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Tag Archive for: Travel

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O-Tip of the Week: Pack a Clothespin for Cleanliness

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

Spring Break is upon us so for the month of March, our O-Tip of the Week series will provide tips for traveling like a pro!

Clothespins come in handy for more than just hanging laundry!  Pack a clothespin in your toiletry bag and use it to prop up your toothbrush to keep it from touching hotel sinks and counters.  Because you don’t want someone else’s germs to ruin your vacation!

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O-Tip of the Week: No Need to Use Data with this Simple Trick

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

Spring Break is upon us so for the month of March, our O-Tip of the Week series will provide tips for traveling like a pro!

Did you know you can still use GPS on your smartphone without paying the high price of data usage in a foreign country?  It’s easy to do with Google Maps.  Before you leave download maps of the areas you will be visiting and when you arrive you will be able to use these with GPS for driving directions completely offline.  Learn more in the following care of Google Maps support.

Google Maps:  Download areas and navigate offline

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O-Tip of the Week:

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

Spring Break is upon us so for the month of March, our O-Tip of the Week series will provide tips for traveling like a pro!

Never enough room in your suitcase?  That could be because you’ve been packing it all wrong!  (or maybe you are packing too many pairs of shoes)  The trick to maximizing space in your suitcase is to roll your clothes.  Not only will this create space for just one more pair of shoes, but it will also keep your clothing wrinkle free!

Check out this great how-to video care of Travel and Leisure.

Travel and Leisure:  You’ve Been Rolling Your Clothes All Wrong. Here’s the Correct Way to Do It

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Are You Capturing the Moment… or Missing it Altogether?

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

I love the song “Scare Away the Dark” by Passenger. Some of the lyrics have powerful insinuations: “we should stare at the stars and not just at screens”…”we want something real not just hashtag and twitter”…”we are all slowly dying in front of computers. I believe there is significant truth to what he is saying. The technology pendulum has swung so far in the direction of obsession and I am personally looking forward to it bouncing back to some form of neutral.

If addiction is defined as “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice that is physically or psychologically habit-forming to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma…” or “usage of something that is beyond voluntary control” then I would argue that technology applies, and many people have a serious problem.

On a recent holiday, the evidence of this was immense. On one occasion I saw three young women on a horse-drawn carriage ride (a $50 experience I might add) and they were all looking at their phones. Were they texting, tweeting, posting on FB “loving my horse-drawn carriage ride”, or maybe playing candy crush, Instagramming a photo, or taking a selfie? Or the families sitting at dinner looking down, using their devices, essentially ignoring each other. Or the guy at the theme park videotaping his experience – he was even videotaping while a photographer was taking their family photo! I am not sure it matters what these people’s intentions were with their devices, but I felt that in perhaps trying to capture these moments they were missing them completely. Look around, talk to each other, take in the sights, sounds, smells, be mindful of the fragility of life and take a moment to be grateful for the experience. Connect. Engage. Smile at a person, not just a screen.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for capturing moments. But some moments need to be captured by our eyes and filed in our brain, not just on a device, memory card, or online. The concept of being present includes enjoying moments while you are in them – without living in the past or obsessing about the future. How can we do this? Enlightened Living suggests that being present involves recognizing that we can only do ONE thing at a time and thus we should engage wholeheartedly. Taking a photo while trying to absorb a moment are two tasks that cannot happen simultaneously. Thus why people feel that “life has passed them by”…they were never there to fully experience it in the first place.

So every once in a while check your addiction. Step away from your phone. Take technology away from your children. Leave it at home. Don’t take it on vacation. Set rules for technology behavior. In our house, we have significant rules for screen use, including a 17 clause contract our daughter signed in getting her first cell phone at age 14.  Some of the important clauses include: 

  • Rule # 1: The phone cannot be used to be mean to anyone – directly or indirectly.
  • Rule # 2: Proper grammar and spelling must be used when communicating.
  • Rule # 4 and 5: The phone is not allowed upstairs and cannot be used during family or meal times.
  • Rule # 9: I will not use my phone to take photos or video of people without their permission. I will not post or share photos or video without the consent of the people in them.
  • Rule # 15: I will follow classroom and teacher rules for phone use when at school.
  • Rule # 16: I understand this is not an appendage and obsessive use will not be tolerated.
  • Rule # 17 is a list of reasons for repossession.

My 14 and 12-year-olds read the contract together. At the end, my 12-year-old said: “so, what CAN she do”?

Do you feel sorry for my kid? Don’t. The real reason for the contract was not because she needs to be rigidly structured, but because I, as a new parent of a kid with a cell phone, was not comfortable with the entire concept in the first place. At 14 (and younger) kids are not developmentally able to understand and grasp the full impact of this new power in their possession. That is why there are recommended ages for Facebook (14), and age-specific laws for driving and drinking. They are young, naïve, immature, and still learning the ways of the world. I have a responsibility to be her guide, as effortful as that is. In the end, the contract worked to set out the expectations, establish boundaries, communicate about safety and proper use and helped us recognize the need to adapt as a family to the transition of now raising teenagers, not just “kids”. But my true intent was to make sure that I don’t teach her, or worse, model for her, that technology trumps experiences, replaces in-person relationships, or is a valuable way to tick away the proverbial time bomb that is life.

