By EILEEN OGINTZ
We all know that taking the kids is fraught with frustration, especially these days when planes are jammed and security lines are long, but sometimes that's the least of it.
Cindy Slak, from Cleveland, has an 8-year-old son, Gregory, who is wheelchair-bound and "completely dependent for all his daily living needs." The Slaks also have two daughters and are trying to plan an inclusive vacation that will work for everyone. "It's easy enough to find things for the girls," she said, "but not so easy if we include our son, which, of course, we like to do."
The Slaks are not alone. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 32.5 million Americans, 12 percent of the population, have a severe disability. Sadly, that number includes servicemen and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and, according to the March of Dimes, the more than 120,000 children born each year with birth defects.
My top vacation pick for the Slaks would be Walt Disney World, which does a terrific job of accommodating all kinds of disabilities, whether they're temporary, like the time we visited when my daughter was in a thigh-to-ankle cast, or not readily apparent, like families traveling with autistic children or those with ADHD. Disney guests who need help getting through auxiliary entrances or need assistance inside the park, may get a Guest Assistance Card that will alert staff to their special needs. Also, check out "Passporter's Guide to Walt Disney World for Your Special Needs," written by Debra Martin Koma and Deb Wills, the founders of All Ears Net, an unofficial Walt Disney World information guide site.
On the Plane
Jeri Earl, a mom from Palmyra, Pa., needed to make sure there would be no glitches when she put her 15-year-old daughter, Kendra, on a flight to Ireland alone.
Whenever you put a teen on a plane, you should ask for a pass that will allow you to go through security so that you can wait at the gate, though your teen will probably insist that's not necessary. And, though you might incur your child's wrath, make sure the gate agents and flight crew know that your child is traveling solo. And, if the flight is diverted or if there's a missed connection, your child should know to ask the crew for help.
Your child should have a working cell phone. You can rent one for a trip out of the country for under $50 a week from agencies like Planetfone or International Cellular Services. Your child needs to have the phone number, including the country codes, for those who are supposed to meet them on the other end.
At the other end of the travel spectrum are those struggling to plan their first trips with babies and toddlers. Maryland mom Miho Shimizu is taking her 2-year-old to Japan. She wondered, "If you take a cab, are you stuck carrying your car seat all day?"
One option is a stroller/car seat combination like the Sit 'n' Stroll, roughly $200, from Triple Play Products, which can also be used on planes.
Lysa Grant, a veteran of flights with a fussy toddler, "If someone offers to assist you, let them. They are not only making your trip easier, but they are also helping themselves."
Pennsylvania business traveler Denise Fantuzzi agrees. "Children help humanize the travel experience." Their tears, she's convinced, express the frustration all of us feel. "We're all in it together."
For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com, where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments.
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