Page 7 - The Mobility Project, 2022

distance of many of those places, or is it near a metro station or a bus stop? Is it convenient in that regard?
And then, especially if it’s in a foreign country, is the acces- sibility good enough that I know I can stay there without it being regulated by something like the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act]?”
Consulting with the Professionals
Finally, Longmire tackles the flights. “The last thing I do is
look at the airlines with a heavy bias toward direct flights, which from Orlando [Fla.] can sometimes happen, but not always. If
I can’t get a direct flight, where is it convenient to me to have a layover with regards to the time of the layover, and the weather?”
Because of the possibility of bad weather — and potentially being stranded in an airport — Longmire said she rarely travels
during winter. She prefers the time savings and convenience of direct or non-stop flights, and also looks for accommodations that are roomier. “I fly premium economy or better because it’s going to be more comfortable for me,” she said. “As somebody with spasticity issues, I need to have more space. I cannot do 12 hours in coach.”
Given how much pre-trip planning is typically involved, does Longmire use a travel agency to help out?
“If it’s a place that I can travel [to] independently, then I’ll do it myself,” she said of making reservations. “But if it’s a place where I don’t know the lay of the land, if it’s a foreign country — I will usually pay an accessible tour company to arrange all my stuff.
If they can arrange my hotel, arrange my transportation, arrange my tickets and itinerary — I would be like, ‘Take my money and do all the work,’ because it’s a pain. Especially if it’s in a country where I’m not familiar, I’m not going to do it.”
Accessibility, as well as potential language challenges, ultimately determines when Longmire will consult with travel professionals. “The more challenging the accessibility, the more I will rely on a local company to do the legwork for me. But I can go to London, I can go to Spain, Canada, Australia — there are some places I can do myself.
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THE MOBILITY PROJECT | 2022 7 3/11/22 12:24 PM
VENICE: PHOTO BY SYLVIA LONGMIRE; BOOK IMAGE COURTESY SYLVIA LONGMIRE