Jetsettersblog

Not Another Guide, LLC announces Jennifer Kumiyama as their Chief Editor for Disabled Travel Guides.

Not Another Guide, the leading website for intelligently navigated travel guides written exclusively by locals, is working to promote easy travel within the disabled community.

By having people with disabilities write travel guides for those with disabilities, we are bridging the gap between information that is relevant, helpful and fun and information that can often feed the social divide for the disabled community.

Jennifer was born with Arthrogryposis (AMC). AMC occurs once in every 3,000 births. At birth, doctors suggested that Jennifer’s limbs be amputated but her father refused. From birth through age 8, she went through several major surgeries to improve her mobility. She had already proven the doctors wrong by learning to write, stand to transfer and swim. Jennifer’s inabilities have never stopped her from breaking barriers, overcoming adversity and living her life to the fullest.

The list of her talents is exhaustive, besides being an advocate for the disabled community she is a public speaker, a singer (she performs on Stage at Disneyland in Disney’s ‘Aladdin – a musical spectacular), she has helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity and became the first runner up for Ms Wheelchair California, 2009.

They are proud to announce that she can now add to her list Chief Editor of Disabled Guides for Not Another Guide. You can read her guides to Long Beach & Las Vegas.

The wonderful thing about Jennifer’s guide style is that she doesn’t write just for visitors with disabilities.

Jennifer understands the allowances one has to make when living with a disability, but she doesn’t compromise on the quality of life as a result, which is so indicative of the way she lives.

A USA Today article stated: ‘By 2030, Open Doors estimates that nearly 24% of the U.S. population will be disabled, and 15% severely disabled, resulting in about 53 million more disabled people than in 1997. The group estimates that around a third of adults with disabilities fly at least once every two years.

It’s not just aging that contributes to the increase in travelers with disabilities. Medical technology allows people who have endured severe trauma from war, vehicle crashes and the like to travel with relative ease, says Kate Hunter-Zaworski, director of the National Center for Accessible Transportation at Oregon State University.

“We are facilitating living a fuller life, and air travel is essential to a full life,” she says.

At JetBlue, the growth in passengers who request wheelchair assistance has outpaced overall passenger growth consistently since 2004. Last year, about 262,000 JetBlue passengers, or 1.2%, requested such assistance when making their reservations.’

Not Another Guide Co-Founder; Lyn Girdler says “Travel should be available for everyone. It is through shared life experiences & introductions to new cultures and concepts that we see possibilities and within possibility, is the inspiration for us to break barriers both socially and personally.

To me, Jennifer embodies possibility and that’s precisely what is important to us. We are really excited to have her as part of our team.”

Jennifer’s role will be to encourage others with a disability to contribute as well document her own traveling adventures.
“We have great plans for amazing adventures for Jennifer, and we can’t wait to see them unfold.” Say Girdler.

Jennifer says: “I want to ignite the flame in others with disabilities to pursue a full & happy life regardless of their situation. With faith in yourself & determination, it can all happen.”