| We had only been back a few days from our
| |
| | to get a wheelchair for use at the
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| trip to 8. Europe when Louise said she
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| | airport. Ask for a staff member to help
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| thought we might go to New Zealand next
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| | you through to the plane. This has the
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| Christmas. It was then I knew the travel
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| | added advantage of giving you quick
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| bug had bitten. All we needed was a
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| | checking through customs. You'll be put
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| golden egg-laying goose and we'd be
| |
| | in an "aisle chair", which is a
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| right. Fortunately for us one came along
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| | wheelchair narrow enough to get you down
|
| and I know it's like finding a needle in
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| | to your seat on the plane and you'll get
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| a haystack for people with disabilities
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| | taken to your seat first.
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| to be tripping over such a windfall,
| |
| | Unfortunately this also means that you'll
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| however we were lucky. But enough of
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| | be last to get off, but don't worry; with
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| multiple metaphors; New Zealand was
| |
| | the VIP service through customs you'll be
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| great! Before we went, we asked people
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| | first at the luggage carousel! And ask
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| who had been where we should go. Nearly
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| | for staff help all the way through as it
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| all replied, "Everywhere's good". Not
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| | will make things much easier and quicker.
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| much help, we thought. Now we know they
| |
| | 5. When traveling if you are disabled,
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| were right!
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| | it's very important to book ahead.
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| There are many reasons why an Australian
| |
| | Unfortunately your days of just dropping
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| disabled tourist should go to New
| |
| | into a town and grabbing somewhere to
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| Zealand. For a start, they speak English
| |
| | stay on the spur of the moment are over.
|
| (well sort of. I had almost perfected my
| |
| | We started booking accommodation almost a
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| Kiwi accent, but the rest of the family
| |
| | year prior and the internet is a
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| forbade me 'prectising' in the car).
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| | wonderful (and cheap) tool for this.
|
| This makes communication and
| |
| | Don't rely on those 'wheelchair friendly'
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| understanding of our needs so much
| |
| | symbols because sometimes they've been
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| easier.
| |
| | put there for no apparent reason.
|
| New Zealand is so close to Australia,
| |
| | Contact the owners directly by e-mail and
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| only 3 hours on the plane, and so much
| |
| | check on steps, space inside rooms,
|
| cheaper than Europe. Even in their High
| |
| | doorway width, safety rails, bathroom
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| Season car hire, accommodation and
| |
| | configuration and accessibility
|
| tourist attractions were much cheaper
| |
| | generally. (In fact, I could write a
|
| than Europe in the middle of Winter.
| |
| | book on motel rooms-I have quite a list
|
| Although food and petrol were dearer than
| |
| | of practical suggestions for improving
|
| Australia, they were still quite a bit
| |
| | them for disabled travellers!) In
|
| cheaper than Europe too.
| |
| | general, I found it's better to
|
| Like Tasmania here there's lots to see
| |
| | exaggerate rather than downplay your
|
| and do in a small area. Unlike the rest
| |
| | level of disability. That way you're
|
| of Australia, you don't have to drive for
| |
| | less likely to end up somewhere
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| hundreds of kilometers between big
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| | unsuitable.
|
| 'tourist spots' (in New Zealand
| |
| | 6. You'll want travel insurance; if only
|
| everywhere's a tourist spot!) And it
| |
| | to cover any medical emergencies. We had
|
| really is true that most New Zealanders
| |
| | to pay a little more to cover my
|
| are tremendously friendly and helpful.
| |
| | "pre-existing condition", but it wasn't
|
| Things for me seemed a bit harder than
| |
| | at all hard to get. Most insurance
|
| Europe in some ways; but that was because
| |
| | companies will be happy to cover for
|
| with chronic progressive MS things get
| |
| | everything apart from your illness!
|
| worse and it was a year later. Louise
| |
| | 7. I bought a lightweight partially
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| was right though; it's a good idea to try
| |
| | collapsible electric wheelchair
|
| these things while you still can.
| |
| | especially for the trip. Luckily I
|
| Before You Go It's important for anyone
| |
| | bought it early enough ahead to iron out
|
| to get organized for a trip overseas, but
| |
| | a few teething problems and to get used
|
| when you've got a disability it's
| |
| | to using it (at the expense of our house,
|
| essential!
| |
| | which has been gradually destroyed by my
|
| Here's some tips:
| |
| | earlier miscalculations).
|
| 1. Make sure you take plenty of any
| |
| | 8. Louise began cursing the wheelchair
|
| medication you may need. Never try to
| |
| | early in our trip as its rather small
|
| buy it overseas. It will be enormously
| |
| | battery began running out of charge and I
|
| expensive, or may not be available. Get
| |
| | had to keep finding power points and wait
|
| a covering letter from your doctor and
| |
| | for a re-charge. In future we've decided
|
| make sure the airline is aware. Needles
| |
| | to just take the manual wheelchair
|
| are OK in the hold, but if you need to
| |
| | overseas. It's a lot less bulky and if
|
| take them as cabin luggage, you'll need
| |
| | you've got someone to push, they'll
|
| to make special arrangements.
| |
| | appreciate the exercise!
|
| 2. If you suffer from incontinence, for
| |
| | 9. Don't forget your disabled parking
|
| men I'd strongly recommend wearing a leg
| |
| | pass, if you've got one. We tried to
|
| bag as it takes away a lot of the
| |
| | organise an NZ pass before we left,
|
| pressure of trying to find a toilet in
| |
| | through CCS, but it didn't eventuate. So
|
| time.
| |
| | we just used our Australian sticker and
|
| 3. You also need to choose a good airline
| |
| | had no problems at all. In fact in New
|
| and inform them of your special needs.
| |
| | Zealand you're very unlikely to encounter
|
| We've tried some cut-price airlines and a
| |
| | parking problems even in the peak tourist
|
| few wobbly luggage hoists and tarmac
| |
| | season.
|
| steps later I can tell you it ain't worth
| |
| | 10. And don't be afraid to say you could
|
| it! Contact the airline well ahead to
| |
| | do with help. It's taken me a while to
|
| arrange seating. We found the best place
| |
| | work this out, but most places are set up
|
| was up the very back, right near the
| |
| | to cater for disabled people and are only
|
| toilets.
| |
| | too happy to help if given notice. You
|
| 4. Almost all airlines will take your
| |
| | might be pleasantly surprised and even
|
| wheelchair for free (that includes
| |
| | find yourself at the front of the queue
|
| electric ones). You'll need to arrive at
| |
| | for once!
|
| check-in a bit earlier to book it in and
| |
| |
|
