Qantas can “DisabilityCare”

It's really great to hear a good news story coming about as a result of people with disability traveling with airlines.

'My chair is my legs, handle with care'

Here special guest John McKenna writes about his experience on a recent trip using Qantas.

“When that has pups I’ll have one” as he pointed at my wheelchair.

A nice change to the normal “Wow how fast does it go?”
I’ve just arrived in far North Queensland and I must admit I love the spirit and personality of the locals.
Apart from the warmth and friendly people, the highlight has to be so far knowing my wheelchair traveled safely, thanks Qantas.

John transferring to his seat using the Eagle Lifter

It’s all about the preparation and signage that makes it easy for the luggage handlers who have to work with variety of mobility devices.

Other travelers in wheelchairs sometimes however prefer to have their own chair at the plane’s door when getting in and off the plane which can make it hard to prepare your chair for transporting of course.

My experiences with the staff at Qantas who communicated with me in a very respectful way as they introduced and used the “Eagle Lifter” to transfer me in to my seat on the plane.

The Eagle Lifter will soon be an option for passengers using Jetstar.

You can view John's original post and his blog here at www.johnmckenna.com.au

Wheelchair Etiquette

 . . . or How to Win Friends and Influence People on wheels
by Bruce Mumford

Acceptance and facilities for wheelchairs have improved quite a bit over recent years (with still quite a way to go, of course), but we wheelchair users need to remember that we have responsibilities too.

You might find it weird and sometimes annoying to see all these people flitting about willfully on two legs when you can’t even get up out of a chair- but remember they see you as a bit different. And there’s more of them.

So here’s some tips that may make it easier for people to relate to us when we’re out in public: and like it or not, when you’re in a wheelchair you’re on display.

That’s relatively easy for me because I used to be a performer and a Drama teacher.  I’ve grown used to the fear of going on stage and having to cope with tremendous stuff-ups in public.  But even if you don’t have that background, I think you’ll find things a lot more pleasant if you use a few of these skills.  They’re not actually that hard to do either.

But before we start and you begin thinking that I’m being a bit holier-than-thou, let me point out that they come mainly from experience.  I’ve made every one of these mistakes and a lot more.  Do I now follow my own advice? Only occasionally.

Because, as my wife will testify, my memory rarely has a direct relationship with my great thoughts of 5 minutes ago!

How we look when going out is very important.  I know all too well how difficult and time-consuming  it can be to get dressed in ‘normal’ clothes with buttons, belts, zippers and studs etc, but there are shortcuts (Velcro is a wonderful invention) and sometimes the timely organization of carers before leaving home can be as good as having your own dresser and make-up artist.   Cleanliness as well as presentation is important so don’t forget to make use of your wheelchair- height mirror.  These comments apply to the looks of your chair as well as yourself.  I’d be wary of too many stickers and attachments, apart from a safety flag.  If you go out looking like a bit of a weirdo, expect to be treated like one!

 Figure 1: It might be comfortable- but not a good look for going out

 Figure 2: Bruce and Alex Traill of SPCIA attending the local Access Committee in more formal attire

Be pleasant to people you meet.  We’ve got a bit of a reputation for being grumpy and surly curmudgeons.  I’m sure part of this comes from the fact that a great deal of the conversation directed our way we’ve already heard a couple of thousand times before ; such as, “gee you’re looking we1l”  ”aren’t you lucky to have a chair to sit in whenever you want”, ”how’d you get like that?”,“ wow, you can really move in that thing”, “you’re so brave/clever/talented” ,”have you thought of trying this miracle cure/charm/religious cult/herb/drug/exercise/investment opportunity?”.   I could go on . . . and on.

People often assume that because we are in a wheelchair we must be mentally disabled as well and because they have to talk down to us they should speak to us like children.  To deal with this, my mother suggests letting them get to 5 silly comments and then to run them down- but wouldn’t suggest this approach myself.  What about focusing on their face and trying to link them to a movie character you know?  Next time you meet them in the street and think of Yoda you’re much more likely to smile than grimace.  And a lot of people you’ve never met will stare and then smile at you as they pass.  Just smile back knowing that if they did that to an able-bodied person they’d probably be taken in for questioning.

