Wheelchair Around the World

Rating:
Summary: National Amputation Chapter Reviews Simpson's Book
Review: "Wheelchair Around the World is the Simpsons' inspirational story of how this husband and wife team fulfilled their lifelong dream to travel around the world. A light, entertaining travel log, Wheelchair Around the World is a daily account of the couple's adventures-and-misadventures-from the glorious sights they visited to the obstacles they faced due to Anne's handicap. Through stunning photos and vivid detail, Simpson teases each of our senses, beginning with images of Ireland's dazzling spray-covered Cliffs of Moher, Hawaii's breathtaking volcanoes, and the daunting height of Japan's infamous Mt. Fuji. The Simpsons' advice serves as a resourceful guide for all, yet their story exudes an addictive spirit of adventure and faith in God that makes Wheelchair Around the World a motivational, delightfully fun read." Malverne, NY National Amputation Chapter #76, Disabled American Veterans. About the Author: A resident of North Carolina, he has written travel articles for "Fifty Plus" and has served as editor and publisher of the North Raleigh Gideons International Newsletter. A retired IBM information developer, he is a former IBM instructor and a lay speaker at a local Methodist Church.

Rating:
Summary: National Amputation Chapter Reviews Simpson's Book
Review: "Wheelchair Around the World is the Simpsons' inspirational story of how this husband and wife team fulfilled their lifelong dream to travel around the world. A light, entertaining travel log, Wheelchair Around the World is a daily account of the couple's adventures-and-misadventures-from the glorious sights they visited to the obstacles they faced due to Anne's handicap. Through stunning photos and vivid detail, Simpson teases each of our senses, beginning with images of Ireland's dazzling spray-covered Cliffs of Moher, Hawaii's breathtaking volcanoes, and the daunting height of Japan's infamous Mt. Fuji. The Simpsons' advice serves as a resourceful guide for all, yet their story exudes an addictive spirit of adventure and faith in God that makes Wheelchair Around the World a motivational, delightfully fun read." Malverne, NY National Amputation Chapter #76, Disabled American Veterans. About the Author: A resident of North Carolina, he has written travel articles for "Fifty Plus" and has served as editor and publisher of the North Raleigh Gideons International Newsletter. A retired IBM information developer, he is a former IBM instructor and a lay speaker at a local Methodist Church.

Rating:
Summary: The perfect book for disabled and armchair travelers alike.
Review: "Wheelchair Around the World" is the true epic of my wife Anne's nine-month trek around the world in a wheelchair, perhaps the first woman to do so. It is for disabled and armchair travelers alike who, until now, have put their travel dreams on hold. An operation in 1993 failed to correct her condition, the rare Charcot's Joint disease, for which there is no known cure. And since the doctors proclaimed her foot would get no better or worse for several months, we decided that the time to go on our long-awaited trip was now or never! We sold our house and car, put our belongings in storage and left our home in North Carolina in February of 1994. It was our chance for the trip of a lifetime and Anne wasn't going to let a little thing like a deteriorating right foot stop her. It was more a voyage than a trip in that she "sailed" in her wheelchair while I, her author-husband, steered her for countless miles. She saw the world from a wheelchair and loved it, even though some days the pain in her foot underneath the bandages was so bad she wanted to quit. Only three months after our return, her foot was amputated just below the knee. For us it was an adventure of a lifetime; we discovered places, people, and events we had never dreamed of. Our lifelong dream of travel grew into an epic 254-day journey around the world through Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Our travels through New Zealand and Australia were so All told, we took seventeen plane rides, rented ten cars, slept overnight on three ferries, and rode on cable-cars, subways, bullet trains, fishing boats, and pony-carts. I learned that I wasn't too old to climb mountains and kept in shape by hiking three Hawaiian volcanoes, Mount Fuji in Japan, Croagh Patrick in Ireland, and several others. Our total expenses impacted our budget by no more than the coast of a new midsize car, proving that nearly anyone can afford this trip, handicapped or not. Our hope is that our story will inspire others to travel in spite of their handicaps. Anne proved it can be done. She has more guts and courage than anyone I've met. I call her "Anne, Our Lady of the Wheelchair."

