Patti's Blog - Advocate for Elders, People with Disabilities and Their Families

10 Eerie Places on Earth in Images

Excerpt from: Listverse (click for full article)

 

Disturbing. Eerie places can be found all over the world; most of us probably live near one. In this images list we look at 10 places that are especially spooky either because of how they look or because of their association with the dark side of life. We have tried to pick items that have not featured on Listverse before but in a few cases we had to repeat because they were simply too good to be left off. There is also a bonus item.

 

Kerry promotes treaty for disabled people

Excerpt from: News Telegram (click for full article)

 

U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., is seeking to extend the work of his late colleague through ratification of a treaty that would guarantee equality for people living with disabilities.

Marking more than two decades since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a law that was sponsored by the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Mr. Kerry is hoping to move the Treaty on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through the full Senate.

It would set international standards and seek to provide disabled Americans with equal rights and accommodations when they travel, live, or study abroad.

“This is about who we are as Americans,” Mr. Kerry said in a prepared statement. “We lead the world to make sure people are treated with dignity and respect. This is the right thing to do.”

Woman caught texting while driving disabled clients

Excerpt from: News 8 (click for full article)

 

A woman who drives a van for people with developmental disabilities was caught on camera texting while behind the wheel.

Nicole Pressley says she's the one who shot the video of the woman texting while driving, when she was employed at RHD, a non-profit aimed at helping those with developmental disabilities.

Pressley showed News 8 the company handbook which clearly states an employee can be terminated for distracted driving. She says five employees and four clients were in the Ford passenger van when the incident happened three weeks ago.

Pressley was terminated a few days ago for poor conduct. News 8 went to RHD's Connecticut office, but were told to speak with corporate based in Philadelphia.

Pressley says complaints to supervisors went unanswered, so she came to us to ensure former clients will remain safe.

Why It's Important for Travelers To Use A Travel Agent

Excerpt from: Disability Today Network (click for full article)

 

Traveling can be a wonderful experience, filled with new places and cultures to discover. However, the experience can be much more enjoyable when working with a travel agent who can plan every aspect of the trip ahead of time, eliminating a great deal of stress for the traveler. This especially holds true for travelers with special needs.

Individuals with special needs have more travel planning to do than others, to ensure that their trip is not only enjoyable, but also safe and hassle-free. Using a travel professional to do all the legwork can result in a positive experience – before, during and after a vacation. Many agents now offer special travel plans and information for those with special needs.

What are some specific ways that travel agents can help travelers with special needs? They know which locations, ships, hotels, museums, historic landmarks, etc. are more accessible than others. This is very important when it comes to everything from dining to beds, restrooms to excursions, hearing/vision impaired equipment availability, and much more.