Be clear in asking for the help you need /don’t need.  As a friend put it “most people mean well; they just don’t know how they should help”.  If you don’t want any help, let people know early to save embarrassment later.  If you do need it, be specific.  Nearly everyone will be only too happy to help. (in fact I think being in a wheelchair is a great way to find out just how good most people are).

Be appreciative and grateful for the help people give us.  Be patient and accept their generosity graciously.  Don’t expect it or take it for granted.  We may need their help again sooner than we think!


Watch where you’re going.  Electric wheelchairs can be dangerous things.  Be aware of the dimensions, turning circle, responsiveness of your chair.  Try to drive in a predictable and direct path to the left of passing pedestrians, without changing direction too suddenly or going too fast.  People can have a nasty habit of swiftly striding out of shop doorways or heedlessly hopping from cars without expecting to bump into a wildly whizzing wheelchair.  When backing up always look behind you first (if turning your head’s out, a rear vision mirror is essential).  You don’t expect people to fall over you and most people don’t expect you to run over their toes.

 Figure 3:  Blocking an entrance while having a chat

 Figure 4: A better way to do it!

·     

Make people aware of your presence.  Especially in crowded shopping centres or streets a flag is a good idea and so is regularly tooting your (invariably silly) horn or calling out to let people know of your presence, so they don’t back into you or come to a sudden stop ; that is, unless lap-dancing with strangers is your fetish.

Take care not only of people, but of their furniture, floors, walls and water-features.  Wheelchairs are much more damaging than people, as our house has found out to its cost.  I’ve caused more damage to the architraves, kick-boards and doors to our beautiful old house in the past ten years than several generations of families have done in the 140 years before!  Remember how you resented people not wiping their feet or being careless in your home?  I’ve also found it’s just not worth taking risks.  Both our bodies and our mobility devices are too costly to repair.  Be very careful with holes/bumps/gradients and in particular gutter lips.

Be careful where you stop to chat to people or look at things. In the middle of doorways/footpaths/roads are definitely places to avoid.  If it looks like you’ll be getting into a longer conversation with someone, see if you can find a convenient place where they can sit down and be at your level.  That way you’ll both feel more comfortable.

 Figure 5  "Why do you always stop in doorways!?"

In conclusion, we need to ask ourselves what we want when we are out on our wheelchairs or scooters.  Surely it’s to be treated as fellow human beings and to be helped when we need it.  To achieve this we need to be able to put others at ease, so that they are able to relate with us and are willing to help.  Perhaps we need to think a bit more sometimes about treating others the way we would like to be treated ourselves.

 Figure 6 The rest of the family don't appreciate me watching TV this way.

It’s beginning to sound like I’m thinking of developing a new Accessible Religion.  But lest I seem a bit like some fundamentalist hypocrite  I’d better stop absent-mindedly repeating a lot of those mistakes in my chair.  Both my body and my wheelchair’s damages attest to them a bit too clearly . . .

Acknowledgements: To get ideas for this article I’ve drawn information not only from my own mistakes, but also from a wide section of the able-bodied populace including family, friends, carers and health professionals, community transport drivers, accommodation providers and our local council’s Aging and Disability Officer.
Thanks to you all.
 

Benedict Cutler Clothing Solutions

Today I'm able to post a really interesting story about two Australian entrepreneurs Ben Cutler and Zane Conroy, and their new business Benedict Cutler Clothing Solutions. It's great to see people observe a problem, in this case a lack of appropriate business and formal clothing for people who use wheelchairs, and find a creative solution that will benefit many people.

Zane Conroy and Ben Cutler

When Zane Conroy acquired a spinal cord injury in January 2010 leaving him with quadriplegia he set himself a goal, to return to work by September that year and get on with life. Just before he left the Royal Rehabilitation Centre in Ryde he met Ben Cutler who was to be one of his support workers helping him with this goal and day to day activities. 

In September when it came time for Zane to return to his office job in Sydney’s CBD he was disappointed to find that the suit he once wore with pride to his job and on formal occasions did not fit in all the wrong places and he was left feeling distressed. “I honestly felt very uncomfortable and even claustrophobic, no matter how I directed my carer to move or adjust the suit, it was choking and too loose at the same time. Not something I could see myself going to work in every day” said Zane.

