| Travel Buddies help get John moving
JOHN Wilson never had the confidence to travel far from home-always worried he would get stuck in his wheelchair and wouldn't be able to get back to the East End because of inaccessible buses and Tube. So he kept to his Poplar neighbourhood, never venturing much further than a few blocks form his home in North Street. It wasn't much of a life. At 58, John has spent the last 18 years stuck in his wheelchair. Now City Hall has taken a 'step' further with its 'buddy squad' of travel assistants to advise those like John on how to get around. "It has changed my life because it's given me the confidence to get out and about," he points out. "Until I got tips from my travel assistant, I never knew exactly which areas were safe to use, so I stayed close to home. "But now there's no stopping me-it's a dream getting on the DLR.
Disabled cruisers need to plan ahead
Cruise-bound travelers with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, can't take anything for granted. While cruise lines profess to be wheelchair-user friendly, there are instances where they are not. For anyone with a serious disability who is interested in cruising, full disclosure of your problem to the cruise line or travel agent doing the booking is a must. Every cruise line has a toll-free number and guest access specialists to help passengers with disabilities, whether it's a wheelchair issue, a hearing or sight impairment, questions about oxygen for those with respiratory problems or other medical problems. Ask the cruise line or your travel agent questions until the answers are crystal clear to you and you feel comfortable embarking on a new experience.
Quadriplegic Entrepreneur Providing Hope and Freedom to Others
NEWBURY PARK, CA -- With an estimated one million individuals confined to wheelchairs in the United States, many people face lifestyle restrictions which often prevent participation in fundamental recreational activities. A company based in Southern California, however, is offering innovative options for those suffering from paralysis, neurological damage and other motor skill disorders. Access to Recreation, a distributor of adaptive equipment and special needs products, offers a full line of hi-tech recreation items and has been providing solutions to this niche market for nearly twenty years. Recreational sports and exercise are necessary components to staying physically and mentally fit. We shouldnt allow a disability to restrict us from these important activities, said Don Krebs, president and founder of ATR.
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