Disability Thinking Weekday - Friday, June 7, 2024: Poll

On a trip with friends or coworkers, which kind of help do you prefer?

Next week I will be going to my 35th college reunion. I’m pretty excited about it. And it seems like most of the disability accommodations I need are all set. I’ve got an accessible place to stay, good parking options, and I’m renting a mobility scooter so it’s going to be very easy for me to get around campus. In fact, that’s how I got around campus when I was a student.

The only extra help I need is some assistance unpacking my car when I arrive, and packing up again when I’m ready to leave. Since I am traveling alone, that means I have an interesting question to think about. Do I want to arrange for staff who are working the reunion, who are most likely current undergraduates? Or, should I connect with one or two of my college friends who are going to be at the reunion to help me out? For now, I’ve decided to go the more organized route and ask the reunion organizers for student help. But the question got me thinking for quite a while. And I’ve come to realize that it’s one of those questions most disabled have to think about — with a wide variety of conclusions.

So I thought I would put it to subscribers here. Which do you prefer when you are traveling alone — help from staff of the places you are visiting, or help from friends or coworkers you are traveling or meeting with? Or, do you make a point to only travel with family to help you? Let me know in the poll:

I intentionally didn’t add a “Not sure” option, so feel free to add any “it depends” comments below. I look forward to your responses!

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