“I had met Zane only recently but quickly realized he was about as strong willed as they come and so the look of disappointment on his face when his clothes were all frumpy and ill fitting moved me to make some enquires” explained Ben. 

Having looked extensively online at available options Ben quickly got in contact with his Uncle John of J.H Cutler bespoke Tailors to see what they could do to help. “Uncle John had fitted some clients who used wheelchairs before and was happy to help alter Zane’s suit so that it looked and fitted as one should”. The alterations were a great success and even incorporated hidden zippers for easy access to personal care equipment, but most importantly they fit well whilst not restricting movement and avoiding pressure areas.  After some more enquires into other clothing options, or lack of, Ben has decided, with Zane and in consultation with J. H. Cutler bespoke, to put together a clothing line consisting of not only formal wear but also casual trousers, jeans and jackets. 

Launching in April, Benedict Cutler Clothing Solutions will be offering both a personalised and online service to restore clothing and fashion options to those who happen to use wheelchairs and feel that this should not inhibit ones ability to look and feel good in what they wear both to work and in social situations. You can find out more by visiting www.benedictcutler.com.au .

I Love To Laugh

Emma Crees has been a writer for this blog for a while, but I have to say this has to be my favourite of her blog posts. I think that everyone should be able to laugh at themselves sometimes. I know that I do it. It is definetly a point of concern for people who do not have a disability about whether or not they can make a joke in relation to that person's disability, however it is common for someone to make a comment about somebody else because they have red hair, giant eyes or a big nose. Even today one of the people within the office who has vision impairment responded to the comment "You were standing right beside a fellow staff member and you didn't see her"....Her response was "I don't see anything!". If we can't crack a joke towards aspects of ourselves, then how can we truly ever be comfortable being who we are?

Please check out Emma's blog site at http://writerinawheelchair.blogspot.com.


Emma Crees

I make jokes about being disabled, and specifically about myself and my disability. It’s just what I do. I refuse to see being disabled as a bad thing and somethings just are funny. Other times it’s a case of if I didn’t laugh I’d cry and laughing is definitely more fun. People don’t always know how to react to the jokes, disability being such a serious and horrible thing that they don’t know if it’s ok for them to laugh. Or perhaps they just don’t expect it.

I’ve frequently made jokes about my chair. I’ve convinced people that I’m not disabled just lazy. And once that a miracle had occurred because I stood up. When I last had a blood test the nurse commented that my veins were moving. I said “well, at least part of me is.” I thought that was hilarious, she didn’t even smile.
I’m not the only person who jokes about their disability. I know a couple of others who do. I also know a few people who can’t or don’t joke about it. I respect that but for me I need to laugh. I’ve even got a few able-bodied friends who now make crip jokes to me. Usually with the comment “I know I can say this to you…”
I want to share a moment from this evening. I’m really hoping it isn’t one of those “you had to be there moments”. I was really amused by it anyway.
I take a creative writing class. It started again this evening for the new term so we had a few people who’ve been before and several new members. We were just getting started and the tutor made a comment that he thought we had everyone or at least he hoped so because we didn’t have enough chairs for anyone else.
Me being me I just sat there and cracked “maybe if someone else comes they’ll be as organised as I was and bring their own chair.”
And just as I said it the door opened and another wheelchair user came in.
That, my friends, is why I make crip jokes. Because once in a while something happens that just makes it even funnier. I can cope with my life and my disability? But a world or even a life without laughter? I couldn’t cope with that.

Uprights behaving badly: Footpaths

I am very excited to be sharing with you another posting from IDEAS Board Member Joanna Nicol. I quite like her blog as I think that the view she takes is something quite unique and independent of the usual perspectives on life. Her own experiences are very insightful and her words are a great way to share in with the experiences of a person in a wheelchair.

