Author: admin

The challenges and triumphs of travelling with a disability

admin # # #

As I got out of my seat and lowered myself on to my knees, I could feel the pride being knocked out of me. I kept my head down, but the discomfort of the other passengers was palpable as they muttered, coughed, gasped and shuffled in their seats. It’s rude to stare, but how can you avoid gawping at a grown woman crawling down the aisle of a massive plane just so she can have a wee?

Read more of Emily Rose Yates’ story at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/challenges-and-triumphs-of-travel-with-a-disability/

Aira for Airports

admin

Minneapolis-St. Paul International has become the second airport in the United States to offer blind and visually impaired travellers free access to Aira, an app system to help them navigate the building. Users wear smart glasses, the visual field of which is streamed to a sighted guide, who then gives the visually impaired user directions, enabling them to find their way around the airport. Aira usually costs $89 a month but is available at Minneapolis-St. Paul International and Memphis International Airport for free.

Find out more at the Aira website.

Save The Date: Accessible air travel webinar

admin # #

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Feb. 15 at 1pm EST, when MDA and representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation will be hosting a webinar to discuss traveling with a disability and passenger’s rights as laid out in the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). Stay tuned for more details on @MDA_Advocacy and on MDA’s Facebook page.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Help with accessibility research

admin #

Wheelchair users, parents of wheelchair users, professional caregivers, cabin crew, etc.: PhD candidate Andy Davies needs to interview you about airplane and airport accessibility for his thesis. He’ll call you with a short survey about air travel with a disability: boarding and the debarkation, airplane seating, bathrooms, etc. DM him on Twitter @andydavies87 or email him at andrew.davies.15@ucl.ac.uk if you’d like to take part.