Life on Wheels (98 page)

How manual controls press the accelerator varies. Some designs attach a rod directly to the pedal— particularly those designed for quick installation. Most designs use a system of gears or levers to decrease the amount of pressure your arm must exert to press the accelerator. Driving with a hand control is a lot of work for one side of the body, especially if you do a lot of stop-and-go driving.

There are three styles of manual-control accelerators. One is like a motorcycle control, which you rotate; the second is pulled toward the body; the third is pressed downward toward the floor to press the gas pedal. The first two styles are more likely to cause repetitive strain injuries because you have to maintain muscle effort to use them. The third type involves the least strain, since the weight of your arm and hand can be used to maintain speed with much less muscle exertion, although it requires sufficient clearance between the control and your lap for its downward movement. For any accelerator style, cruise control is recommended to reduce arm fatigue:

There are no commercial hand control products for driving a vehicle with a manual transmission, although a few hardy souls have made their own creative adaptations to operate a clutch and gear shift while still keeping a hand on the steering wheel.

All states issue parking permits that allow you to park in designated spaces. They are typically extra wide to accommodate opening your door fully or to extend a lift or ramp. Parking spaces along a curb on a city street do not provide extra space, and you might not be able to use some of these spaces because your lift or ramp would have to open into traffic.

The permit is issued to the person with the disability, not to the vehicle. Anyone driving your vehicle or assisting you needs to understand that the privilege does not extend to them personally. You will get a hanging placard, which is typically designed to be placed on your rearview mirror when you park. You have the option of getting special license plates that designate you as a disabled driver. Even if you have the special plates, you will still need the hanging placard for the times when you are riding in another car or are traveling.

Permits generally allow you to park at any metered space without paying. You must still obey time restrictions, such as for rush hour or street cleaning, when you could receive a ticket or possibly be towed from the street for parking illegally. Don’t count on any favors because you have a disability permit. Be sure you understand what privileges your state is providing you.

Disabled parking has essentially expanded into elderly parking, as well as parking for people with heart conditions, bad knees, or temporary injuries. Doctors only have to sign the application for someone to get a permit. Each state defines what conditions qualify, but these boundaries are rarely enforced. Certainly there are many people who are not chair riders who cannot easily or safely walk distances and are fully and fairly entitled to disabled parking privileges. At the same time, there are far more permits issued in many cities than there are reserved parking spots. The competition for spaces has become fierce, and, too often, a chair user who needs the wider space has no parking to choose from because spaces are increasingly being used by people who can walk. Walking permit holders should use a non-reserved parking spot—assuming it is an acceptable distance from their destination—and preserve the wider spaces for chair riders and vans rather than automatically using the blue spots simply because they have a permit. They still get to park for no charge with no time limits at meters.

You have the right to be assisted at service stations. It varies state by state, but, in general, you should get serviced at the self-serve pump—for the lower price—when there are two or more employees on the premises. If there is one person alone in a booth at a completely self-serve station, she is not obligated to come out to put gas in your vehicle. The trick is how to get attention. Here is another reason why those with special plates still need the blue placard—so you can wave it at someone to ask for help at the pump. Usually, you will find station owners and employees willing to help. They might even clean your windows and check your oil. If you are able to enter and exit your car without too much difficulty, you might find it easier to just get out and serve yourself.

Want to go someplace in the world? Depending on how much you want to deal with, you can go just about anywhere. Like any traveler, you’ll need to get there, find a place to stay, and get around to see the sights.

Flying as a chair rider is a bit of an art. The more experienced you are, the more you learn how the system works and the easier it is to avoid pitfalls. First, know that you have a right to travel by air. In 1986, the United States Congress passed the Air Carrier Access Act. Here are some of its provisions:

New aircraft ordered after April 5, 1990, must be accessible.

Planes with 30 or more seats must have movable armrests on half of the aisle seats.

Planes with 100 or more seats must be able to accommodate at least one folding wheelchair on board.

Airline personnel may not deny transportation to a passenger with a disability or limit the number of disabled passengers unless it is a matter of safety.

You can be required to give two-days’ notice and check in an hour ahead of departure if you

• Are traveling with a power wheelchair on a plane with fewer than 60 seats

• Require special hookups for equipment such as oxygen or a ventilator

• Are traveling in a group of 10 or more chair users

Except in rare circumstances, airlines cannot require you to travel with an attendant. If they insist, they can choose an attendant but cannot charge for his fare.

Your chair must be checked and returned as close to the door of the plane as possible.

Don’t ever let airlines check your wheelchair through baggage claim. Having a wheelchair checked this way is more likely to result in the wheelchair disappearing, for greater or lesser periods of time. Some travelers have reported damage to their wheelchair from improper handling. You will also be forced into dependency on airport staff to take you to baggage claim, which you might otherwise be able to reach yourself in your own wheels. You should be able to make the choice.

Airports have many wheelchairs, but they are generally insufficient for a regular chair rider. Some have small wheels that you cannot push yourself. None have heel loops to help your feet stay in place. Airport chairs are generally in poor repair. Their design assumes you will be assisted. Even if airline personnel suggest surrendering your chair well before the flight, you are not required to do so. Such personnel are acting for their convenience, not yours.