All Are Welcome, Except the Disabled

It's nearly impossible to find a disabled/family restroom available to use when out with Kellisa. I'm guessing we find the door locked at least 90% of the time. It is usually an able bodied person who is using the bathroom as a personal throne. Sometimes it's someone using it as the smoking lounge. Rarely is it a family with small children and almost never is it another disabled person.

To give space to "all genders", they are using the disabled bathroom which really means they are taking it away from the disabled because I'm going out on a vary short and sturdy limb by guessing this will make it absolutely impossible to ever find a bathroom available for Kellisa. I see this as theft from the disabled. At best, a public location might have one bathroom set aside. Besides privacy and sanitary reasons, we need the extra room to safely use the facilities with Kellisa. 

Since I frequently travel alone with both girls, what is my alternative? Wheel Kellisa in the men's room? If yes, what do I do with 7-year-old Laurel? Do I bring her with us? Does she curiously look around? Do I leave her outside the men's bathroom and hope for the best?  

Our picture is from the San Diego Airport and I'm afraid that it will become the new normal. The disabled have so few resources and it is disturbing to think this may start a new trend. In my opinion, we only have one option and our odds of finding a bathroom for Kellisa will go from maybe 10% to far less than 1% if "All Are Welcome, Except the Disabled" becomes public policy.

The disabled need a powerful voice and lobby!

"Enraged Father Sounds Off, but was He Heard?"

Our latest article for Abilities can be found (here).

"Mile High Miracle"

Kellisa's First Flight

It happens on almost every Southwest flight and I'm sure it's not unique to just to one airlines. I'm surprised I've never seen this phenomenon covered in the news since it's so amazing and prevalent.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             My most recent article, "Waiting for Kellisa's Mile High Miracle" was published yesterday on Abilities.com.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          You can find a direct link to the article (here).

Crescent Rock Trail

Shenandoah National Park, VAh

July 2015

Miles Pushiked: .42

When our path was blocked by a barricade on the Limberlost Trail, we saw a smaller trail off to the side. We wanted to pushike a little longer and decided to try the side trail. This path wasn't accessible, but it looked possible. We only went .21 of a mile down this trail, but we found it quite enjoyable. I was still worried about the next rain storm. The ground was a little muddy and we encountered a few rocks and roots, but the surrounding forest seemed a little more full and lush. We met an older couple hiking this trail and we talked for a few minutes. I found it odd that they reeked of smoke and was very surprised to see a burning cigarette laying in the middle of trail shortly after our encounter. Laurel looking at the half smoked cigarette, "That's disgusting". Even though everything was wet, we still stomped the cigarette out. 

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Limberlost Trail

Shenandoah National Park, VA

July 2015

Miles Pushiked: 1.02

We arrived at the trailhead in between rain showers. As soon as I had Kellisa in her Hippocampe and we were ready to start, it began to rain again. We took shelter in the Jeep and I worried about losing our chance to pushike this trail.

I had selected the Limberlost because it was accessible (rare in mountain environments), 1.3 miles long, had a bridge and boardwalk. After a long 30 minutes, the rain stopped. I had to reload Kellisa in her chair before we could start out on the trail. I had checked the weather the day before and there was a zero percent chance of rain, so I didn't pack our raincoats (rookie mistake).

Laurel did not enjoy all the bug sounds coming from the forest. She used the hood on her hiking shirt to block out some of the buzzing. The trail was in great shape and we found it to be very accessible until we reached a barricade. The trail was closed after .51 of a mile. It was a pleasant stroll through the forest with a few slight elevation changes. It would have been nice to complete the trail. Before returning to the trailhead, we did explore a little side trail that wasn't accessible.

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