Joanna Nicol

I’m going to do a series of posts on things I wish those without apparent disability understood or did differently. It is from my perspective as a person who uses a wheelchair, but hope it can be useful more broadly. So to start with:

Footpaths: their use and misuses

My top 5 things six things I wish uprights got about using the footpath:

1. Don’t just stand there – move something. Standing still at the top of kerb ramps instead of moving off it to allow people crossing to safely and legally get off the road. This is not the place to start a meaning of life conversation or adjust your wardrobe. I, like others need a clear metre at the top of the incline to safely complete the crossing process without tipping myself up or collecting your shins. For many of us who have different mobility issues we need to pick a direction of travel and keep moving as much for safety as energy or anything else so abrupt stopping is never polite. It’s like a car slamming on the brakes every 50 metres instead of going say 30 kph with on-coming traffic coming at you on either side. Also if I am obeying the rules of the road and waiting on the kerb ramp with you jay-walking in the opposite direction please don’t climb over my chair to get off the road.. My footplates are part of my personal space.  
2. While talking of footpaths they are not the place to mingle with five or six of your friends all looking and talking inwards. Given I am waist high to most of you it can be very hard to attract your attention to keep moving (see above) and am often stuck yelling at people’s belt loops for some minutes waiting for one of the party to look down. Not everyone can sidle past or tap you somewhere that my grandmother would consider polite. I can’t tap you on the shoulder if I’m three foot tall.
3. Footpaths are still first and foremost designed built and paid for to enable the safe pedestrian movement of all of us. They are not designed to act as a parking lot for prams cars or bikes, a community ashtray, a junk storage zone, a dining room or an extension of your business. While these uses are able to be incorporated in parts and more modern footpathing have integrated these uses, please remember that the narrow footpaths still need to fulfil the movement thing as their primary role.
4. If you are over 12 do as our parents and the law teaches: please walk your pushbike on footpaths. It’s polite, non aggressive and saves kerb ramps for those of us who have need them to get anywhere not just get somewhere quickly. I know you are doing a good thing for the planet and all that, but polite is still polite. You are still a vehicle. You saving carbon by not using your car is great and something I very much support but the energy flow needed to incorporate your riding on the footpath for me is higher I suspect than for most other people (see point regarding committing to a direction of travel) in the other direction in a need for higher concentration, and the kind of stopping and starting of a machine that you are trying to avoid.
5. While we are on a roll here can smokers please refrain from lowering your cigarette and it’s plume to get me right in the face. Just as you don’t want it right near your eyes when your not smoking it – neither do I. I have even been ashed in my lap or on my hand or chest more than once. It might also be worth noting that this behaviour is not going to be good for any children in the area either.
6. This same idea applies to the swinging of handbags and backpacks in the vicinity of my head shoulders or back or failing to look in all directions (up/down as well as forward and back when exiting a shop to re-enter a flow on the footpath. Its like entering a flow of car traffic without checking your mirrors. Bumping the back of a wheelchair isn’t like bumping a chair leg.. I can feel it. If checking in all directions before you move seems exhausting my only solace for you is; if we all did it more we’d probably all have to do it less.

The main things I wish that “uprights” understood about footpath/sidewalk issues are:

• everyone is trying to get somewhere to be with those we love. I know all the stuff about vibrant footpath culture, but we need to be able to get places to enjoy the culture.
• everyone comes in different sizes so please look down as well as behind. It can be humiliating talking to belt loops for 5 minutes.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Today I am offering you a posting from a regular guest blogger who we haven't actually heard from for a while. Emma Crees has always been an amazing blogger, wise with words and wise with thoughts. I really enjoyed her blog post today, it's quite interesting to realise how children see the world. I think this blog is one for mothers with a connection to disability, as we can all understand that sometimes the dandiest things come out of the mouth of a child. (Please check out Emma's blog site which has recently been renovated, at http://writerinawheelchair.blogspot.com.)  

Emma Crees

A good friend of mine has a four year old son. I’ve known her (and him!) since he was about 16 months old so he’s grown up knowing me.


I use a manual chair a lot of the time and that’s the chair I prefer. But I also don’t drive due to my CP (spatial awareness problems meant when I tried it wasn’t a good idea and I’ve never been back) so I have a powerchair as well which I use most of the time I’m out and about. R (my friend’s little boy) has seen me in both my chairs although I think he’s probably more used to my powerchair.

If you ask him about my powerchair, he’ll tell you it’s a wheelchair. He’ll also show you where the horn on it is and he frequently climbs up for hugs. But if you ask him what my manual chair is? That’s a wheelbarrow. He’s called it that several times even though we correct him whenever he does. It’s really cute and more than a little bit funny.