So, try if you can to capture moments by being present, and by using your born faculties to photograph, store and file your memories – not just a device. Check in with yourself at times about your behaviors, track these, shock your system with some detox, set some boundaries and try to unplug.

 

Previously posted July 2014

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Travelling With Disabilities

Travelling with a disability is not easy.  It requires planning, a supportive attendant, and an open mind.  March break is around the corner and for months my clients have been asking me about travelling with a disability.  Here are some pointers:

1.    Book the trip with a travel agent who specializes in disability, either by interest or circumstance (some have disabilities themselves), if you can.  These agents understand that “accessibility” is not an inclusive term, and with personal experience, or feedback from other patrons, they can customize the trip to meet the needs of your unique situation.  Check out www.accessholidays.ca as an example.

2.    Planning goes a long way.  Send pictures of your equipment, measurements, and get pictures and measurements in return.  Disclose the nature of your disability if you are comfortable with that, and be clear about what you can and cannot do.

3.    Travel with an attendant.  On a trip to Alaska there was a man from our town also on the boat who had a mobility impairment.  He did not have an attendant with him and was constantly asking other patrons to help him.  They were willing to comply, but at times his needs were not met, and it would have been best for him and the other travellers if he had someone with him who understood these and was trained to assist him with the same.

4.    Look at all your equipment options.  Can you rent something smaller or lighter that might be easier to lift, will fit into narrower places, or can you rent devices when you arrive?  I just provided a client with photos of devices, different from the ones he uses daily, that he could consider renting to facilitate his upcoming overnight to a waterpark with his children.

5.    Become informed.  Check out these government resources. Did you know that in Canada, if you have a disability and are flying domestically, you may be eligible for extra seating, support, or your attendant can fly for free? Learn more from Westjet.  Or that Easter Seals offers a Disability Travel Card for buses and trains?  Also, if you have a disability and require someone to assist you through an airport to the gate, or at the gate through security and customs, there are special passes that can be obtained for this.  In Florida there is a rehabilitation program for people with spinal cord injuries that includes “project airport” and this takes wheelchair uses through an airport, onto a plane, and helps them understand how they can successfully manage this despite a physical impairment.  Many magazines (Abilities for one) often has articles on accessible travel and these highlight many different places that are great to visit, and some of the things to think about before you leave or when you arrive.

6.    Talk to an Occupational Therapist.  Occupational therapists have a wealth of knowledge about how people with different conditions can adapt their environment or equipment to manage.  Consider seeking our expertise if you are embarking on a journey outside of your typical space.  Together we can discuss strategies and solutions that can help ensure your vacation is successful.

Safe travels!

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Toronto International: Accessible Travel Information

Are you heading away this March Break?  Leaving from Toronto Airport?  Do you have a disability or need special assistance?  Consider the following helpful tips and contact information to make sure your adventure goes smoothly:

Planning Ahead

Plan your trip in advance with these helpful travel links:

Travel countdown

Travel checklist

Parking

  • Terminal 1 is equipped with a total of 83 designated disabled parking spaces on all levels, except on level 8.
  • Terminal 3 is equipped with a total of 39 designated disabled parking spaces located near the elevator lobbies or hotel entrance on all levels.
  • Long-term parking reduced rate lot, which is located across from Terminal 3, on Airport Road, provides 39 designated disabled parking spaces near the exit booth and Automated People Mover (APM) tower/station.
  • Passengers departing or transferring between Terminal 1, 3 or Long Term parking lot will be required to take the APM to the appropriate terminal.  The APM is fully accessible and operates 24/7.

From the Car to the Plane

Airport Customer Assistance Program (ACAP) @ Toronto Pearson:

  • Provides point-to-point transportation and assistance for persons with disabilities as well as for others who require assistance.
  • Terminal 1 is equipped with information/courtesy phones, available 24 hours a day. These are Identified with the international accessibility pictogram and a white “I” on an orange background (used at Pearson to denote customer service points), which are clearly visible throughout the departures level inner curb, as well as with intercoms throughout the parking garage vestibules.

Services:

  • Terminal 3: services consist of wheelchair and attendant assistance throughout Terminal 3 from the garage or the curb to the seat of the aircraft.
  • Terminal 1: services are offered from the garage or curb to the airline counter or to the seat of the aircraft depending on the airline.
  • This service can be pre-arranged by calling (416) 776-ACAP (2227), by emailing acap@gtaa.com or completing the request for assistance form under the Special Assurance link.

Storage of Mobility Device While Boarding:

  • West Jet: 1-800-538-5696
  • Air Canada: 1-888-247-2262

Need More Information? 

Airport accessibility

Toronto Pearson Airport

Or call:

  • Terminal 1: Terminal Information Services at (416) 247-7678
  • Terminal 3: Terminal Information Services at (416) 776-5100

For more travel tips and information please refer to our Travelling with a Disability post for more on accessible travel.

