Search Results for: blog traveling with a disability

Teenager with Autism Wants to Become Miss America

Eighteen year old Alexis Wineman wants to become the next Miss America. She is the currently reigning Miss Montana, pretty, and has an autism spectrum disorder. If she wins the crown, she will be the very first Miss America who has autism. That is her quest. When you think about the Miss America pageant, you are either looking forward to watching it or are intending to avoid it. Beauty pageants, in general, are something that can be viewed as controversial. On the one hand, it is a contest that is primarily about the physical appearance of the contestants (all of … Continue reading →

TSA Cares Helpline Can Answer Your Questions

Flying with young children can be stressful. It can be difficult for parents of kids who have disabilities, or certain medical conditions, to know what it will be like for their child to go through airport security. Before you fly, try calling the new TSA helpline. It might be able to answer your questions. By now, everyone has heard a few “horror stories” about parents who were hassled by the TSA, or the staff on an airplane, specifically because of their child. It is understandable that parents of kids who have special needs would feel some anxiety about traveling by … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits For Special Needs Travelers

There’s nothing more relaxing than retreating to the woods for some R&R. Especially when a cool breeze sweeps over you as you gaze at a colorful vista of wildflowers bordered by deep green vegetation. Our country’s park system gives us the opportunity to soak in all that nature has to offer, but what if you are wheelchair bound? How do you navigate the windy trails that lace up and down areas such as Vermont’s picturesque Green Mountains? These days it is much easier. A specialized trail there makes the park’s picture-perfect settings much easier to access for visitors with physical … Continue reading →

Wheelchairs in the Windy City

In a previous blog I mentioned that Chicago was recently named one of America’s most disability-friendly cities by the National Organization on Disability. Not only are all of the city’s public buses wheelchair-accessible, but also each summer Chicago hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation. To learn more about what the Windy City offers disabled travelers I would suggest ordering a free copy of a new guide called “Easy Access Chicago.” It includes basic visitor information for popular city attractions such as Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower, along with details on accommodations like … Continue reading →

Insurance Terms: T

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U-V | W-Z Term Life Insurance is a form of life insurance covering an insured person for a specific period of time, which becomes the “term” of the policy. Benefits are paid to the beneficiary only if the insured person dies during the term specified on the policy. Term life policies are usually renewable with increased premiums based on age. … Continue reading →

The Wizard (1989)

“The Wizard” is the story of a dysfunctional family, trying, unsuccessfully, to set things straight. Fred Savage stars as Corey Woods, the thirteen-year-old son of Sam Woods (Beau Bridges). Sam has been married twice, and had sons Nick (Christian Slater) and Corey with his first wife. When he remarried, to Christine (Wendy Phillips) they had twins, a boy and a girl. Jennifer, the female twin, drowned, and the male twin, Jimmy, was the witness. Ever since then, Jimmy has suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome, and acts as though he has a mental disability. Sam and Christine divorced, and Christine took … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Summer Tutoring

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In many cases parents consider hiring tutors for their children during the summer. While having your child attend tutoring during the summer can be helpful and beneficial to his or her education career, it is not always appropriate or necessary. Before hiring a tutor over the summer for your child, consider why you feel that the tutor is needed. Did your child struggle with his or her course work during the previous school year? Did you choose tutoring over having your child be retained? Did a teacher suggest tutoring for your child? Does your child have a learning disability? If … Continue reading →

Little Stevie Wonderful

One balmy night in 1963, I turned the big stereo “hifi” on and heard Little Stevie Wonder for the first time. It was an unusually warm night in the winter, even for Galveston. The ocean breeze was blowing in through the open windows and I was home alone. I remember hearing the harmonica and thinking what a catchy tune. It was “Fingertips Part 1”. I was hooked on Stevie Wonder; he and I were both twelve years old when he released that song. I learned later he was blind at birth, played not only the harmonica, but had also mastered … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: 10 Ways To Save Time At The Airport

Continuing with our ongoing “Holiday Travel” series let’s talk airports… specifically long lines at the airport and how to avoid them. I too will be standing in line at various airports this holiday season—with a 2-year-old! So believe me I am desperately trying to find as many ways possible to lessen our time in line. Here are a few tips that I have come up with (perhaps, if more travelers were to heed them it would create a domino effect and consequently the line would move faster): 1. Check your flight status from your home phone or computer before you … Continue reading →

“My Child Won’t Let Me Touch Him.” The Avoidant Child

I’ll never forget that autism support group meeting. I had been hit with the overwhelming news that my son Kyle had a lifelong disability, and felt like I was being strangled by pain, disappointment, and fear. There were adults seated all around me—of every shape, size, and race, who had been traveling the same road that I was now setting foot upon. In some ways that was reassuring, but at the same time it was a club I didn’t want to join. “…he won’t allow me to touch him…” After some introductions and announcements, a soft-spoken, tired-looking mother stood up, … Continue reading →