ACCESSIBILITY
Accessibility is first and foremost a noun. If we dig a little deeper it is also a concept. The first and most literal is from the standpoint of those with disabilities. And after all, isn’t a stroller basically a streamlined wheelchair for babies and toddlers? Interesting how we often come full circle from having someone wheel us around as children to having someone wheel us around as elderly adults. Also, I am not forgetting about those who spend much or all of their lives disabled for various reasons. I will get back to this later. I will always remember our first real trip as a family, and just barely making our flight. Anyone who flies knows the automatic feelings that we mostly keep to ourselves, about the last people on the flight. We are slightly annoyed that they must be the ones keeping the entire flight waiting.
There was a time when we were that family. We fought our way through unexpected early morning traffic as we live about 100 miles from Portland International, the nearest major airport. We found long term parking, navigated lines at check in and security. We found ourselves rushing down the concourse with The Girl in a stroller, our carry-ons strapped to various places on our body. Missing this flight would cause significant problems. We were part of a larger family cruise to celebrate my Grandmother’s 90th birthday. Cruise ships don’t wait. We arrived at the emptied gate to find a flight attendant in the walkway of the concourse, waiting specifically for us. She stated that she knew we would arrive because our luggage was checked and on the plane. She escorted us down the jet way and on to the plane. We ignored the plane full of seated passengers as we focused on settling into our seats. The flight departed the gate… on time.
Since then we do park and ride. You park your car at a hotel and spend the night. The hotel allows you to keep your car there and you can pick it up upon your return. While having children is full of unique rewards, it also bestows a certain kind of disability. Everything takes longer. In the midst of all this children also need our attention. There is no comparison between the challenges of traveling with children and being truly disabled. It is my sincere hope that those with disabilities that are too challenging to travel may also enjoy this page and find it as a means to travel in its own way.
There is another aspect of accessibility that is related to affordability… Let’s explore this in the next post. There is an implication that goes along with travel that since we can afford it, we must have money. And we can accomplish these adventures that others simply cannot. We have enough money, but we are not rich. We have made certain lifestyle choices that give us enough money to travel without going in to debt.