to gac or not gac?

[married2mm]

hi fellow dis fanactics


i'm wondering whether on our forthcoming trip to request gac.

i am recently disabled-walk with a stick, but also have hearing and balance problems along with the 'noticeable' mobility issue.

what do you guys think? i fear being knocked over or personal space invasion more than anything-and reading these foruims does not exactly install hope! lol

any suggestions, thoughts people?


thanks y'all

 

[Pegasus928]

I think you may get more repsonses over on the disAbilities section.
There are people over there that have 'been there - done that' and will be able to give you fantastic advice.
Here's a link to that board
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20

 

[married2mm]

thanks pegasus 928.

is there a way to simply move my question or do i need to type it out again in the disabilities section-as you may have just picked up on-not techy at all!

 

[SueM in MN]

Your question right now is in the disABILITIES Community Board. I will move it to the part of the disABILITIES sectionbtjat deals with parks.

You should Aldo check out post 6 of the disABILITIES FAQs thread, which is about Guest Assistance Cards. There is a link to that thread in my signature.

 

[peemagg]

To help you with your balance and mobility problems, you might want to look into a wheelchair or ECV. These would also give you a bit of personal space. I think these would work better for you than a GAC alone.

Another option for you might be a rollator walker (the rolling ones with a seat), might work better for than your cane if you don't want to go with a wheelchair or ECV. You can get those for around $100 at most big scale pharmacies or online.

 

[clanmcculloch]

I'm really not sure what a GAC can do for you. GACs can not keep you away from people. The places you're most likely to get bumped or knocked over would be in open areas between attractions, not in queues. Queues are very slow moving with everybody in their own place in line, moving at a controlled speed. In open places, people do tend to be in their own world and don't look out for those around them and unfortunately do bump others.

I would strongly recommend that you think about an ECV, wheelchair or even rollator. Because of the amount of walking, I would REALLY recommend the ECV or wheelchair over a rollator. An ECV will give you freedom to go where you want when you want while a wheelchair will require you to be facing and going where somebody else dictates. The upside to a wheelchair though is that you can walk behind the chair periodically, using it as a walker for balance. With an ECV, somebody else will have to drive the ECV for you or you'll have to park it and go back for it if you wish to walk.

 

[married2mm]

thanks for assistance so far.

i'm looking at rollators right now-seem like a good idea-
just wondering how they would work out for our flight to orlando from uk?

 

[jmartinez1895]

I'm not sure about UK flights, but American flights treat all mobility aids the same. They gate check them when you board and then when you get off the plane they are waiting at the gate. You should call your airline and let them know that you will be traveling with one and ask what the policy is.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

thanks for assistance so far.

i'm looking at rollators right now-seem like a good idea-
just wondering how they would work out for our flight to orlando from uk?

Very, very easily! Do yourself a huge favor and rent or buy one at home. You might even look into the possibility of the NHS covering it, not sure what they're rules are (you'ld get it covered at our side of the Channel).

You will want to inform the airline about flying with it at least 48 hours prior to flying. There is no MUST to do this, but if you don't they are less obligated to take care of you as they are when reporting this in early enough as by EU regulations. UK is covered in this and it applies to all flights you board or deplane, incl. transfers within the EU- area that is mentioned within the regulations.

Simply put; as long as it folds up small enough, you can fold it (or have somebody do that) and store it in the overhead compartment. Most stabile rollators I know will not fit there, but many aircrafts also have a bigger onboard closet. That one is first come, first served for mobility aids. Ask about it if need be, not all flight attendants are that upfront offering it as they'll want to use it themselves. If need be, you can ask for assistance at the airport. When flying out of Heathrow; smart thing to do with the vast distances. Downside of that airport; assistance can require a long long wait. Depending on availability at that moment, they can help you to the gate by using either a wheelchair or giving you a ride on a golfcar-alike type car. If you need this; have them add it to your reservation now and repeat at the check in desk (sometimes it gets overseen or lost somewhere in the system).

Next you inform about preboarding, which will make sure you don't have to worry about being knocked by other peoples carry ons or pushed in the crowds. You will get to preboard, allthough you might not be the first to do so. Most airlines will work in order of "priority", letting those that need the most extensive assistance board first. For instance, many will let passengers needing an aislechair (small wheelchair that can be moved in between the rows) preboard first as that takes up time (sometimes loads of it) and can require the hands on help of 2 or even more assistants. You can see how that needs some space and time. A "second" preboard with many airlines in the EU tends to be those that need medical preboarding but do not need said chair or so much a handson approach of employees. Depending on the flight, this can be anywhere from just you to perhaps a max of 10 (never had more than that and I'm really always first to board) This is done in a very relaxed way or a bit less if they are pushing to be on time. Than the regular boarding might start rather quickly after that and can find you feeling rushed if you've got a seat quite a way back. Hint; make sure you are not last in that group and don't sit all the way in the back to prevent this from happening.

