Traveling without reservations

traveylin wrote:
Well Janss, the individual is the only one with all the facts to make the valid reason. Dependence on an oxygen machine using commercial power would certainly drive one towards secure reservations.

However, my point was there is a lot of competition for handicap facilities from folks that have questionable need. I see it every day with handicap toilet, parking spaces, Hotel rooms, theater seats, etc. For a quantifiable benchmark, look to fed statistics regards SS disability classification growth rates.

pops

DH and DS19 are both disabled. DH has a America the Beautiful Access pass (disability pass) and handicapped plates on the truck. We don't always need an ADA site but there are times when we do and I'm not ashamed to use it.

It has been our experience at state parks and COEs that in order to get an ADA site you either have to produce evidence of disability--your tag, hanging placard, or the ATB access pass-- or the campground must be full, leaving only the ADA sites unfilled and there must be no one who does have the aforementioned proofs waiting for the ADA site. Just having an oxygen tank or CPAP does not qualify you (we have both). A doctor's note or wheelchair will not suffice. The campground doesn't need to know what your particular disability is and they cannot require you to discuss your health conditions. However, you do have to have documentation of your disabled status, in the way of a parking placard, plates, or other doc.

ETA: About using the handicapped toilets...they are put there for the convenience of handicapped people, but they are not exclusively for them. Others are invited to use them. Obviously, if there is someone in line who needs it, letting them go ahead is the right thing to do. But don't assume that because someone is mobile and looks normal that they are abusing the privilege. Personally, I use the handicapped stall as often as I can. I have such a bad time with my knees and I appreciate the grab bars and elevated seat so I can get up and get down without falling. I also use the handicapped stall when I am out with my son. It's the only stall that's big enough for two of us. When my babies were in strollers, I also used the handicapped stall--you can't get them into a regular stall and I was not about to leave them out there by themselves~!

I beg people not to judge by looks alone. My DH looks perfectly normal and you would have no idea that he is seriously ill.