Empathy and Irrational Temples
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Irsquo;m back from an amazing vacation to Andaman amp; Nicobar Islands. Humanity as a whole needs to learn a lot from these scenic islands and this will be the topic of my next post. In this post, I want to elaborate on why even in the 21st century, we still donrsquo;t treat people equally.
Since there is no direct flight from Port Blair in Andamans to Mumbai, a connecting flight via Chennai or Kolkata needs to be taken. I chose Kolkata and was roaming around in Kolkata when I had a harrowing experience at the two temples I visited. The first temple was the Dakshineswar Temple. In order to ...
]]>Santa Barbara City Access Guide
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Santa Barbara ndash;
Santa Barbara is considered to be a part of Californiarsquo;s Central Coast and is not only a beach town but a college one with a little bit of history. With a kick of new age philosophy and a highend flare, it is no wonder why some celebrities have homes here. It is also approximately a twohour drive to Los Angeles, convenient for those celebrities working the Hollywood area. Sidewalks and streets are kept in pristine condition: no trash or graffiti. In fact, I canrsquo;t even recall seeing a homeless person. Everything surrounding the downtown area, even the gas station...
]]>Weekend in St. Petersburg, Florida
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If yoursquo;re looking for a relaxing, low key, winter vacation spot with interesting things to do this could be the place for you. St. Petersburg is located on Tampa Bay and because of some very thoughtful planning in the early 1900s most of the waterfront has been reserved for public parks or has access to the waterfront.nbsp; The Pier, a long concrete structure with a roadway and wide sidewalks, marks the center of town. An unusual upside down triangular building which houses a few restaurants, shops and an aquarium is located at the end. Unfortunately the pier is slated to be demolished in...
]]>Access to Lands End Trail in SF
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San Francisco, CA
Lands End is a park within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. From the Merrie Way parking lot, visible from the intersection of Point Lobos and 48th avenues above the famous Cliff House restaurant is the start of the accessible trail. From there one takes the meandering trail through the shadows of the cypress trees and along the sharp, jagged rocks of the coast; gaze at the incredible scenic overlooks, including breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. You may even forget you are in a big city surrounded by the quiet serenity of nature witho...
I love to travel! As a software developer in the aerospace business, there have been times in my career when Irsquo;ve had to travel frequently for business, and Irsquo;ve also been lucky enough to be able to travel a fair amount for pleasure. When I started using a wheelchair, I worried that travel was going to become much more difficult, even impossible, but thatrsquo;s not necessarily the case. There has been real improvements in how airlines, trains, rental car agencies, hotels, and restaurants accommodate disabled travelers, both in the US and in other countries.
Thatrsqu...
]]>Retreat in the Wisconsin Woods
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Northwoodrsquo;s Wisconsin Retreat in the Chequamegon National Forest Cable, WI
Namakagon Landing is a northwoods loverrsquo;s dream near Cable, WI on beautiful Lake Namakagon.nbsp;Just under 3 hours from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul this 4 bedroom, accessible lake home is a barrierfree paradise.nbsp;nbsp;Enjoy swimming, boating, paddling, biking, golf, bird watching, ATV, and fishing in summer and snowmobiling, icefishing, and worldclass XC skiing in winter. nbsp;Relaxing is available yearround. nbsp;No matter what the season, you are sure to create a lifetime of memories.
n...
The ADA hasnrsquo;t set any guidelines for accessible campsites however it has been proposed so hopefully this is something we will see in the future. The National Center on Accessibility at Indiana University has a good article with some of the proposals.
Many older campgrounds have been updated to provide a few accessible campsites by enlarging and renovating existing sites. As with any renovation of an existing facility the results are not always ideal and sometimes they are downright pathetic. Smaller, older campgrounds often do nothing other than attach a wheelchair sign to the number...
]]>Adaptive Snow Skiing in the USA
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General Overview:
1.nbsp; Always make reservations as far in advance as possible. Some places require weeks of notice others 48hours.
2.nbsp; Come prepared with warm winter clothes.
3.nbsp; Whatrsquo;s included for lesson fee: is equipment, lift ticket
4.nbsp; Some lessons are 0 where others charge 450 for a full day of private lessons and that doesnrsquo;t even
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; include the lift ticket. Some places only offer multiple day lessons too.
5.nbsp; Some places have programs for those not needing instruction but a little help on the runs called a ski buddynbsp;nbsp;n...