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

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Travelling with a Disability

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

I am fortunate in my life to have vacationed to some pretty great spots.  But my favorite remains our trip to Alaska in 1999.  We travelled in August when the Ontario summers were hot and humid, and the air in Alaska was 16-18 degrees (Celsius) – clean, crisp, and fresh.  Alaska is beautiful.  It has mountains, oceans, wildlife, great people, and you can’t help but feel small when watching a glacier, three miles high, calving off chunks larger than your cruise ship.  We hiked, biked, toured the local shops, and took the White Pass and Yukon Railroad along the gold rush trail back into Northern Canada.  We walked a glacier and flew in a seaplane along the fiords.  Incredible.

But my favorite part of all?  We travelled with my grandparents, both disabled and in need of our help to fully enjoy the experience.

My grandfather was diagnosed with polio in 1946.  He spent three years in hospital and rehabilitation, and was discharged with “Canadian crutches” having no muscle in his legs or buttocks.  His bones were essentially stilts, with some active tendons that would let him swing his legs through and lock his knees so he could mobilize.  He had lots of falls walking this way, most resulting in a broken something.  My grandmother was physically healthy, minus some arthritis, but suffered from hearing loss.  My grandparents had always talked about going to Alaska and thanks to my parents, who included us in the experience, we were able to make that happen.

Travelling with a disability is not easy.  It requires planning, a supportive attendant, and an open mind.  Our cruise ship was “accessible” which turned out to be a blanket term for “we try”.  After all, nothing can be fully “accessible” as each disability is different, requiring varying levels of accommodation.  Because my grandfather could transfer to standing, and was tall, he needed things higher – toilets, chairs, beds.  Well, when they make things “accessible” they often lower them – to accommodate a wheelchair user who does not stand to transfer.  Walking around a cruise ship deck (slippery from damp sea air) was not safe for my grandfather, so he would use his scooter most of the time.  But the best was the gangways.  We would dock in the morning, and the gangway was nothing more than a simple bridge.  Easy for a scooter to manage.  Well, six hours later, the tide comes in and the gangway becomes a steep incline, completely unmanageable by scooter.  We didn’t realize that until we were at the bottom looking up.  We had packed a manual wheelchair as well, so we were able to move my grandfather into that, some burly men essentially carried him up the steep incline (not safe, but the boat was leaving regardless), and another group of men carried the scooter.  We managed, but we had help and a cruise line that was interested in providing some customer service.

March break is approaching and for months my clients have been asking me about travelling with a disability.  I enjoy these discussions because I do believe that anything is possible – but here are some pointers:

1.    Book the trip with a travel agent who specializes in disability, either by interest or circumstance (some have disabilities themselves), if you can.  These agents understand that “accessibility” is not an inclusive term, and with personal experience, or feedback from other patrons, they can customize the trip to meet the needs of your unique situation.  Check out www.accessholidays.ca as an example.

2.    Planning goes a long way.  Send pictures of your equipment, measurements, and get pictures and measurements in return.  Disclose the nature of your disability if you are comfortable with that, and be clear about what you can and cannot do.

3.    Travel with an attendant.  On our Alaskan trip there was a man from our town also on the boat who had a mobility impairment.  He did not have an attendant with him and was constantly asking other patrons to help him.  They were willing to comply, but at times his needs were not met, and it would have been best for him and the other travellers if he had someone with him who understood these and was trained to assist him with the same.

4.    Look at all your equipment options.  Can you rent something smaller or lighter that might be easier to lift, will fit into narrower places, or can you rent devices when you arrive?  I just provided a client with photos of devices, different from the ones he uses daily, that he could consider renting to facilitate his upcoming overnight to a waterpark with his children.

5.    Become informed.  Check out the government resources. Did you know that in Canada, if you have a disability and are flying domestically, you may be eligible for extra seating, support, or your attendant can fly for free? Learn more from Westjet.  Or that Easter Seals offers a Disability Travel Card for buses and trains?  Also, if you have a disability and require someone to assist you through an airport to the gate, or at the gate through security and customs, there are special passes that can be obtained for this.  In Florida there is a rehabilitation program for people with spinal cord injuries that includes “project airport” and this takes wheelchair uses through an airport, onto a plane, and helps them understand how they can successfully manage this despite a physical impairment.  Many magazines (Abilities www.abilities.ca for one) often has articles on accessible travel and these highlight many different places that are great to visit, and some of the things to think about before you leave or when you arrive.

6.    Talk to an Occupational Therapist.  Occupational therapists have a wealth of knowledge about how people with different conditions can adapt their environment or equipment to manage.  Consider seeking our expertise if you are embarking on a journey outside of your typical space.  Together we can discuss strategies and solutions that can help ensure your vacation is successful.

I miss my grandfather dearly but am blessed to still have my grandmother in my life.  Our trip to Alaska served many purposes – we were able to see a beautiful part of the world, my grandparents got to fulfill a travel dream, and I made memories with them that span far deeper than any photograph.

Safe travels!