Travelling with a disability

[Lady Jane]

My mother and I are going to Negril in December to celebrate our birthdays. Mom needs wheelchair assistance in the airports as she can't walk long distances. I have notified Air Canada and expect to be greeted with a wheel chair upon arrival in MoBay. Does anyone know if the
wheel chair porter will wait with us in the lineup for immigration and customs? I don't know if I will be able to push her and pull the two carry ons at the same time. Thanking all in advance

[Lovechild]

No worries....The chair porter will push all the way to the entrance out....there's a special line for immigration for those that need special assistance.

[goldilocks]

Happy Birthdays! What a nice present for yourselves!

[Rambo]

I too need a wheelchair for our trips.....as previous post noted.....they meet me and my wife at the Airplane door, they will allow you off first as a rule?,....... the same person will take you, through everyplace you must go, you will NOT stand/sit in any lines, you will detour all of that for both of you.......including luggage, then finally out the door, and stick with you if needed.......( a nice tip will make his/her job nicer, and they remember) no worries at all !!!!

[Lady Jane]

I too need a wheelchair for our trips.....as previous post noted.....they meet me and my wife at the Airplane door, they will allow you off first as a rule?,....... the same person will take you, through everyplace you must go, you will NOT stand/sit in any lines, you will detour all of that for both of you.......including luggage, then finally out the door, and stick with you if needed.......( a nice tip will make his/her job nicer, and they remember) no worries at all !!!!

Perfect! Sounds easy. Good to hear. Its going to be a super long day for Mom. Up at 3:30am and not settled in Negril till about 4:30 but we will be so excited to be "home", all will be well.
Thank you for your responses.

Goldilocks, Moms treating us. Yippeee skippee

[kaycee]

On my last trip, I saw two guys in wheelchairs. They were helped off the plane and didn't have to wait in line. There was someone from the airport helping them every step. No need to worry.

[smith744]

Mom needs wheelchair assistance in the airports as she can't walk long distances.

You-Two are in for a gigantic-Treat...!!..
several-years ago,
i-too was in a similar predicament with my mom,
her first trip to Jamaica/Negril.

First,
those airlines are gonna take real-good care of both of you ---- ESPECIALLY your mom.

now,
as far as how things are gonna-go IN-Jamaica/Negril/island-wide::::
your mom is gonna think & feel-like she's the Queen of England

Airport staff, the island-residents, EVERY-body is gonna give her first-class, top-o-the-line, VIP, priority treatment [[[ guarantee-ed ]]]

When my mom & I arrived,
we were wisked-away
thru some secret-corriders
to the FRONT of immigration
and all check-points

and escorted outside
to our awaiting driver.

EVERY-where we went,
walking,
riding (via route-taxi, of course)
she was Cleopatra

route-taxi drivers
would *rearrange* passengers
to make-SURE she had the front-seat
...would-NOT move, until her seat-belt was fastened, and she was comfy.

We took a day-trip to Lucea-town,
and the country-side,
to meet the folks i knew

* whew *

the way they treated her was mind-blowing,
and Lucea AIN'T no tourist-venue either/neither

short-story:::>>>> we were in Lucea-town
looking around
shopping
eating
hangin' out

it started to rain (as it tends to do in Jamaica)

we had no umbrella
:-(

in typical, routine, how-they-roll, Jamaica-style
2-3 shopkeepers, and folks with tarp-covered stalls,
saw our delimina
and dem-SAY:::>> "...Mom ..... COME..!!... come-inside, out of the rain.... take a seat over there..."

it was all done matter-of-fact-ly
again:::>> that's HOW they *roll* in Jamaica

[Lady Jane]

Thank you Smith for that lovely story. I have seen so much respect given to the elderly in Jamaica. They are so caring and gentle and kind to their seniors. Many other countries could use a few lessons from jamaicans. I hopeI can get her to walk the beach some and meet some of my local friends. I know my mom is going to be pampered and treated very nicely. And I am hoping they ( the staff at Nirvana) will call her mommy. She would love that

[Rasta Animal]

I too need a wheelchair for our trips.....as previous post noted.....they meet me and my wife at the Airplane door, they will allow you off first as a rule?,....... the same person will take you, through everyplace you must go, you will NOT stand/sit in any lines, you will detour all of that for both of you.......including luggage, then finally out the door, and stick with you if needed.......( a nice tip will make his/her job nicer, and they remember) no worries at all !!!!

I agree 100%. The fastest and easiest way through the airport is in a wheelchair. Just a note... they can't be seen taking tips, so you have to be subtle...

[Rambo]

years back at Negril Beach Club Condo's...a older man checked in with what looked like his grandkids...he made it to the water the first day, but it sapped him so he didnt go back in.....later in the week, the man would slowly start to walk down the sidewalk toward the beach, when two employees came runnin out with a wooden chair, they put the man in the chair..carried him down to the waters edge to sit in the shallows..he could swim and float, just couldn't walk...when he was ready they returned him up by the bar, to sit and later helped him back to his patio.......THIS is the way most Jamaicans will be like you meet....

(BTW...I'm sure those boys were taken ($)care of by the man...but also had many sandwiches and cold pop offered to them by others staying there, I really felt good to see that)