Wheelchairs and airports Part II

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Wheelchairs and airports Part II – guest blog by Sandra (February 2017)

Accident

“For more than 10 years, I have worked for an organisation that campaigns for people with disabilities to achieve equal participation in society.

I had an accident years ago and use a wheelchair and an assistance dog. I don’t feel excluded a lot, when I do it is usually because people lack knowledge or somehow my disability scares them.

But there is one situation that makes me feel really disabled and excluded – when I have to fly. And unfortunately I need to travel a lot for work. Some kind of incident takes place on more than 70% of the flights that I take. Sometimes it has more impact emotionally, and other times financially and practically.”

Africa and Asia

Working in Africa, central Asia and currently in Pakistan, I have seen many examples of exclusion and poverty and I realise that I am lucky.

Guestblog: wheelchairs and airports Part II — “Even when I am upset and angry I need to stay calm, smile, and most importantly try not to show how much it hurts.”

In more than half of my flights my wheelchair gets damaged, and most of the time I don’t get the repair costs reimbursed. Or I arrive to be told that someone forgot the wheelchair at departure, and the next flight will only arrive a week later, and apparently, it is not the airline’s responsibility that I cannot be mobile without my wheelchair.
sandra

In the air

But there is one situation that makes me feel really disabled and excluded – when I have to fly. And unfortunately I need to travel a lot for work.

Some kind of incident takes place on more than 70% of the flights that I take. Sometimes it has more impact emotionally, and other times financially and practically.

Sandra, wrote one of the first guest blogs for Accessible Travel Press in February 2017. Read the full article on The Guardian.com.