My daughter (age 11) and I are planning a trip to New York next October (lots of time for planning!). I have limited mobility and use sticks to assist me. After reading some of the comments on here I will definitely be booking assistance at the airport but I was wondering if anyone could advise of good locations to stay in. I wasn’t sure if we should pay the extra to stay in the centre or if it was easy to access the centre areas using subways/buses.
The buses in New York are very good for wheelchairs, when I lived there but that was many years ago. I think it’s only got better and as for the subway I don’t remember where the lifts were, but there are a lot of taxi’s to get and a lot of new Yorkers walk a lot so the sidewalks are good. It depends where your staying, I think in the tourists area have a lot more disabled areas for access.
I do remember that the buses have room for two wheelchair’s not like my area, they only have one, it’s a nice time in October not to hot not that cold but lots of Halloween things to get. But one thing if you can go out of state in new Jersey you will see lots of houses decorated and the parks showing red leaves. September is a good time. One time in the end of October early November we had a storm and was stuck in the house because of the snow but being in new York not much stops the city. Good luck
One thing I was there from January to the February the next year, it snowed twenty four hours after arriving, take a long coat as the coat I took was a ski jacket but didn’t cover my bottom and it was cold if you can get to the big malls in new Jersey you can get some duck down coats that cover your tops of your mid thizes.
I’m lucky to not suffer with my mobility at the moment, but I did appreciate that the streets are all flat (factoid: they used to be hilly but every hill was bulldozered away as they introduced the grid system!) I learnt that on the bus tour so I’m just showing off!!. Seemed to have very good accessibility in most places, lifts on the subway etc. We stayed central, just off Madison Avenue. Taxis and ubers are absolutely everywhere so I can’t see there being a problem (obviously accessibility dependent).
It really is a magical place. Hope you love it as much as I did!
My advice is hire a wheelchair for the duration of your stay; believe me you don’t want to struggle all the time. Google it there’s tons available like Mobility Scooter Rental | Electric Wheelchairs | Yellow Scooters Travelling by aircraft seems a daunting experience for anyone Disabled in wheelchair or not, but in reality it isn’t it can be a seamless experience as you are helped every step of the way, (that’s not meant as a pun). I worked for British Airways for 26 years, as such travelled to many parts of the World. In fact in 1988 I travelled twice around the World, some 48,000 miles in 5 days on aircraft, sponsored for Charity. Not something I would recommend but shows you it is possible. Stick to these guidelines and you will really enjoy the experience. First on booking your flight tell them you would like assistance from check-in to the gate. This could be a wheelchair with someone pushing or a lift on a Golf type buggy. The gate could be over one mile away so don’t think your doing any favour’s by not asking for help. The aircraft has a certain slot for take off, if you are late because of walking difficulties, THE AIRCRAFT HAS TO GO without you, otherwise it costs mega bucks. If you have problems walking down the isle when you get aircraft side, no problem, quite a few aircraft now have small wheelchairs especially to take people up and down the isle. If you can’t walk whatsoever, no problem, tell them and facilities will be put in place from check-in to take you to the aircraft by ambulance, high lift you to the aircraft and trained medical staff to lift you in the seat. The golden rule here is ‘tell them.’ With some airlines you can pre-book your seat. If so get one that has more leg room and near the toilets, probably a bulkhead seat. The Civil Aviation Authority has made a ruling that no Disabled person can have a seat by an Emergency Exit for obvious reasons. If for some reason you get to your destination and your wheelchair is missing or worse still damaged it is the airlines, or should I say good airlines signed up to something called the Haig Protocol to restore or repair your chair, see the airlines staff. I remember I went to San Diego from Gatwick once and they left my chair behind. I was in a rush had to go down to Tijuana and the only one they had to loan me had a large sign above my head saying ‘AVIS Rent a Car.’ The times I was stopped in my Hotel by people saying “hey fella, where can I get a car.” Have a good time, don’t worry as far as flying is concerned you will be looked after. As a matter of interest wheelchairs go to the front of any que. Do not think you are being rude you and your pusher go to the front. George