World Cerebral Palsy Day - Sept.04.2012

We fly often as a family. It's very difficult for many reasons and one is being able to take my daughter to the bathroom and maintain her dignity. The bathrooms are not large enough to fit myself and daughter comfortably (and I am not even trying to get her wheelchair in there). If I need to change her it either has to be done on the airplane seat (which is uncomfortable for everyone involved including nearby passengers) or with several people guarding her while I lay her on the ground in the back of the plane. I have heard several parents on cp forums discuss this issue and even found a place on the web offering guidance to wheelchair users that suggested people in wheelchairs not eat or drink before getting on the plane in order to not have to use the bathroom. The last few times I flew I noticed that most planes appear to have room to modify/extend the bathroom space using a curtain on a track. I imagine something similar to the privacy curtains that they have for First Class passengers. It's strange that we have additional privacy for people who are clothed but not for people who need extra room using the bathroom. Anyway, this extra space would allow the individual, and perhaps a caregiver, to more comfortably take an individual to the bathroom with dignity. It wouldn't cost very much and wouldn't require extension renovations to the already cash strapped airline industry. The other issue we face is that the flight attendants (now we know how and will do it) often have to deactivate the bathroom vacancy light so that people don't assume it's vacant because since we have to have the door bumped open in order to help our daughter use the toilet. There is so much commotion that usually people are looking and trying to see what is going on during a very private matter. A privacy curtain would easily remedy this situation and provide a dignified alternative to the existing no accommodation situation we have currently. Come on, let’s do this!