Jetblue, meanwhile, offers an escort service for passengers with autism, dementia or Down syndrome, or allows them to bring a designated companion through security and right up to the gate, if they prefer. ![]() can visit the Virgin Atlantic rig at Gatwick airport to get comfortable with the plane layout, which is particularly useful for those with autism who want to experience the environment of the plane pre-flight. Flight attendants are aware of special needs and how to react to them, from assistance you might need to the bathroom, down to the simplest things, like crouching to be at your level as you speak. If you’re flying transatlantic, Virgin Atlantic stands out for its exceptional training of staff around disabilities-including dementia-which can result in a considerably more pleasant flight. Time your flight to arrive in the evening-you can play dinner by ear, then hit the hay without feeling like you’re missing out. If you’re traveling with others, warn them you may duck out of first-day activities if it’s a work trip, I always fly a day ahead of everyone else so I can rest. Long-haul flights are draining for anyone, but they can also provoke flare-ups of conditions, so build rest time on arrival into your itinerary. I’ve honed my travel strategy to a T since I was diagnosed in 2012, when I was already a frequent flier. But as I’ve learned, even if an unassisted journey doesn’t end in injury, it almost certainly will in exhaustion. It can be tempting to push through it without asking for help, especially when a simple request for assistance can come with multiple questions from airline staff. Describing someone as invisibly disabled when they have not expressed this as their preference can be seen as prioritizing others’ perception of them over their experience.I’m a frequent flier with a genetic condition that can result in dislocated limbs if I lift my suitcase awkwardly, fainting if I stand in line for too long, and chronic pain and physical bruising caused by anything from manspreading seatmates to routine pat-downs at security. Unless mentioning an invisible disability is intrinsic to a story or matches how someone self-identifies, saying “disability” covers any and all disabilities, including seemingly invisible ones. “Invisible disability” usually refers to a disability that is not readily apparent to an outside observer. Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |