Travelling with a disability
Posted by: Goulah
15th Nov 2024 04:34pm
Although I have vision, hearing and mobility “disabilities”, I still like to travel. Having been told to stay at home (as some consider me to be on the elderly side) and not cause problems for others, I am not willing to not venture out and about.
I have a Guide Dogs low vision badge, a walking stick with appropriate colouring to show I have a vision disability and I wear a hidden disability lanyard. People still walk into me and say oh sorry I didn’t see you. I don’t mind, people will forever not notice things around them especially when they’re on their phone.
What does hurt though is being treated as invisible. I will ask for help to read a sign or to doublecheck what I think is correct. Yesterday I was returning from overseas on a large carrier and for 11 hours was basically ignored except when I asked a couple of times for help completing my immigration card. I can assure you that 11 hours of travel without food or water is most uncomfortable. Another traveller who needed a wheelchair saw what happened to me and had also noted that the crew were rather rude.
There are others who are “worse off” than me but I do not consider myself to be badly off. I just hate bad manners.
I have a Guide Dogs low vision badge, a walking stick with appropriate colouring to show I have a vision disability and I wear a hidden disability lanyard. People still walk into me and say oh sorry I didn’t see you. I don’t mind, people will forever not notice things around them especially when they’re on their phone.
What does hurt though is being treated as invisible. I will ask for help to read a sign or to doublecheck what I think is correct. Yesterday I was returning from overseas on a large carrier and for 11 hours was basically ignored except when I asked a couple of times for help completing my immigration card. I can assure you that 11 hours of travel without food or water is most uncomfortable. Another traveller who needed a wheelchair saw what happened to me and had also noted that the crew were rather rude.
There are others who are “worse off” than me but I do not consider myself to be badly off. I just hate bad manners.
You must be a member to reply to this chat topic. Click here to sign in.
Help Caféstudy members by responding to their questions, or ask your own in Café Chat, and you will get the chance of earning extra rewards. Caféstudy will match these and donate equally to our two chosen Australian charities.
Australian Marine Conservation Society are an independent charity, staffed by a committed group of scientists, educators and passionate advocates who have defended Australia’s oceans for over 50 years.
ReachOut is the most accessed online mental health service for young people and their parents in Australia. Their trusted self-help information, peer-support program and referral tools save lives by helping young people be well and stay well. The information they offer parents makes it easier for them to help their teenagers, too.
Challenge Challenge is a not-for-profit organisation that supports children and families living with cancer, 365 days a year.
Our support is free and immediate, helping to lighten the cancer journey by addressing the practical, social, and emotional needs of all our members.
Our support is free and immediate, helping to lighten the cancer journey by addressing the practical, social, and emotional needs of all our members.
Comments 5
jtmorri
I would have pressed the button or had the person next to you press it for you and ask for anything that you had needed. They may have thought you were fine and since you hadn't asked that you didn't require anything.
You do have to communicate your needs to others as they aren't mind readers. Maybe their training informs them not to treat people with a disability differently as this can be seen as condescending behaviour.
I think it is only bad manner when you ask and then are ignored or brush off and not when you choose not to interact.
jtmorri
That is extremely rude and poor customer service.
I would contact the airline and submit a complaint.
Provide date, time of flight etc and flight number. Anything you know about the inappropriate airline crew member can be included.
Keep travelling.
Goulah
I did press the button to request water and when they attended said they would be back shortly. Unfortunately they did not return. The second time she said in a minute and didn’t return. The third time she was short with me and avoided me for the remainder of the journey.
ekaj
I'm so sorry you have been treated this way, especially by the aircraft crew. I have a mobility disability and have never been treated rudely by aircraft or airport people. The general public on the other hand are always self-centred, on their phones or just inconsiderate. Like you people seem to think I am invisable. I am lucky that I don't need help with reading things, but I find people will push in front of me to get to the counter or to see some goods. I use a walking stick and a mobility scooter and with both of these people still don't see me.
Unfortunately I think all or most people with a disability are treated this way.
As to your travel plans, if you want to go somewhere, then go. You will not cause problems for others and you should feel you can go where ever you like. You are independent and self-sufficient. You deserve to be treated with respect. I am sure you treat those around you with respect and enjoy being in the company of others. Don't listen to those who tell you to stay at home.
As you say you are elderly, then you have contributed to society over a working life. Now go out and enjoy yourself.
Goulah
Funnily enough when I politely passed my concerns at the end of my flight to a staff member I was told “but you look normal”. I was also told that the flight crew were contractors so that was why the standard was not as high as usual.