Category: Travel

A day in the life, ADA, Awareness, Power Wheelchair, Travel

Be gentle. Those are my legs! Airline Travel As a Wheelchair Using Quadriplegic

| Charles Merritt

Airline Travel As a Wheelchair Using Quadriplegic

UPDATE FROM DIAMOND PASSENGER LIFT CO.

Training was provided @MCO on several different dates in 2017 and 2018… Training was free and was offered to any airline or service provider who wished to attend.. The purpose of the free training was to make sure their were trained personnel to utilize the Eagle lift that was purchased by MCO…

Recently, I traveled through Orlando’s International Airport to Minneapolis-St. Paul where I attended a portion of the Paralyzed Veterans of America National Convention. As a C3 complete quadriplegic, traveling often takes its toll.  Due to the limited training of staff and airlines reluctance to understand my type of disability; I am disinclined to travel by airline. Having only traveled by airline once before (now 6: 2019) as a wheelchair using quadriplegic.

…the Orlando airport has ultimately worsened in respect to my needs.

At that time (2016), the Orlando airport utilized a lift system that properly on-boarded me to my seat. The issue then was that the gate agents and airport employees did not realize that the lift system existed, but were able to finally locate it with the paramedic services and

Airline Travel As a Wheelchair Using Quadriplegic

EMS.

Fast-forward to May 2018 and apparently, the Orlando airport has ultimately worsened in respect to my needs.

According to the gate agent at the Delta terminal, they could no longer use the lift system due to the “training cost” associated with ensuring their employees were properly certified on the equipment.  I used the device two years before but was told not all terminals or airlines have paid for the training.

…at the Delta terminal, they could no longer use the lift system due to the “training cost”

Airline Travel As a Wheelchair Using Quadriplegic

The general manager of Prospect Airport Services explained that Delta’s reasoning was accurate, and they could not even occupy the terminal because of insurance liability. I communicated to the gate agent the liability of manually lifting me and transferring me, is greater than if they were to use the lift.  They quickly redirected back to the training cost. Why aren’t the airlines paying to train their employees?  They need to know proper techniques to safely transfer customers with disabilities.

Airline Travel As a Wheelchair Using Quadriplegic
Utilizing the Eagle Lift for Airline Traveler with Limited Mobility

This is why airline travel as a wheelchair using quadriplegic and other people with disabilities is difficult. Further reducing our ability to live a normal life.

Why aren’t the airlines paying to train their employees?

Transferring with inappropriate equipment poses risks to the physical and emotional health of people with disabilities.  According to Prospect Airport Services, the training cost $4000 per employee (it’s actually free).

Airlines Will Not Pay for the Training

Given that one of my tickets was $700; I assume the airlines could afford to provide passengers with dignity, respect, and safe mode of transfer. This is not the case at either the Orlando airport, that had the equipment, or the Minnesota St. Paul airport which did not have the equipment.

I made it through my travel with only minor bruises and a small device broken from my wheelchair. I believe that airline employees should have a better understanding to be gentle with this equipment. Ask anyone with paralysis if they do not have their wheelchair it is the same as someone taking their legs away from them.

Get Ready for More Wheelchair Users

Orlando is home of the 2018 38th annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games with several hundred wheelchair users flying into the Orlando airport. Accommodations will have to be made for these athletes at every gate and in every terminal. Great work has been done with the air access laws, Continuing efforts through air access laws is necessary to eliminate these issues.

Thank you

Airline Travel As a Wheelchair Using Quadriplegic

A day in the life, Travel

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

| Charles Merritt

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know about Cruising As a Person with Disabilities

First off, I would like to thank Flying Dutchman Travel for providing my accommodations for this vacation. Also The Central Florida Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America who selected me to participate on this excursion. Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know.

A little background about myself. I am a C-3 complete quadriplegic who travels with his fiancée, friends, and family.  Due to needing someone to take care of my particulars. This is my second cruise vacation and my first after becoming a quadriplegic. I am an avid traveler and have become an advocate for persons with disabilities. This was a five day country cruise on the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas with stops in Key West and Cozumel. Here’s a list of a few things I believe are necessary as you embark on any type of vacation as a person with disability. Using my cruise as an example.Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

    1. PROPER PREPARATION LEADS TO A GOOD TIME. I am lucky enough to have a tremendously smart and loyal fiancée. Who has gotten our preparation for travel down to a science. For the cruise we had to ensure that we were able to charge my power chair, bring along a manual chair in case of power chair failure, and a floor lift. We also tried out our new portable shower chair (not that great). Along with the equipment that allows me to scoot around we also brought a floor lift to get me in and out of bed. We also packed several suitcases full of other accouterments associated with my disability.
      1. Make a list
      2. Double Check Your List
      3. pack everything and double checked again
    2. FIND APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS: The cruise lines are very accommodating when it comes to people’s disabilities specifically, wheelchair users. Our room was over-sized by about 150 ft.² with a very large role in shower and a space for a king-size bed and a couch. We double checked with our travel agency as well as the cruise line to ensure there was ample space under the bed for our lift to operate correctly as well as double checking that the shower area was accessible as well. *Even though the website says it is always call and double check.
    3. RECONNOITER YOUR DESTINATIONS:

      Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

      In the Marine Corps whenever we went to another country or training in certain environments we were given a detailed briefing and handouts courtesy of the CIA that described that specific area its demographics. Where to go and where not to go. Whenever traveling abroad make sure you have some understanding of the culture as well as any types of threats that may be applicable i.e. kidnapping. Also with Google maps most of the tourist destinations you can Street view. For people like me that like to run amok it may not be as simple.

