u/DislocatedAF

Hi! I am travelling to the US quite soon. As a european I don't have too much experience with american airlines. Last time I travelled with United, and everything was ok regarding the chair itself. What are your experiences? Which airline is the best for wheelchair users?

I need an aisle chair avaliable to go to the toilet. Last time I had to limo my way over, supporting myself on every seat on the way and annoying sleeping people. Is that something I need to specify, because I did request WCHC. But the flight attendant told me they could not help me get to the toilet. I am travelling by myself btw.

Also, side note. The assistant meeting me at the airport was super inappropriate. After we had walked/rolled in the open for 5 min and entered the lift, he waited until the doors closed and told me I was very pretty and if he could get my number. I told him I was married and that my husband would not like that (it was a lie but I was so uncomfortable and scared). He continued to pressure me and I just told him I did not have a phone. I have never ever experienced this at european airports, is it common??

I have the impression that belgians (or flemmish people specifically, I can not speak for the rest of the country) are fundamentally ableist.

I am a wheelchair user. My legs don't work, but nothing wrong with my brain. I look like the average person, I am doing a phd, I do sports, I am married and I have a good social network. Nonetheless, people here often assume that I am mentally disabled and incapable of basic tasks.

I think my clearest experience was once I was travelling with the train. I have to request assistance (nmbs sucks). Even tho I am fully capable of self propelling, and managing a ramp with an incline I have to be followed by two assistants. I take every chance I have to practice my dutch, so I keep the conversation in dutch. I am somewhere between A1 and A2, in other words my dutch is poor. However, I manage this whole interaction in dutch.

When I enter the train, someone non-belgian started speaking to me, so I continued in english. The assistants looked shocked and said "oh wow, are you not belgian?". There is no chance it was because my dutch is good, because it is really not. They just assumed that it made totally sense that I, and adult, had the vocabulary of a 4-year old because I use a wheelchair.

This is not a one-time single experience. I deal with these interactions every single day. So, why do you think that is? Are you not exposed to disability? I rarely see other wheelchair-users out and about in my city.

ETA: There is of course nothing wrong with being mentally disabled and I think they should also, of course, not be spoken to as a child. But that is a different conversation.

How do you guys stop self sabotaging? I really struggle with constantly acting against my own wishes and good. It is like I want to be miserable and I want to struggle. And I don't know how to stop. It is affecting my partner and my relationships, and it is like I am actively working against healing. I also get anxiety about the thought of healing.

I am considering buying the xm5 as a birthday present. They seem to be the best headphones out there to a decent price. However after visiting this sub I see there is a lot about the hinges breaking? Is it actually a product fault?

For those who have them, sre you happy with them? How long have you had them?

Thaanks!

Hi, I have a question for the fellow wheeled travelers. What was the best and the worst destination you ever traveled to? And why?

Myself I think Sweden and UK comes high up on my list because of accesibility and the general awareness. I could be independent and I generally felt safe.

Travel wise I think Dahab in Egypt is high up there as well. Even though not super accesible, people there were generally helpful while respecting boundaries. And many cafes and shops had stepfree or one-step access.

My worst experiences have to be Helsinki and Tallin during winter, because of all the snow. That one was really not well thought through..

I really want to visit south-east asia, georgia, uzbekistan and kirigistan, mozambique and tanzania, and patagonia. Have anyone traveled there with a wheelchair?

I used to travel a lot more while I was still walking, and I am still trying to adapt to a new way of living.

Where did you go? Did you regret spending or not spending money on something specific? And most important, how did you even start looking?

The more we search the more lost we get. We are lesbian and I am a wheelchair user so a lot of spots are already out of question. We would love to go somewhere where we could dive and explore nature, and at the same time a nice cultural experience. I have been looking at some overwater bungalows, but the private island vibe is way too luxurious. We have more of a barefoot vibe, but like to treat ourselves.

Any suggestions?