]]>Disney World and the Campgrounds
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Disney World is wonderfully accessible. Itrsquo;s possible to wheel right onto a large percentage of the rides and seating for the shows is usually very good. Disney has accessibility guides that can be downloaded.nbsp; Paper copies can be obtained at the park.nbsp; Each ride has a symbol signifying the degree of accessibility. There are five degrees may remain in wheelchair/ECV, must transfer to standard wheelchair, must transfer from wheelchair/ECV to ride, must transfer to standard wheelchair then to ride and must be ambulatory.nbsp; If you use a scooter or electric wheelchairnbsp; conside...
]]>Berlin Attractions and Tours
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Berlin is the capital city of the Federal Republic of Germany and with its 3.4 million inhabitants it also Germanyrsquo;s biggest city. Berlin is well known for its nightlife, its culture, the superb public transportation networks, the architecture, arts and much more. Berlin is a green city and can rain just about anytime of the year. About one third of its area is covered by parks, gardens, forests, rivers and lakes. Berlin has more bridges than Venice. 175 museums, more than 50 theaters and about 300 cinemas are situated in the world city of culture. It is also a very popular and booming ...
]]>North Lake Tahoe
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We arrived and it was a beautiful day.... There is a Hyatt Hotel right on the beach in North Lake Tahoe. The rooms are very pricey but it is a once in a life time stay. Even if you choose not to stay here you can have full access to the dining room, the outdoor eating areas, the fire pit and patio. Food is served at all places and very accessible. You would need assistance to do any boating. There is a wood plank to the pier and there you can have a cocktail out on the short pier.
The view from there is spectacular and ramping up to the top floor of dining area but there is an elevator to the...
An accessible RV can open a whole new world of travel and adventure for people with mobility problems. RV traveling has many advantages including an always available, clean, accessible bathroom; a comfortable bed for middle of the day breaks; the opportunity to prepare and eat your own food good if you require a special diet; a place to stay where there arenrsquo;t available hotels and an end to the hassle of carting everything from a vehicle to a hotel room. The major disadvantage is the large size of a RV.nbsp; Choosing routes and parking spots requires a little more planning. Finding the ri...
]]>Palm Springs Botique Hotel
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The Movie Colony is a cute boutique hotel located just a few blocks from the hip and happening Downtown Palm Springs. Itrsquo;s called the Movie Colony because the neighborhood that itrsquo;s located in is filled with old homes of movie stars but now most are rented out for parties and such. The mere 16 rooms of the Movie Colony Hotel create an intimate environment with shining customer service. With so very few rooms compare to a chain hotel, itrsquo;s easy to get lost in the peacefulness of this place and perhaps disappear. However, the Movie Colony Hotel is not perfectly accessible, there a...
]]>Accessible London Attractions
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London is filled with accessible royal parks and gardens. The Regents Park is one royal park and a visit to it would be a lovely day trip. The London Zoo is located in the park as well as the Wildlife and Allotment Gardens. There is also an Open Air Theatre that is wheelchair accessible with 20 spaces for wheelchairs on the gangway/platform.nbsp; Hyde Park is another and one of the largest parks in central London. A part of Hyde Park runs right along the Kensington Gardens creating a space equaling 625 acres 253 hectares. The gardens close at dusk but the park is open from dawn until midnigh...
]]>The World of Wheelchair Travellers
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For years, wheelchair users have felt like secondclass citizens when it comes to traveling. It had reached the point where a lot of people felt trapped in their homes, or dependent on other people in order to just get out and shop for groceries, or other mundane tasks that the ableboded take for granted. Travel was tricky with airlines, busses and coaches making little allowance for the extra space, time and help required when dealing with a wheelchair user.
nbsp;
However, with the ongoing amendments to the ADA, things have definitely begun to improve. Wheelchair users now have the co...
Two hours south of Los Angeles and into the Mojave Desert are the areas of Palm Springs and Palm Desert. Itrsquo;s an oasis of golf courses, tennis courts, spa resorts, shopping and fine dining. Palm Springs has a hip feel to it with a mixed population of gays and young adults. Palm Desert is right next door and has a large number of retirees. In the Golden Years of Hollywood many movie stars would escape from the paparazzi to this part of Southern California for some rest and relaxation. Today, itrsquo;s a popular getaway for Los Angelenos and those looking to experience the desert.
Downto...
]]>SF Bay Area Music Venues
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The San Francisco Bay Area has music venues all over and range from small eclectic ones to stadiums. This is just a start to a very long list of accessible music venues. If you would like to contribute to this list please email us.nbsp;
Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
The Bill Grahamnbsp; Civic Auditorium is located in the Civic Center neighborhood of San Francisco, adjacent to the capital building. Meter parking is available all around this area but whether a spot is open is a different story. Nonetheless, there is a public parking garage right across from the venue and small park; look for...
