Special Needs Patrol

Years ago a friend and I went to Las Vegas for a travel conference.  Being “Las Vegas Virgins” we wanted to experience EVERYTHING, but had a limited time.  We decided to take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon to celebrate my friends 40^th birthday.

Ft. Lauderdale Beach is a narrow, long area of sand on the Atlantic side of Florida.  It’s an area that is easy to travel to with an international airport 20 minutes from the beach.  The hotels are across the street from the main beach area, which gives easier access, and a less touristy feel.  Sidewalks are everywhere, and I noticed quite a few signs for “service animal relief centers”.  The pace in Ft. Lauderdale seems more laid back, and chilled than many other beach locations.  There is a water taxi, lots of local tours on the water, tons of dining and shopping options (think Los Olas) and more.

Legoland has entered the amusement park market in Florida.  The newest, and largest Legoland is located 45 minutes from Tampa and Orlando.  The park, and adjacent water park has been open for a few years, but Summer 15 will start with a blast with the opening of the Legoland Hotel.  The hotel will be highly themed and have room for a family of 5.

Are you tired of cool, cold, and totally freezing days of winter?  If you are anything like me you could use a little bit of Florida Sunshine.  Mid Spring (after Easter week) is a great time of year to visit Walt Disney World due to lower crowds, nice temperatures, and one of my favorite events…

The Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2015

We recently traveled to Nashville Tennessee to explore the city, the sights, and the music.  As it was Christmas time I purposefully avoided the Gaylord Opryland hotel.  They have tons of holiday decorations, and are extremely crowded.  Instead I west to downtown Nashville.  

The holidays tend to be a bit busy.  My wish is for everyone to slow down, and enjoy the special moments a bit more.  This can mean enjoying a church service, lighting up the house, having a snowball fight, or building a ginger bread village.  Often the experiences are what create the memories more than all the materialistic things.  Also you may want to share an old tradition or create a new tradition.  In our house the holidays would not be complete without a few batches of Swedish Nuts to share. Although my youngest is now 18, she is going to join me in baking the nuts.

So you have decided to go on a long awaited romantic vacation to an all-inclusive resort somewhere south on a gorgeous beach.  Part of an additional service is to upgrade to a Butler Room.

We wanted to take the family on one final vacation, but weren’t sure where to go.  We decided to go on the Oasis of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world.  I was excited, but cautious about dining options.  As a Diabetic type 2 insulin dependent individual I was determined to keep my blood sugar in check while still having a great time, and enjoying everything.  A little pre cruise awareness was helpful, so I asked for a refrigerator in the room, a sharps container and activity options.  I also looked into the food choices carefully, both from healthy food availability, and cost.  

My family recently went on a terrific cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas.  One morning we docked in Jamaica, not Montego Bay, or Ocho Rios, but Falmouth Jamaica.  The port was fine, but most activities were at least 1 hour away.  I was aware of some security issues outside of the port area as well.  We did not want to spend time in the bus, and my husband was not able to walk long distances, therefore we slept in and just disembarked.  We noticed a lot of vendors selling their wares, which was interesting, but a little chaotic, so we moved on.

Have you ever felt exhausted, and intimidated by being in a crowd?  Many people with mobility, medical or emotional challenges are very overwhelmed by being in tight, or compact places.  If you add in a walker, scooter, cane, or wheel chair the anxiety goes even higher.  People who have ADHD, early Dementia, and other “invisible” conditions are also effected.  This is sometimes part of traveling, whether it’s in an airplane, bus, or amusement park.

Join Vicky, born with special needs of her own, as she assists those with disabilities to create memorable vacations they may never have known were available to them.

Danville Kentucky is an amazing small town in the middle of rural Kentucky.  From the outside it reminds me of Mayberry North Carolina.  It’s a place where town folks still run the small shops, and everyone seems to have a warm hello.

I recently flew from Louisville Kentucky (my home) to New York City.  As an advocate for special needs individuals I looked carefully at the 2 very different airports I was traveling through.

Have you ever tried to turn a power chair around in a tight space?  How about getting stuck in some rough terrain?  Even my family has gotten stuck in the middle of Disney World with a scooter and a dead battery.  Traveling with wheels is an interesting experience.