DisabledTravelers.com Travel Blog

Hello, all! I’m Si, and I’ll be your host. I’ve been writing for Disabled Travelers for a while now and I thought it was high time I finally say a word about myself to greet all you great folks who visit the site every month. I unofficially inherited the Disabled Travelers blog from its previous tenant in November of 2009, starting with a little piece about a handicapped air travel controversy in Canada.

Ever since, I’ve been posting on all kinds of topics related to disability-friendly travel around the world, with no intention of stopping soon. As both a world traveler and someone who has overcome serious handicaps, my mission is to help others – whether wheelchair users, those with visual or hearing impairments, or anyone else in the diverse handicapped community – realize their dreams of accessible travel without boundaries.

I am a professional writer with experience in travel, career development, and personal empowerment. I studied creative writing and history at a sunny little liberal arts college in Florida and I’m always on the lookout to learn more about the past of places I visit. From an early age, travel has been an important part of my life, and I make it a point to leave my home base outside Tampa at least once a year for a big adventure …

As far as my own journeys go, it all began with my first international trip when I was granted a scholarship to study literature at Oxford University in the UK. Before then, I had only been from New York to Florida and back – but this three month trip opened my eyes to terrific new possibilities. I was amazed to find out that even in one of the most historic cities in the world, where every street was a mix of old and new, there were plenty of travel options for everyone; and the people I met were always willing to help.

The more I traveled, the more welcome I felt, and the more I wanted to write about it. Since then, I’ve been to Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, and Poland, as well as about a quarter of the U.S. states. I’m also planning trips to Monaco and Japan. Travel has meant a lot to me, so I see the Disabled Travelers blog as a way of giving back and saying thanks to all the people who’ve helped me go further than I thought possible. At the same time, I get to help all of you out there on the internet create the kind of unforgettable memories and life-changing experiences I’ve enjoyed.

Feel free to contact me any time with questions: you can find me at [email protected]. I’ll be glad to answer your email and might even use your comments and queries as part of a future Disabled Travelers post. You can also leave a comment on any of my past posts; I check these daily and will respond as soon as I can. Thank you for reading, and adventure on!

Si

Hi Jeremy
I developed an MSN group called Wheelchairs Without Limits http://groups.msn.com/WheelchairsWithoutLimits/_whatsnew.msnw
Hoping you will join, add a one line profile, pictures and links to this website. If need help, let me know.
Manager
Darrel Von

It’s first time to send comment to you.
I am living in Japan. Many people uses train to move around Tokyo.
Tokyo’s station is accessible with ramp, elevator,etc.
But in the countryside of Japan, accessibility is developing.
I welcome foreign travelers to Japan.

Hi-

Thought you might be interested in our non-profit, Phoenix-based organization, Disabled Explorers.

We take disabled people out for individualized backcountry exploration on four-wheel drive trips. We’ve built a custom, 4×4 wheelchair van.

You can read more about our projects at:
http://www.disabledexplorers.org.

We have a small expedition coming up in late January on the historic El Camino del Diablo trail in extreme southern Arizona.

all the best,

-J.

Did you know there are special hotel rooms for allergy and asthma sufferers? I thought you might be interested in sharing with your readers this report from Consumer Reports “Allergen-free room is nothing to sneeze at” on major chains, including Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, and Fairmont, are setting aside “hypoallergenic” rooms. This report is published in Consumer Reports May 2011 issue, available online and on newsstands.

Here’s the link:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/may/shopping/hypoallergenic-hotel-rooms/overview/index.htm

Here is an excerpt:

“Creating a hypoallergenic hotel room (handled in many hotels by a company called PURE Solutions) is no small task. It involves, for example, installing a powerful air purifier (listed as a medical device by the Food and Drug Administration); scrubbing carpeting and upholstery with a solution designed to remove imperceptible dirt, bacteria, and mold; treating surfaces with an antibacterial shield; and wrapping mattresses and pillows in cases fine enough to block the passage of dust mites.”

Hope you’ll find this piece useful and that you’ll share it with your readers.

Thanks!

Dana Arena (on behalf of Consumer Reports)