Being a partial wheelchair user who uses walking aids I often feel as if I'm "sitting on the fence". I am unable to go along with the normal crowd because I have limitations and because I choose not to use a wheelchair I don't fit with that crowd either and I am so frustrated that hardly anyone considers people like myself. It is as if we are the forgotten ones.
I have been doing research into hotel accessibility and it looks as if I am going to find the same problems with cruise ships. Far too often the walking disabled are ignored or simply forgotten when it comes to designing accommodation or making arrangements.
One recent example of this was on 10th March I received from shore mobility a list of wheelchair accessible tours for my cruise in June to the Baltic. Also included was information relating to the transport they would be using for these tours and it was made clear that they are adapted minivans that can take three wheelchairs and three companions. Not once did the information mention passengers that may be disabled but not wheelchair users.
The main problem for myself and other disabled passengers is the boarding of a normal coach; I for one do not have the strength to pull myself up due to perminent rotator cuff damage and co-ordination problems caused by CP (Cerebral Palsy). Many of the normal tours are guided and it would be impossible for me to keep up with their pace. I fear that at ports they will not have arranged accessible shuttles and this will not known in advance of the day. I find it hard to believe that places such as Denmark, Sweden, Russia and Norway do not have adapted vehicles other than these minivans. Last year when we were in port in Funchal, Madeira P&O had arranged for a couple of accessible shuttles which were the size of a hopper bus and it took both wheelchairs and walking disabled people.
So often I had found that people like myself are misunderstood by the general public especially when using disabled facilities. You noticed that I chose my words carefully because I have been challenged when using these facilities because I am using a walker and not in a wheelchair. Often the universal symbol which depicts a person seated in a wheelchair is taken literally by many people. On occasion when I have used these facilities I have been challenged so where possible I try and find one that is RADAR key only facility. Most of the time we don't require the space that a wheelchair needs to manoeuvre around a room, so a normal size bedroom is usually adequate but what we may need often is an adapted bathroom or wetroom. Because of these requirements I have to book a wheelchair accessible room or cabin. It is a shame that no one has had the insight to design a room with adapted bathroom for those of us who are disabled but not full-time wheelchair users.
Once someone told me that there was a hierarchy in the deaf community and at the time I actually thought there was not a hierarchy in the disabled community but now I am not so sure. Have I changed my mind? I am beginning to think I am. When I use my wheelchair I get much more respect from other wheelchair users but if I am using my walker it is a whole different ball game. I can be waiting for an elevator and someone who is in a wheelchair turns up and when the elevator arrives the person in the chair often pushes me to one side. It is not only rude it is disgusting to treat a fellow human that way; scooter users are often no better.
I would like for once for someone to take notice of people with disabilities and understand that there are all different levels and many ways a disability can effect someone. We are not all the same but we all know how life can be challenging and we should all be able to understand and support each other.
