6 replies to this topic

[Myssa]

In a couple weeks we're going on our first road trip since Brady's accident. We're going to be driving from New Jersey to California, we'll be gone for 3 and a half weeks. When we first started planning this trip we were all set to fly but Brady decided he wanted to drive and he wouldn't hear of me driving it(he doesn't like how I drive).

I have plenty of faith in his driving, he's always done most the driving. We've rented a small u-haul trailer to carry all our stuff becaue we're not the best at traveling light plus al the stuff Brady will need. I very well know it will be a long drive full of "are we there yet" coming from Brayden and Jazmine and crying from Jerzee but in the end those crazy family vacation moments are what you really look back on.

I'm extremely thrilled in the attitude Brady has, I love that he still the same guy he was pre-accident. I'd really love to hear any tips that you may have from you're past road trips, I'm worried about forgetting stuff (I've been making lists for weeks).

Thank you

Edited by Myssa, 16 July 2010 - 06:58 PM.

[BillS]

I took a 6 week solo road trip across the USA last year so you'd think I would be able to give some tips. But mostly I don't have much.

On my trip I hit many cities and sights including New Orleans, San Antonio, Austin, Carlsbad Caverns, the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, Yosemite, San Francisco, Reno, Salt Lake City, Manitou Springs, St Louis, Chicago, Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Montreal, Bar Harbor and Boston.

I think your hardest part will be finding rooms for 5 people that have a roll-in shower. Most of the rooms I had were a king-sized bed instead of 2 twins/queens. That worked fine for me since I was alone but for your family of 5 that would be a problem.

I had all of my hotel rooms booked and confirmed as accessible before I left home. I knew where I would be sleeping each night, what cities I would be visiting on each day and I had a good idea of what to do in each city. For me having it all planned out was best. Plus I'm a planner so I had a lot of fun planning the trip.

Overall no specific hotel chain stood out as being most accessible. I stayed mostly in Holiday Inns, La Quinta and Marriott brands. Some were better then others but it was mostly just luck of the draw on the hotels. It seems most hotel chains do not have a standardized format for their handicapped rooms instead the room is whatever was in style when the hotel was built.

Wait I just thought of something! Get an Access Pass to the National Parks. It's a lifetime pass given to those with disabilities that allows free or reduced admission to all of the National Parks.

http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm

Anyway, if you have any specific questions I'd be glad to answer in any way I can. Have a great trip!!!!!

Also, here is a link to the blog I kept while traveling. It's not really centered on access as much as what I did that day.

http://billsears.liv...al.com/?skip=40
http://billsears.liv...al.com/?skip=30
http://billsears.liv...al.com/?skip=20
http://billsears.liv...al.com/?skip=10
http://billsears.livejournal.com/

Edited by BillS, 17 July 2010 - 06:30 PM.

[Ches]

Does brady suffer from Spasm? Are his controls installed or portable? Just asking cause thats A LONG road trip with potential to really spaz while behind the wheel, make sure he's working and stretching those legs every chance he gets, dont want a close call due to a spasm!

[stillgotswag]

He should do many weight shifts during the trip.

[ericr]

I just drove last week from florida to tennessee about 14 hrs. I have good feeling so i know when to shift my wieght however i have to say the seat was ok for the most part. I limited my drinking so I didnt have to pee so often. to pee which was the biggest concern all i did was recline the chair and pee into a leg bag. have issues peeing sitting in my chair sometimes. Make sure you bring extra caths/wipes/bed covers and whatever else you can think of oh yeah shower chair dont trust anyone to provide one. we brought a hammer and screw driver to remove the bathroom door to fit my chair threw. and sure enough we had too. portable collapsing 4 ft ramp will do for a few steps. very handy. just bring everything I even brought 2 chairs one power assist(which I loved in the mountains) and my lightwieght manual. i didnt care that i over packed i wass glad that i didnt need something i didnt have.

[Myssa]

We made it threw our road trip and I still have most my sanity haha. It was indeed a long loud car ride with 2 kids and a baby but it was a lot of fun and something I think every family should experience.

[4wheelz]

^^^ cool.

Bills, great idea with that pass. next time i am at a NP i shall get one. thanks

will have to check out your blog too.