THE DERBY CITY NSCIA NEWSLETTER

Message From the President

Dear Members & Friends-

In lieu of June's meeting we will have dinner at Kingfish Restaurant; 3021 Upper River Road; 6:30 p.m. Meals provided at no cost to members in good standing (current paid membership). The cost of alcoholic beverages is the responsibility of attendees. Please join us for good food and good times.

July's meeting will be held at Frazier Rehab at 6:30 in the fourth floor dining hall. Refreshments will be provided.

- David Allgood

From ebility.com –ed

TRAVELING WITH A DISABILITY
By Scott Rains

"Vacation" is a magic word. Use it in a conversation and people are likely to momentarily spirit off to their private bit of paradise; disappear to somewhere that exists between fantasy and the world as-we-know-it. But even Harry Potter puts in long hours of preparation to work his magic. So, what's the magic formula for conjuring up a charmed vacation?

First, open up your own personal travel style for inspection. Add a pinch of experience from each of the Six Knows below and you will spice your formula with the wisdom of other travelers with disabilities. Stir it up with a friend or travel agent. Then get out there and see the world!

KNOW #1: KNOW YOURSELF
Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Take it from me, it's not worth carting along on the road with you, either. First, ask yourself: What would make this vacation a success for you? Try to answer that question even before you decide on a destination, a reservation, or a travel companion. Pare down to the non-negotiable. Are you looking

for quiet rejuvenation– or exhilaration? Do you have strict budget limits—or room to splurge? Does success mean having sun, snow, a tropical rainstorm—or are you content with whatever comes along? Do you have "must includes" for your trip such as food, an event, or a language?

Secondly, review your physical health. Do it with your physician if necessary. How is your physical strength? Your stamina? Your immune system? Are you in physical pain that would influence your travel plans? Are your medications working correctly and do you have enough to bring on the trip?

What about your mental health? How is your emotional resilience? What's the recent pattern of your moods? Are your dreams or fantasy life telling you something about how you might react to travel now?

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THE DERBY CITY NSCIA NEWSLETTER

Derby City Area Chapter
of the
National Spinal Cord Injury Association

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Derby City Area Chapter of the N.S.C.I.A. is a membership organization for individuals with spinal cord injuries, their families, and health professionals. Founded in 1984 as a Charter Member of the N.S.C.I.A., it was incorporated under IRS Section 501 (c) 3 as a not for profit organization. The Board of Directors consists of the Officers, Past President and the Board Members At Large.

***

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT
David Allgood - (502) 589-6620

VICE PRESIDENT
Adam Ford - (502) 425-2206

TREASURER
Tom Stokes- (502) 957-5865

LIAISON TO FRAZIER INSTITUTE
Dr. Bill Kraft – (502) 582-5865

FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Betty Perry—(502) 647-0368

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY/WEB MASTER
Michael Feger- (502) 647-0368

PAST PRESIDENT
Adam Ford- (502) 425-2206

BOARD MEMBERS AT LARGE-
Mike Perry
Kelly Young

NSCIA
DERBY CITY CHAPTER
NEWSLETTER

Editor- Barbara Davis

Contributor- David Allgood

TRAVEL, CONT'D

KNOW # 2: KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT

Take responsibility to know your equipment too! Do you know it as well as, if not better than the people who sold it to you? Have you made a toolkit with everything you need for repairs? Do you pack it in carry-on, not checked-in luggage? Have you prepared an instruction sheet, with illustrations, on assembly and disassembly of your equipment? How many languages is it in? Did you arrange for an equipment check-up before you left? Have you brought along replacements for items that frequently fail? Do you know of vendors at your destination that can repair equipment in an emergency? As preventative maintenance for yourself as well as looking out for others in the community, do you know how to report equipment failures to your vendor and the manufacturer? How to pass along any suggested solutions you may have?

There is a catch to this category. The line between your equipment and their equipment becomes fuzzy when your comfort and safety depends upon the transportation company's vehicle.

THE DERBY CITY NSCIA NEWSLETTER

Refrigerator Calendar
*2005

JUNE

6th - Elderly & Disabled Advisory Council Meeting
Mon 1:00-2:30 p.m.; TARC; 1000 W. Broadway; Board Room.