When you arrive at MCO airport or at your connecting airport; wait!!!!!! Do not get up until the crowd has gone. It takes some time for airport personel to get your rollator to the gate if you have had to gate check it and there is no need for you to deplane and hang out waiting for it with possibly no place to sit. About an hour prior to landing; ask the flight attendant if they can radio in you needing that rollator and if needed; assistance. This reminder is never wrong and can sometimes be a charm if something got lost in the communication between airports. Basically you need to be in the first-on-last-of-plane-set-of-mind. And again, here it tends to be the bit more mobile group that gets taken care of, followed by more complex needs. Whatever you do, please do NOT use up any assistance waiting at the gate if you did not ask for them!!!! They do not just hang out there eventhough it might look like it, they are waiting for other passengers and by using them you basically leave those passengers with a problem. Ask them to radio in for assistance if you find yourself not having asked for it prior and needing it.

If for some odd shot your rollator does not get brought back to the gate (a few airports do this), they should have assistance with a wheelchair waiting for you that will reunite you with your rollator at bagage claim.

Because of the legislation we now got in the EU, the airline can NOT deny you just because you are flying with a need. You can bring along up to 2 mobility aids, free of charge. (most will prefer you check in one at check in, though) They have to have assistance in place if you need it for mobility stuff (and with a rollator, you do!), this basically goes from as soon as you hit the airport (yep, even service from the carpark but need to arrange that prior to arriving) until you leave the airport of destination. It's free, it's easy, it's what you need. Use it!

 

[married2mm]

wow-thanks all for the great info so far-goofieslonglostsis-you especially are ever so knowledgeable!
i think perhaps i'm still slightly in the denial stage-as someone else mentioned there is indeed lots (and lots) of walking involved.
at the moment i'm hardly doing any walking at all really-though leaning over a shopping trolley/cart is quite relaxing-which is why i thought i may pursue the rollator.
i could always share with my mil on return-
think my dh is rather scared of me driving a motorised vehicle as i have back seat driver road rage and no sense of direction at all
thanks again for input.
66 days to go!!

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

You are more then welcome!

I can understand the denial, we've all been there one way or another. But look at it this way; you are only hurting yourself with it, blocking yourself from a much easier and healthier experience. Or think about your travelparty; how would they like to see you struggle versus have a ball being able to invest energy into fun as it's no longer needed (so much) for battling problems without an aid?

With what you are doing; get the rollator! You will find it a world of freedom above anything else. You can sit down whenever you want, don't need to look for an "excuse" to be able to lean, you can transport stuff on/in it safely and not worry about falling while carrying hot coffee for instance. It is ultimate freedom for you to just DO and GO whenever you feel like it. I was the same when needing to get my powerchair (already had a manual chair and ECV) and have only made things worse for myself then it could've been. My dad actually recently got his own rollator. Still needs some adjusting as he's such a stubborn guy (sjeez, where did I get that from?) but recently you just could see the happen. He can look forward to going to a mall with my mom instead of worry about distances or use me as an excuse (THE perfect excuse, having a daughter in a wheelchair and thus he always pushed me if I'ld use my manual). It only gives freedom. It's just a tool to enjoy life, nothing more or less.

As far as husbands fears; you can get road rage just walking in the WDW crowds. Great thing about an ECV is that it has got multiple speed settings, most of them have a turtose and hare button. You can increase speed by pushign the handle more, but when set on turtose it simply can not go full speed. Try one at home a few times. If you do find a rollator is great for smaller and medium distances but a bit "just cutting it" or "just not cutting it" for long distances like a day at WDW, an ECV can be the perfect back up for the rollator. Some training in driving it and esp. being able to do so in small spaces/busy crowds and it is easy. It does take up energy being aware of your surrounding (people will dash in front of you, not being aware that stopping right away is no option with an ECV) but the same goes when using a rollator. You might very well hit somebody while at WDW. And odds are it is not your fault if you are being carefull. People constantly dash in front of others and when using any mobility aid, you can't always prevent a hit from happening. If there is no room to do that, that simply is not your fault but the dashers fault. It's a different thing if you were to aim for legs are not be aware of your surroundings in which case I'ld never advice an ECV. Then again, just a wheelchair or rollator is a weapon also.

Would it help if you rented a rollator first to give it a try at home to go to a mall or something? If you get a taste of the benefits, it might just be the motivation in getting your own happily instead of worrying. Keep in mind though that any rental aid tends to be of a lesser quality because of the amounts of usage and abuse it gets. Also when getting your own, there are more options available to make sure an aid fits your needs AND desires.

It's just a tool to create more freedom. Use it and own it, it can never own or determine you as a person. Have fun with it. Paint it in your favorite colors, decorate it, have some (fake) flowers in the basket, get some flashing light up wheels, do whatever you like to really make it yours. If you need it, you just as well can do it in a way that is you.

 

[Singledad]

It's just a tool to create more freedom. Use it and own it, it can never own or determine you as a person. Have fun with it. Paint it in your favorite colors, decorate it, have some (fake) flowers in the basket, get some flashing light up wheels, do whatever you like to really make it yours. If you need it, you just as well can do it in a way that is you.

I think the above just needed to be repeated.

 

[married2mm]

singledad,

you are totally correct!

i am thankful to everyone for their input and delighted to be part of such a wonderful dis gang