]]>Accessible Safari in Africa
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Recieve a 12 discount with GoAfricaSafaris
Travelling is always an adventure, especially when you have a disability or need some extra help. Tracking wildlife in Africa is an incredible experience for anyone and someone with restricted mobility need not be a hindrance to this unforgettable adventure. GoAfricaSafaris is making this experience possible with tours to Kenya, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The safari vehicles through GoAfricaSafaris have been adapted for wheelchair access. Each vehicle can hold a maximum of two chairs. There are ramps as well as spaces for wheelchairs in case one ...
]]>A Cruise to France, Italy Spain
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The Liberty of the Seas is the second biggest ship in the world, just behind the Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. It measures an impressive 339 meters in length, hasnbsp; 6500 m2 in surface space and has the capacity to transport 5700 people 4300 passangers and 1400 crew members.
Saturday: Barcelona, Spain
The ship left at noon from Barcelonarsquo;s harbor and for one hour access to the cabin is not possible. So with this time try to eat something and to get to know a bit the ship, which has 15 floors!
The Windjammer dining room is an all you can eat buffet with some tables ...
]]>Cruising on the Celebrity Silhouette
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Easy Access Travel was honored to be among the Travel Industry guests invited to sail on a two night preinaugural cruise on the newest member of Celebrity Cruise Linersquo;s fleet, the Silhouette.nbsp; We cruised out of Cape Liberty in Bayonne, NJ and had an opportunity to experience all that the ship has to offer.nbsp; From the moment we stepped onboard, we were immersed in her modern sophistication and upscale luxury with public areas certain to please all tastes.
The Silhouette is part of Celebrityrsquo;s Solstice Class of Ships and joins Solstice, Equinox and Eclipse who have previously...
]]>Transportation Around London
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Londonrsquo;s Underground The Tube transportation system is the oldest railway in the world. The other public transportation systems available that service within Greater London are the London Overground, Docklands Light Railway DLR, Tramlink, and London buses. Maps show what stations are accessible or ldquo;step freerdquo; and some have assistance available at the station. nbsp;Here is the map which describes each stationrsquo;s features, including what ones are accessible and have restrooms for the Tube, Londonrsquo;s Overground and DLR.
nbsp;
For those people who have a permanent disabil...
]]>I Girasoli in Tuscany, Italy
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The I Girasoli is located in Lucignano, in the heart of Tuscan countryside, few kilometers from Arezzo, Siena, Cortona and Montalcino. The property that is 100 barrier free is composed of 51 guestrooms plus 10 cottages, 2 swimming pools 1 indoor heated pool, a tennis court, a park, a gym, a conference center and a parking lot. The professional staff at I Girasoli is also able to assist clients with limited mobility with a kind a care that makes our guests feel like at home.
nbsp;
At I Girasoli there are events, theme weekends and excursions in the surrounding area for wheelchair travellers t...
]]>Accessible Travel Tips for Venice, Italy
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Handicapped accessible travel to Venice is about so much more than just finding a hotel.nbsp; Many disabled tourists only see a very small percentage of Venice because theyrsquo;re not aware of everything that they can do.nbsp; To make the most of your trip follow these 10 Keys to Success for handicapped accessible travel to Venice Italy.
1.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Get away from the touristsnbsp;ndash; Many visitors to Venice take a picture in St. Markrsquo;s Square, visit the San Marco Basilica, and then head towards their cruise ship or another Italian city.nbsp;nbsp;While itrsquo;s true that ...
]]>A Special Trip to New York City
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ldquo;New York Cityrdquo; roars Becky, 27, in absolute delight as she basks in the sunshine in Central Park. For Becky, visiting New York City has been a lifelong dream and today it became a reality. Becky, who lives with Cerebral Palsy and Arthrogryposis, faces travel challenges due to her dependence on an electric wheelchair. These challenges include her need for around the clock support, medication/personal aid, transportation issues, accessible airfare and lodging. All of these can be a burden to tackle alone. So Becky, with the help of her mom Susan, reached out to Hammer Travel for hel...
]]>Beach Park in Southern California
http://www.wheelchairtraveling.com/destinations/beach-park-in-southern-california-.html
Access to the outdoors becomes a tremendous challenge when one is faced with physical challenges that make it difficult to get to the bathroom, let alone to get outside the house.nbsp; Itrsquo;s so important to overcome those obstacles and demand that sunshine and fresh air be a daily part of your routine.nbsp;
Admittedly, 20 years after the fact, I can see that having been a caregiver for so many years of my life, I am conditioned to being homebound.nbsp; The healthy approach is to access the outdoors and soak up all the delicious nutrients that are beyond the front door.nbsp; If we li...
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