You’re going along, enjoying your summer when you look at your calendar and realize it’s almost August already. In a month, stores will be choc full of Halloween candy and decorations (oh heck, some already are) and while the calendar says the first day of fall isn’t technically until September 23rd, you know that once Labor Day comes, summer thoughts will be a distant memory.
With a month to go, you panic. Vacation! You haven’t planned a summer vacation yet.
Where can you go on such short notice? What destinations are accessible and wheelchair friendly?
After some careful consideration, you decide to skip it.
Too much planning and too much hassle. If you are one of the 53 million people in the US or 5 million people in the Canada afflicted with a disability, you may have resorted to thinking that vacation just doesn’t accommodate you.
However, we’re here to tell you that it can!
Meet the FST-300At Handicare, our mantra – and mission – is to make everyday life easier for our customers. So we don’t just innovate, we invigorate. We want customers to be empowered to live life to the fullest and maximize their experiences. We don’t want anyone to feel like they are stuck on the sidelines due to a disability. Thus, enter the FST-300. The FST-300 is a freestanding track for our P-300 ceiling lift motor (see what we did there?) This versatile ceiling lift track is not only simple to assemble (no tools!), but is also totally capable of being assembled on the go. No component weighs more than 17 lbs with the ENTIRE unit weighing 46 lbs. Despite being a lightweight in structure, it’s still a heavyweight when it comes to lifting. When paired with the P-300 portable ceiling lift, the FST can handle users weighing up to 300 lbs. And guess what? The P-300 motor weighs less than 7 lbs! Something so great must take up a lot of space then, right? Not really. Its width is 8 feet to allow for enough room to fit over a bed along with space to park your wheelchair beneath it. The height is fully adjustable from 5 to 7.5 ft, depending on how much lifting clearance you need. Great for homes, easily fits in a hotel room and can even be used in a standard cabin of a cruise. |  |
PackingIf you’re anything like me, even a weekend trip can mean bags upon bags. I need options of clothing! I need different shoes for each outfit! Don’t get me started on bringing my beauty routine along as well. Needless to say, there is no room for extras. Luckily, the FST-300 comes with its very own carry bag. Disassemble the track and tuck it into the bag that even includes wheels for easier transporting. Just like its very own suitcase! And don’t forget, the lift weighs under 50 lbs, so you can even check it onto airplane without being burdened with overweight fees! |  |
Slings
Okay, so you have a track and motor. The last piece of the puzzle is finding an adequate lifting sling. Handicare slings are sewn in our very own factory in St. Louis, Missouri. From children’s sizes to bariatric, from disposable to durable, our line of slings are sure to meet your needs. Check back later for a future post on choosing the right sling.
Picking a Destination
Now that you have the equipment all taken care of, now you can move onto picking a destination. Whether you’re a beach goer, excitement junkie or national park enthusiast, check out these ADA-friendly vacation spots.
Want to learn more? Speak to one of our mobility experts today! Call 888-637-8155 or request a callback.
Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0730-US-disability.html, https://easterseals.ca/english/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Disability-in-Canada-Facts-Figures.pdf