    4. Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know Always bring a buddy.
    5.  REMAIN PATIENT: Not only with the local populace but with your caregivers and the people with you who may not have a complete appreciation for your lack of mobility. I try to keep a big smile on my face and keep everyone moving because typically I’m the point man. Understand that the people around you specifically, the strangers don’t understand you or your disability but for the most part will do everything they can to accommodate you. Don’t be afraid to ask. 
    6. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ON VACATION: the main thing is to try to have as much fun as possible and not let your disability drag down. Don’t be let down by the things you cannot do (I didn’t get to see the Mayan ruins). But get excited about the things you can do (midnight party on the cruise ship). Believe it or not the person with a disability is usually the center of attention and whether positive or negative your vibe carries on to the people around you.

      They are all looking at you and how you are reacting to the situation. The more positive you can be the better time that will be had by everyone. Learn how to laugh off detours on the ship. Hallways are very small. But the good news is there isn’t much other issues with the boat besides small hallways.  the accessible rooms are close to the end of the hallway and near the elevators.

      So this alleviates the need to go down the hallway. As always if you have any specific questions feel free to contact me and I hope you find your next vacation and can use some of my insights to make it an enjoyable experience.

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

Disabled Travel: Five Things You Should KnowDisabled Travel: Five Things You Should Know

A day in the life, Adapted technology, At the beach, Awareness, Travel

Being a quadriplegic living with paralysis kind of sucks

| Charles Merritt

Being a quadriplegic living with paralysis kind of sucks

I know what you’re thinking, “well of course it sucks.” And I would tend to agree with that statement because as a whole it does kind of suck. But oh there is a silver lining in that black cloud of quadriplegia. “What?” you say? “There is no way. It looks like a horrible time.” Yes, for the most part the inability to move my appendages leaves me insurmountably frustrated. I have learned in my short time as a handicap to bury that constantly nagging feeling of helplessness. Mainly, underneath a fistful of antidepressants. But I digress. Being a quadriplegic living with paralysis kind of sucks.





There have been many good moments over the last 15 (now over two years) months: I’ve learned a lot about myself, and the people in my life. I have met a lot of great people, joined a couple of great organizations, continued to run my business, started a blog, and continued to meet life’s challenges head-on!

Being a quadriplegic living with paralysis kind of sucks

Being a quadriplegic living with paralysis kind of sucks

This post should provide some insight on what I do every day and in hopes to shed some light on the day-to-day awesome sauce that is my current “new normal.” That’s what the therapist call it when you have a catastrophic injury and have to figure out ways to make your life be somewhat normal.

I define normal as having a sense of purpose. The good thing about purpose it doesn’t take physical attributes to have. You just have to be willing to take action. Breaking my neck and said little change on my purpose. There have been some minor modifications to make sure I can still take action. My day is typically normal and just like everyone else’s.

So I get up and go to work.

This is typically a Monday through Friday thing and I get up. I mean Tina and an aide from the local home healthcare agency get me out of bed, put me in the shower, shave, brush my teeth, and then head back to the bed to dry off and put my clothes on for the day. I am then craned into my power wheelchair with an apparatus similar to what a mechanic uses to lift an engine out of the car. Then I’m off!

Into my home office to begin my day around 10 AM. During the day I am either on the phone, sending or receiving emails, fixing bugs in our marketing, interacting with clients, and all the other day-to-day activities of a business owner. This goes on usually till about 6 PM depending on how much work I have left to do. So for Monday through Friday this is where you’ll find me unless…

Go outside your house.

Lately I have been up to something very exciting. Working with UCF on new wheelchair technology and becoming Central Florida famous. Limbitless Solutions is a nonprofit that helps amputees and now high-level quadriplegic injuries and affects a better life for them and I’m proud to be a part of that. You may have noticed me on the news almost 1 million hits.

Sometimes we have to drive three hours to the Tampa VA to see my doctor. I have work to do for the Paralyzed Veterans of America Central Florida Chapter as the Treasurer that keeps my off time occupied. I am currently planning a poker night fundraiser, a group skydiving event, trying to find ways for the chapter to effectively assist our members, and the list goes on. It may seem like a lot, and it may be, but the one thing all of these have in common is I would not have done any of them without being injured. Some activities have changed but my mission has stayed the same.

I am damn sure not letting the inability to use my arms and legs stop me

Being a quadriplegic kind of sucks

My mission now as it is always been at least for the past decade is to do my best to take care of my family, earn some sort of living, and try to explore all life has to offer. My injury has not changed this it has just changed how I get there. I’ve also been given opportunities I wouldn’t have thought I would enjoy or be as passionate about as I am now.

Being a quadriplegic living with paralysis kind of sucks

I am damn sure not letting the inability to use my arms and legs stop me. So yeah being a quadriplegic kind of sucks but as with anything else you can either overcome adversity or go hide in the closet underneath your blanket and never come out and experience everything this world has to offer. Good luck with that I’ll be skydiving.




Many thanks to love my life Tina goes without her none of this would be possible. You are my lighthouse in the storm.