As a frequent traveler with a disability, one of my most important tasks before any trip is making a wheelchair accessible hotel room reservation. I use a power wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, and need physical assistance with basic tasks, so an accessible hotel room is essential to me. I also need a roll-in shower…
On Tuesday, April 25, two class action lawsuits were filed against New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), accusing it of systematically excluding people with disabilities due to a lack of accessible subway stations. Only 112 out of 472 stations — less than 25 percent — have elevators, making it the least accessible subway system…
“Ladies and gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts. We’ll be experiencing some turbulence.” As a traveler, those are words you never want to hear. As a traveler with a disability, what came next changed my perspective on airplanes forever. Prior to that day in 1997, I had flown many times. I traveled often as a…
Along with the rest of the world, I watched the recent video of a doctor being dragged from a United Airlines flight with horror. Horror, but not surprise. While the physical violence in this incident was egregious and unusual, similar incidents occur regularly at airports and on flights around the country. They happen to people…
an open letter to the Republicans in Congress Dear Republican Party, My name is Karin, and I’m just an ordinary citizen from Mike Pence’s home state of Indiana. But I’m writing to you today regarding the American Health Care Act, because my job, my home, my very life depends on you voting against this…
When I was a little girl growing up with cerebral palsy, I had beautiful long hair down to my waist. But when I was about 7 years old, my mom said I had to cut it, because it would be “easier for me and other people to take care of.” I was furious. I loved…
My recent road trip to California ended in disaster. One of the caregivers I was traveling with became irrational and abusive, to the point where I had to arrange my own rescue for my safety and especially that of Aria. Sometime in the future, I may write more about it, but this is not that…
Since I love to travel and have this blog, I’ve made it a point to try different hotel chains, and informally assess which ones tend to be most accessible. At the top of my list, at least for the price point, are the properties owned by IHG, including Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Crowne…
Happy New Year everyone! 2016 is gone, and I know I speak for a lot of people when I say it wasn’t a great year. I lost one of my best friends to cancer, mourned with the world as several of my favorite celebrities including David Bowie and Carrie Fisher passed away far too soon,…
‘Tis the season for snow, seeing family, and of course making that all-important Christmas list! Would you believe I asked for a toilet this year? Yes, you might be a person with a disability if you’ve ever wanted a toilet as a Christmas present. My unusual gift request led me to think about other, impossible-yet-possible…
