NO-SNEAK OXYGEN
In answer to your caller who was told she, "would have to sneak her oxygen into hotels when she travels" (Sp 2001, pg. 12). I have travelled with oxygen since 2/99. I have never had to sneak my oxygen into motels/hotels. In fact I use a "concentrator machine" that plugs into the vial and makes oxygen. I am hooked up to tubing, and a nose canula. There is no way to sneak that in. The doctor may have that confused with the airlines. They don't want your oxygen tanks used on their airlines. They want you to "pay $75.00 or $100.00, to use their oxygen," and you have to notify them in advance. This presents the problem of how do you get from your car into the terminal and board the plane without your own oxygen???
When we travel in our motorhome, we use the concentrator also. When not on the concentrator, I use the small tanks of portable oxygen. We make arrangements with an oxygen supplier where we will be going to rent their bottles. We have to pay for them and then submit the bills to our insurance provider to be reimbursed. The companies will deliver them to where we are staying and pick them up when we leave. Or we drop off the tanks as we leave town. I think the best idea would be for her to call the hotel she will be staying at and ask what their policy is for "oxygen dependent customers." Be sure to ask for the manager, because most desk clerks may not know the answers.
Carolyn Prochazka
via e-mail
REFILLS AT HOTEL
My son has been disabled 18 years. We travel a lot and oxygen has never been a problem. The oxygen companies even come to the hotel lobby to refill the tank once a week.
Michelle Donaldson
Florida
RESTRICTS TRAVEL
We feel that one critical item was not addressed in the excellent article, "Check It Out Before You Check In," (Sp. 2001, p. 66). The one thing that is needed is the capability of having a bed high enough to get a patient lift under the bed. We have found that many motels have the beds mounted on a box, we assume, so they don't have to vacuum under them. We must use a patient lift to transfer from wheelchair to bed and back. Transferring cannot be accomplished if the lift cannot get close enough to the bed. We have found that 800 number operators and desk clerks don't understand the problem. For a quad, this restricts travel to a great extent.
Tom & Corrine McLeod
Washington
DISABILITY AWARENESS
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, not Disability Awareness Month as previously reported. Thanks to Jerry Kulhavy for helping set the record straight.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Thank you Andy Vladimir for the article "Steamboating on the Mississippi," (W'2000, p. 54). Like Mr. Vladimir, I usually have to make my own arrangements for accessible shore excursions when cruising on the big ships. Not so on the American Queen. The staff is willing to go the extra mile to make sure that shore excursions are accessible. We have been on a Cajun Culture tour in Baton Rouge, a tour of antebellum homes in Vicksburg and a tour of New Orleans. We were provided with a lift van on all of these tours. On the Cajun Culture and Vicksburg tours we were also provided with our own tour guide. On the antebellum tour, the staff on the American Queen arranged our tour so that we were able to visit homes with accessible first floors.
When it comes to accessible shore excursions, the big cruise lines could learn something from the little guys. In the future, I plan to do my cruising with the little guys.
Donna Decker
Indiana
CORRECTION ON INTAKE
There's an error in my letter (Sp. 2001, p. 17). I should have written:
* 500 mg Calcium 4x/day
* 500 mg chelated Magnesium 4x/day
* 1000 IU Vitamin D daily
* A Trace Mineral daily (selenium & boron)
* The nasal spray: Miacalcin, not Miacaicin.
* Fosamax now comes in a weekly dose.
Catherine Perel
Via email
USE A SIGN - THEN THE COPS
Peggy Claes (Sp. 2001, p. 12) lamented that she frequently encounters other cars with access symbols/signs occupying the striped space next to her vehicle, thus blocking her side entry access, and causing her delays and inconvenience.
This could perhaps be handled if she were to go to a signmaker and have him make her a signboard, hinged at the top, which could be opened and placed alongside her car to serve notice that she needs to use the space which is striped. The signboard might read, "Please leave this space for side access to vehicle." That may not deter some people, but it should deter most people.
If the sign is ignored, she should simply call the police who, hopefully, will write a ticket and remove the offender's car.
James Tapley
Maryland
Editor's Note: Parking on these stripes is illegal in most states.
USE OF ACCESSIBLE RESTROOMS ONGOING PROBLEM
I have run into this problem over and over. When I go to use a disabled restroom, it is often being used by someone who is not disabled when there are regular stalls not in use. I have no choice because I am in a wheelchair, but the able-bodied person can use any stall. I could understand if there were no other stalls available, but this is not the case. I am often touched by the concern that people show me, except when it comes to my most basic needs.
Carol Huey
New York
I am only 5'2", much too short for the "handicapped" toilet. Most of my height is from the top of my head to my waist. I have short, short legs. Before my shoulder gave out, I went myself. Now my husband helps. I am sure that I am not the only short handicapped person. Any suggestions?
Hannah Grilli
Nevada
PARKING JOKE OF THE MONTH
Well, only in Springfield, Illinois can you find signs involving handicapped parking places that would qualify for the joke of the month! Here is my story: My daughter, Christy (who uses a wheelchair) and I went to the Capitol for an appointment. I was looking for a wheelchair accessible parking space. I could not believe the wheelchair parking signs that I saw on every block. The signs have a wheelchair symbol and the parking space is marked like a regular wheelchair space EXCEPT, abovethe symbol is printed "20 minute parking," or "30 minute parking." If you use a wheelchair, you know it takes you ten minutes to get out of your van and another ten minutes to get back into your van. I called the Mayor's office. The Mayor's office explained that these spaces are for people who just want to "run" in and pay a bill. It would be totally impossible for my daughter to "run" in and pay a bill in 20, or even 30, minutes even if she were the only person in line. By the way, after looking for a parking place, waiting t o be served at a restaurant and running down to the bank, it took us two hours.
I have to admit people who pay bills are important, but why doesn't the city of Springfield want them to stay for lunch?
Carol Barcus
Illinois
LOST WALLET
My wallet was stolen and within a week the thief (thieves) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.
Here's some information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know. Cancel your credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen. This is a first step toward an investigation.
Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of this until I was advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done (there are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert). Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks. The numbers are: Equifax 800-525-6285, Experian (formerly TRW) 800-301-7195, Trans Union 800-680-7289. Social Security Administration fraud line is 800-269-0271.
Amy
via e-mail
REMEMBRANCE DAY