Then the other day I was talking to someone I volunteer with. She’d taken her granddaughter (I think she said she is 6) camping. Said granddaughter had been desperate for the loo so they’d parked in a disabled space. She said to me that there were about six free disabled spaces and it “wouldn’t matter” (I would have said something about that but you’ve got to pick your battles). Anyway, apparently she asked her granddaughter if she knew what disabled parking spaces were for or who disabled people are or some such, I forget exactly which. And she replied “those people who go round in wheelbarrows”.

I really, really love the way kids see disability and the way they react to it. It’s so refreshing. I wish more adults would take a lesson from their kids and realise that disability is different. But that’s not a big deal, it’s OK. Some do but not many.

And the “Wheelbarrow” comments I keep hearing about (if two kids saying it can be called keep hearing about) do amuse me and make me smile. I can’t remember the last time a TAB adults random disability comment made me smile and laugh like that. I wish I could.

Introducing Guest Blogger Emma Crees - Just the Way I am

I would like to introduce a new guest blogger. I found the words of this inspirational woman on her own blog 'A Writer In A Wheelchair' and just had to see if she would come across and do some blogging on the DisCo site. So for my readers and followers, we are in luck, Emma Crees is now a marvellous contributer to the content of this blog. Emma has Cerebral Palsy and the great thing I like about her own blog posts is that she doesn't let this define her as a person, but at the same time respects this as part of her (and in fact wouldn't change it if she was given the chance). I feel lucky to be able to get the support from such wonderful bloggers and have them really share their experiences, attitude and methods of dealing with change and their lives. I hope that the readers and followers of this blog can appreciate their words and even relate to them in some way!

Emma Crees

I’ve been asked if I want to guest blog over here occasionally and as someone who loves to both write and blog I couldn’t really say no!


I’m Emma and I’m 28. I live in Oxfordshire, in the UK. I’m a volunteer advice worker, a knitter, a sailor, and a reader. A writer, a sister, a daughter, a friend and a swimmer. An advocate, a mouthy girl, stubborn, tattooed and colourful. And lots of other things.

I’m also a wheelchair user as I’ve got Cerebral Palsy (CP). Those other things are the more important things – I’ve used the tag line on my blog before that I’m “So much more than ‘that girl in the wheelchair’” and that’s true – I definitely am.

But it’s my writings about my disability over on my blog that inspired Alyssa to ask me to blog over here on DisCo. Or at least I’m not sure what it was if it wasn’t that! I would describe my blog – which is called A Writer In A Wheelchair – as a bit of a mixed bag of everything. I talk about what I’ve been up to, things I’ve been thinking about or have done. I talk about having CP and also about having depression (I’ve been on and off of anti-depressants for about 7 years). I have a bit of a running series on there called “You know you’ve got CP…” I write about my attempts to lose weight, my hobbies, my hopes and dreams and anything else that comes to mind.


A lot of it does end up being about my disability. Either totally or just in passing. That’s because life is about disability when you have one. Or at least it is in my opinion. Being disabled doesn’t stop me doing stuff but it does influence the when and the how of doing stuff. Occasionally it also influences the what of what I get up too. But you have to think about if there is access to places you want to go – will I manage to get in, get around, be able to use the loo, or get a drink etc. It actually becomes second nature. Sometimes I do it without thinking. Sometimes I’ve been to a place so many times I no longer need to do it

I don’t think that having CP is a bad thing. It’s all I’ve ever known and I wouldn’t change it. Should I wake up tomorrow morning and be able-bodied or “normal” or whatever you want to call it I really wouldn’t know what to do! In fact I’d turn down a cure if I was offered it. I realise that’s something of a controversial viewpoint but it’s how I feel. And really, there is no such thing as normal. Just average, and average is boring!


Currently the tag line on my blog is “What more does a girl need than the ability to write and some wheels?” and that’s even more true I don’t think I’m suffering in anyway being a wheelchair user. Of course there are things I’d like to have in my life – more money, a paid job perhaps, an all expenses paid holiday somewhere. But the ability to walk? I neither want nor need it. I’m fine just the way I am.