walks. In the winter it can be hard when snow and ice cover the walks to form a slippery sheet. Many of them are cracked and uneven and have caused me to trip and fall. Sidewalks can be difficult to manage, though. I get to notice other details that other people may miss from driving. Additional benefits to this are extra walking steps, and the chance to photograph beautiful flowers and other things in nature. I am fortunate to live in a walkable community so I can often get to where I need to on foot. There were also a few occasions when they forgot to pick me up and left me scrambling for a ride at the last minute. I never knew what time the bus was coming, and they were either extremely early or late. I rode ParaTransit for people with disabilities but found the service to be more trouble than it was worth. Not having bus service was one of the reasons I decided to move out of the country area that I grew up in. Many people who live in the country or other rural areas do not have many options. Read more: Med student: Can church basement card games keep seniors out of hospitals? Fortunately, my husband can take me where I need to go. The city bus service is limited and only goes through the town. I am lucky to be in the middle of a small town that does have a few stores, coffee shops, businesses and a gym. I am not able to drive because of my disability and have few transportation options in the small town that I live in. Some people with disabilities can’t drive, while others who have them can. Having my phone set up for alerts helps me to have information on my departures.Īnother barrier for people with disabilities is driving. It is hard for me to visually track the time for my route, while seeing the other ones listed. I also have difficulty with processing changing travel display boards. I have had difficulty with swiping the card in time to open the gate. I have also struggled to use the turnstiles in stations. The station may also have one that is working, but the location may be hard to find. Finding a working elevator can be difficult many of them are frequently out of service. I have also struggled with using subway systems while traveling. Transportation is an issue for many people, but especially those with disabilities.
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