Travel

B.C. man in wheelchair says he was dropped, injured by Air Canada crew in Vancouver

B.C. man in wheelchair says he was dropped, injured by Air Canada crew in Vancouver. Ryan Lachance, who lives with quad spastic cerebral palsy, is pictured with his care aid Emma Proulx at his apartment in White Rock, B.C., about 50 … READ MORE

Canada’s chief accessibility officer ‘furious’ after Air Canada forgets her wheelchair

Stephanie Cadieux says ‘airlines have to take responsibility and they have to do better’ Stephanie Cadieux is Canada’s first chief accessibility officer. Submitted by Office of the Chief Accessibility Officer/Maria … READ MORE

Five pro tips for flying with a power wheelchair

You’ve seen the numbers and heard the horror stories. Reports from the Department of Transportation show that domestic airlines are still damaging or losing an average of 30 wheelchairs and scooters every day. Successfully Flying as … READ MORE

A quadriplegic, a specialty van and a lifetime of adventures

A biking accident left Kirk Williams paralyzed, but he has traveled widely and inspired others to follow in his tire tracks. Kirk Williams in Baja, Mexico. “When I take the lift out of the van,” he said, “everyone seems to stop … READ MORE

An engineer, his Segway, and the ADA: A tale of the open road

Technology and legislation allowed Walter Marsh to work and to explore despite a debilitating heart condition. The author’s father, Walter Marsh, explored the lava fields of Craters of the Moon, in Idaho. Photo: Allison Marsh By … READ MORE

Disability advocates call on DATS to reverse ‘discriminatory’ changes to service

Online booking tool closed and recurring rides suspended during pandemic. DATS introduced changes to service intended to help prevent the spread of the virus and manage ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic. But disability advocates … READ MORE

Switch Control changed my world

I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to independently send my wife a text for the first time. Meet Todd Stabelfeldt. He’s been using Tecla since February 2014. We asked Todd to share with us his thoughts since introducing Tecla … READ MORE

Disabled First Nation woman needs all-terrain stroller to get around on reserve

‘She had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on her.’ Thanks to the success of an online fundraiser, Dee Dee House’s family will be purchasing her the all-terrain stroller she needs to venture outside of her house … READ MORE

Access for disabled travelers finally on airlines’ radar

The world’s airlines have adopted a resolution that puts improving travel for disabled passengers at the top of their to-do list. At the International Air Transport Association annual meeting in June, the industry trade group … READ MORE

New air passenger protections kick in today

Bob Brown, a disability rights advocate who is quadriplegic, says the rules reduce the distance he can travel by air without putting his health at risk by up to 2,000 kilometres. Airlines, industry groups, passenger advocates taking … READ MORE

Apple puts accessibility features front and center

Although the meat of Apple’s accessibility news from WWDC has been covered, there still are other items announced that have relevancy to accessibility as well. Here, then, are some thoughts on Apple’s less-headlining … READ MORE

Wheelchair users sue Atlanta, alleging sidewalk access violations

On June 11, Atlanta became the latest major U.S. city to be sued for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act due to lack of access to public sidewalks. The lawsuit follows recent settlements over similar issues in Los … READ MORE

New wheelchair-friendly public buses connect Banff and Lake Louise

‘Everybody should be able to get around Banff National Park,’ says chair of regional transit service. Roam Public Transit has introduced four new accessible buses for travel on the Lake Louise Express route, Route 8X, … READ MORE

Advocates push for greater airline accessibility

A lawsuit is seeking to force the nation’s airlines to make big changes in order to better accommodate travelers with disabilities. This is what it’s like to travel with a disability in the United States. American Airlines 737 … READ MORE

Disabled Calgarians ask why Calgary Transit Access doesn’t ‘treat us with respect’

Nearly 300 complaints made to transportation service each year, related to no shows, late pick ups. A passenger waits to begin her trip on a Calgary Transit Access bus on March 6, 2019. The agency says about 30 per cent of the nearly … READ MORE

Jason DaSilva’s “The Disability Trap” is beautiful and infuriating

The acclaimed documentary filmmaker and New Mobility’s 2014 Person of the Year, Jason DaSilva, just released a powerful new documentary in collaboration with The New York Times. Jason DaSilva on Vimeo By Seth McBride, New Mobility … READ MORE