14th - Fundraiser for Spinal Cord Injury Society of Kentucky; Max & Erma's Restaurant
Tues 2901 S. Hurstbourne , Louisville; (502) 493-9662. A portion of the day's totals will be donated.

20th - NSCIA Derby City Area Chapter annual dinner at Kingfish Restaurant; 3021 Upper River
Mon Road (Zorn & River Rd.); 6:30 p.m. Meal paid by the Chapter for members in good standing.

18th - Metro disAbility Coalition Meeting; 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.; PVA Office on Goss Avenue.
Sat Speaker to be announced; if questions, contact Terri Leasor at 589-6620 or at mdclouky.org

JULY

4th - Elderly & Disabled Advisory Council Meeting
Mon 1:00-2:30 p.m.; TARC; 1000 W. Broadway; Board Room.

18th - NSCIA Derby City Area Chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m., Frazier Rehab.
Mon 4th floor dining hall; speaker to be announced. Call David or Barb at 589-6620.

16th - Metro disAbility Coalition Meeting; 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.; PVA Office on Goss Avenue.
Sat Speaker to be announced; if questions contact Terri Leasor at 589-6620 or mdclouky.org

For More Information Call
David Allgood, 502-589-6620

THE DERBY CITY NSCIA NEWSLETTER

TRAVEL, CONT'D

Do you know how to troubleshoot a lift on a van for an inexperienced driver? Can you instruct the baggage crew on how to stow your wheelchair, walker or scooter? Handle your respirator or oxygen bottle? Have you memorized the accessibility features of various airplanes by make and model of the aircraft? Can you show the flight attendant the location of the button to unlock movable airline seat arms?

Language teachers and travel gurus may tell you that the most important first words to learn in another language are "Please" or "Thank you". I tend to prefer to master words like "Nyet! ("No!"; Russian), "Rollstuhl" ("wheelchair; German), "Kaaga" ("mine"; Somali) and useful phrases like "De jalto nenhum! ("Don't mess with that wheelchair!"; Portugeese).

# 3: KNOW YOUR SAFETY NET
Life is tough. (That's probably why you want to go on vacation in the first place!) Traveling with a disability can be a test of skill. Expect the unexpected, "what if" around worst cases, and then strategize about how to deal with what you discover.

Did you leave a copy of your itinerary with family and friends back home? Have you established a schedule for periodically contacting people back home? Do they know what to do if they don't hear from you? If you have friends or contacts at your destination, have you double checked to see that all contact information is up to date and correct? Do you know how your travel companion responds in an emergency? Have you discussed various emergency scenarios with him or her?

Does your personal insurance cover you while out of the country? Do you have travel insurance to make up the difference between what the airline will pay if they damage your equipment?

# 4: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Laws, policies, business practices, and cultural norms change from region to region and country to country. Don't be easily discouraged. Keeping track of the specifics merits an advanced degree in traveling with a disability. Be as knowledgeable as possible.

At what point in a trip involving air travel does the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) jurisdiction end and the Air Carriers Access Act (ACAA) begin?

airplane has more than 30 seats? Is it a wide-body with more than two aisles? Can you advocate for the rights you have with a Canada carrier? A European airline?

What responsibility do you have for knowing your rights? For effectively communicating your needs? Are you able to advocate for your own rights in a way that leaves the person you are confronting better educated and more likely to assist the next passenger with a disability? Do you make use of the airline's Complaints Resolution Officer (CRO)? Do you share what you have learned with others in the disabled community?

#5: KNOW YOUR TRAVEL COMPANION
Be your own best companion first. Know what you expect out of a travel companion.

A travel companion, especially a good friend, can sometimes be a mirror. Don't burden them with the thankless job of reflecting back someone who you don't want to see. There is never a shortage of legitimate reasons to squabble when traveling and in close quarters! What does he or she expect out of you? Can you honestly and clearly communicate your own limits? Do you know each other's habits with smoking, drinking, drugs? Each other's sleep patterns and pet peeves? Do you have an agreement about borrowing and lending money or items while traveling? Have you established rules for disagreeing? For fighting? Are you comfortable discussing your disability with your potential companion? Have you done so already? Have you started getting to know your travel companion long enough before the trip to allow each of you to evolve a realistic set of expectations for your travel together?