Rating:
Summary: I saw this book at the NC Writers Network conference.
Review: At the NC Writer's Network conference, I saw others pick up this book, published by Pentland Press, and found that they were just as intrigued as me by the fact the book offers a new glimpse of travel in a very difficult fashion. The book offers hope and sound advice for the senior traveler as well as a profound wealth of knowledge for the young traveler based on the experiences supplied by this couple who love travel. Each and every part of the book exmplifies their love for adventure and travel. I hope to see more writings by this author.

Rating:
Summary: disappointing
Review: I found this book extremely disappointing. The title suggested one would read about the author's experiences as a wheelchair traveler, the obstacles faced, the solutions available, and the recommendations to other such travelers. Instead, the author was healthy, and although his wife had a physical impairment, she did not appear to be disabled (her activities of daily living were not restricted). She did use a wheelchair, but she was not wheelchair-dependent. The book suggested she could walk, climb steps, use normal restrooms, drive, use normal hotel rooms, and public transportation, where a truly wheelchair-dependent individual can do none of these. The book is not focused on 'wheelchair travel'; just on 'travel'. As such, the title is misleading to wheelchair-dependent individuals who are considering travel, as it presents a rosy picture that I do not find realistic. I am an internist who has been wheelchair-dependent for a long time, and who has also traveled considerably. I am not a pessimist; it can be done, but it requires enormous, pre-trip, homework and planning to the smallest detail, a very large checkbook, and a very strong and very, very loving companion. I just returned from two weeks in Europe and this is some of what I found:

•Transferring from your wheelchair to an aisle chair to get to and from your seat is very cumbersome and time consuming. Allow ample time for connecting flights.
•Airplanes' restrooms are not wheelchair accessible; a transatlantic flight is a real challenge in this sense. A 'Foley' leg bag could help.
•My wheelchair was totally wrecked on arriving at our destination. Consider taking a backup.
•I could not find one single wheelchair accessible restroom in London's Gatwick airport. Again, consider the leg bag.
•Access to public transport such as buses, trains, and boats is extremely limited to very new ones with adequate ramps, etc. do your homework before you leave, and not on airport arrival. I frequently had to rely on limo services. Taxis are frequently reluctant to load the wheelchair in the trunk.
•There are steps everywhere and few curb cuts. A travel chair with four small wheels handles much better than your standard wheelchair.
•There are few wheelchair accessible restaurant restrooms. Do your homework.
•Wheelchair accessible hotel rooms in Europe frequently address the toilet but not the bathing facilities. Ask before booking, or bathing will be a mayor obstacle. Usually, the newer, more expensive hotels offer better facilities.
•Cruise ship gangplanks are usually in steps, impossible to manage in a wheelchair. There are bumps and lips everywhere in the floor of most ships. Again, the travel chair is helpful- not the wheelchair.
•Many of the monuments, churches, etc. are simply not accessible and you will have to limit yourself to watching from your vehicle.
•The Americans With Disabilities Act does not apply to Europe. What may be your right in America is merely a courtesy in Europe. Don't expect to be moved to the front of the line everywhere.
•Avoid arrivals at night when services are limited.

Good luck!

Rating:
Summary: Iam ready to travel with the author,and his wife. How brave!
Review: Life wont stop me either,just like Anne.Painful as life might be they proved you can never give up! When is the next book due?

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Summary: This Author Offers More for the Handicapped Traveler
Review: The author's first work, Wheelchair Around the World, is an extraordinary look at the travels of he and his wife. He has several more books in the works, including a look at Wheelchair Down Under (Australia) and Wheelchair Across America where he offers an in-depth look at women traveling West during the pioneer days. He and his wife do extensive research on all books and follow the trails of the subjects.

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Summary: Current magazine reviews of Wheelchair Around the World.
Review: The editors of Canada's Active Living Magazine tell me they are going to run an article very soon that highlights the Japan chapters of my book Wheelchair Around the World. They feel it will be of immense help to disabled travelers headed to Nagano, Japan for the Winter Paralympic Games from March 5-14. Many wheelchair-bound athletes and non-athletes alike will be attending the events and touring Japan. The book also covers our wheelchair experiences in Hawaii, Fiji, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Taiwan, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. There is a very nice review of the book in the January/February 1998 issue of The Amp, the National Amputation Center's magazine. They write: "The Simpsons' advice serves as a resourceful guide for all, yet their story exudes an addictive spirit of adventure and faith in God that makes Wheelchair Around the World a motivational, delightfully fun read."