Abbey Road with a wheelchair: In London, disability accessibility isn’t an afterthought

From the Cure’s 40th anniversary concert to black cabs, navigating London as a music fan was smoother than the US. Guy and the band emulating the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album cover. Scope’s Blog Annie Zaleski, Salon July … READ MORE

Rachael Wallach, MBA ’18, aims to reinvent the wheelchair

2017 Impact Design Immersion Fellow rolls out a plan to make wheelchairs affordable and customizable. Why don’t we see people who wear their wheels like people who wear glasses? Why can’t you choose a wheelchair frame like … READ MORE

Special needs car seat – Transport Canada approved

The special needs 2-in-1 car seat solution helps families enjoy safe travelling. Available at Calgary Co-op Home Health Care Thomashilfen and Harmony are two family owned companies passionate about providing safe and comfortable … READ MORE

Stansted apologises to Paralympian who was left stranded on plane

Airport staff failed to meet Anne Wafula Strike to take her off Ryanair flight from Berlin. Anne Wafula Strike: ‘I’m not the first person who this has happened to, but it would be good if I’m the last.’ Martin Godwin for The … READ MORE

High-flying young doctor overcomes stroke that grounded him

Flying at 35,000 feet at the start of a trip from their Chicago home to Hawaii to celebrate the upcoming birth of their first child, Dave Levy woke his sleeping wife and said, “Does my right eye look weird?” After … READ MORE

Apple spotlights how accessible tech helps people with disabilities thrive

There’s something undeniably special in the way Meera Phillips looks at you when you speak. It’s as if your words are the only words that will ever matter, whether you’re talking about something silly or something … READ MORE

Britain’s transport system is great – if you’re not disabled

If you are a disabled person wanting to get around by yourself on train or tube, good luck to you. Here’s what needs to be done. ‘Only about a quarter of London’s underground stations are fully accessible for disabled people.’ … READ MORE

Living with disability: ‘Personal assistants are my ears, hands, and body’

Nadia Clarke, who has cerebral palsy and is profoundly deaf, employs a team of eight PAs to help her study, work, socialise and travel. Nadia Clarke and her godson Ned on a visit to a sea life centre. Melanie Tiplady, The Guardian … READ MORE

Access the Valley project aims for accessibility info

Goal is to gather information that is useful for visitors with mobility issues in one web location. Invermere residents Kate Gibbs and Cassy Campbell would like to make travel to the Columbia Valley easier for visitors with … READ MORE

UK ministers outline plan for disabled people’s air travel

Flying disabled: Trouble in the skies. Wheelchair user Jemma Collins recalls how her dream holiday ended in bruises and humiliation when she was manhandled off a plane. Campaigner Christopher Wood, who has two disabled children, is … READ MORE

Leaning into the Ogo – seated Segway

In a 2016 video, a man seated on a cool-looking modified Segway called an Ogo wowed viewers with a slick demo of the device’s hands-free driving capabilities. By simply leaning in the direction he wanted to go, the rider … READ MORE

Transport regulator rejects Via Rail effort to limit wheelchair, mobility access on trains

Via Rail ordered to allow for 2 wheelchair tie-downs on all trains or prove doing so causes ‘undue hardship.’ The Canadian Transportation Agency is rejecting Via Rail’s efforts to limit access on its trains for … READ MORE

Lucy Meyer reveals what it’s like to be a Special Olympics gold medalist with cerebral palsy

“Sometimes I forget that I have cerebral palsy.” Lucy Meyer is an 18-year old Special Olympics gold medalist and national spokesperson for the Special Olympics and UNICEF USA partnership. In addition to high school and her … READ MORE

Golfer travels to Oshawa to use assistive device to help him play round of golf

Golf gives paralyzed former champion shot at life. In this July, 27, 2017 photo, Chris Haubach lines up a shot uses a three-wheeled Ottobock ParaGolfer that allows him to play golf at Wolf Hollow Golf Course in Lena, Illinois. Haubach … READ MORE

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