Maybe your fellow traveler is a service or companion animal or a pet. Have you arranged for the necessary health exams and vaccinations? Do you know the companion animal policies relevant to transportation, lodging, or foreign travel? Have you prepared for the effect of a different climate or a different diet? Can you be certain that your companion will receive adequate exercise and have access to emergency medical care?

#6: KNOW YOUR DESTINATION
Destination research is the least overlooked of the Six Knows. Common holiday spots can be very effective in communicating their image and appeal. The danger lies in being lulled into assuming that the specific accessibility information that you need is as easily available.

Can you read critically through marketing materials for the facts? Have you developed successful strategies for getting the accessibility information you need? Have you researched the accessibility of hotels and resorts? What about theaters, restaurants, music and sport venues? Are local tourist attractions independently accessible or is accessibility through prior arrangement? Will you be able to get what you need from car rental agencies? Bus and rail systems? Taxi companies? Have you taken the time to find, or train, a good

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THE DERBY CITY NSCIA NEWSLETTER

TRAVEL, CONT'D

What accessibility features are required by law if the travel agent? Can you identify agencies like tourist boards or chambers of commerce that might help? Have you located and used online bulletin boards serving people with disabilities?

Travel can be a time of self transformation. You can grow in confidence and self-esteem while gathering memories that will last a lifetime. One way to guarantee that the memories will be positive is to prepare with the six knows.

The following is condensed from the Internet—ed.

STAY COOL IN SUMMER AND
PREVENT DEHYDRATION

Signs of Dehydration:
• Thirst
• Slowed response time
• Concentrated urine—more yellow than usual
• Clumsiness, dizziness, and disorientation

One way to gauge how much water you're losing is to weigh yourself before and after exercising. If you lose 4 percent of your body weight during exercise, replace with a pint, or two cups, of water.

Rules for Replacing Fluids Lost During Exercise:
• Drink a cup of water about a half hour before exercising.
• Drink 3-6 ounces of fluids every 15 or 20 minutes during the exercise. (If the exercise only lasts 20-30 minutes this isn't necessary.)
• Don't wait until you are thirsty. Follow a water replenishment schedule. If you wait until you notice you are thirsty, you're already becoming dehydrated.
• Drink cool fluids. Fluids at 40-50 degrees pass through the stomach and into the bloodstream more quickly than warm or ice-cold beverages.
• After exercise, frit juices or sports drinks are better than water for re-hydration.

To Avoid Heat Exhaustion:
• Wear clothing that allows the body to breathe.
• Don't exercise when you have a fever.
• On very hot days, exercise early in the morning or late evening. Better yet, go swimming!
• Re-fuel your body after exercise with cool (not ice-cold) treats such as Jello, chilled watermelon, etc.

FOR SALE !!!!

*Four sets of hand controls for driving any vehicle, $50 each. ; Four RoHo cushions; Two low profile and two high profile, $50 each; Twin size hospital bed—electricically operated, $200; Two Quickie Wheelchairs $100 each. Contact Gwen Dietz at (502) 541-4417.

*2003 Ford F-250 lift-equipped green/gray van; leather seats, TV, DVD player. Play Station hookup, am-fm radio. Rick Miller, 937-2245.

*Shower Chair; 2 yrs old, negotiable; 2 RoHo cushions; low profile; $150 each; Invacare 900 Action Power Chair; 4 yrs. Old; $600. Call 448-5296.

*RoHo High Profile 16x16 cushions; $160; 589-6620.

*Cookbooks for Sale: Recipes compiled by Chapter members; $10:00. Call David @ 589-6620.

*Video tapes for sale. Various topics related to spinal cord injuries. Call David Allgood or Buddy Lawson.

***If assistance is needed to pay for any of the above items, contact Kentucky Assistive Technology Loan Corporation at 1-800-327-5287 for information on loans at 5% interest to qualified candidates.

THE DERBY CITY NSCIA NEWSLETTER

You are cordially invited to join us!

The Derby City Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association
consists of people with spinal cord injuries and similar physical conditions, their family members, friends, and
professionals or other interested parties.

We meet:

WHEN- Third Monday of every month from 6:30 to 9:00 PM
WHERE- Frazier Rehab Center , 4th floor Dining Room
220 Abraham Flexner Way

If you wish to be a member, donor, and/or be on the mailing list of the Derby City Chapter of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association please complete and mail the following form to the address below