they have two children/teens in the water with low vision and who can't hear, so they would need help getting their attention.

Amusement parks are always a fun destination for my family. When you have two children without a working vestibular system, that means they do not get dizzy. They can ride all day long without breaks. This of course, increases the danger of lost processors, so they either take them off so they don't fly away, or use accessories (see resources for ear gear) that will keep them safely attached. But, there are no guarantees! When Ethan was around eleven, he was on a ride at Canada's Wonderland and his processor went flying. We thought it was gone forever, but some eagle-eye rider saw something on the track and we got a

smooshed processor returned to us. That was easier and less expensive to replace than a lost one. A dilemma for us has always been the use of the accessibility pass. We know that at first glance, our children, now young adults, do not look like they have a disability, and we have felt the stares of others wondering why we have the pass. We have even had angry comments directed our way from those who felt we didn’t deserve the pass, but most people have genuine compassion. I always want to shout from the rooftop and let people know that I would do anything to stand in line for hours with everyone else, but since my children’s lives are challenging enough, I am going to take anything that makes life a little easier for them. 

Family Vacations vs Vacations to See Family

Many years ago, we lived near my husband’s family. After Ethan was born and first diagnosed with hearing loss, we made the deci-

sion to move to Canada for the health care system. We lived briefly near my family, but after Gavin was born, we made the decision to move to Toronto, to be closer to the Hospital for Sick Children. Now, we live in New Jersey, so Ethan and Gavin have never lived near their extended family, which means that most vacations are to visit family. Often, that means staying with family members. This is not a bad thing for us. During the summer, we plan a visit to the east coast of Canada to visit my family and in the winter, we make plans to visit my husband's family in the Dominican Republic. Regardless of whether we are staying with friends/family or if it is a hotel room, it takes preplanning, as we know we are going to need lots of electrical outlets. In this

rechargeable world, what is available does not always match demand. It takes a lot of electricity to run my family, when you have rechargeable battery-operated children. We have to take into consideration that they need to charge their processors and accessories, as well as their iPhones and iPads. Traveling with extension cords and outlet extenders is a must. Wherever we stay, everyone needs to be aware that they will trip over anything laying around, and that pets can also pose a danger. As young adults, Ethan and Gavin have taken the lead in helping others be aware of their needs.

ON THE MOVE: (Above left) Ethan, Gavin, and Carlito head to their gate at the Miami airport in 2010; (Above right) Ethan and Gavin with Erickson, their companion dog, at Six Flags Amusement Park in 2017.

"It takes a lot of electricity to run my family, when you have rechargeable battery-operated children. Traveling with extension cords is a must."

When staying with family and friends, there is a little more forgiveness. They will help you out as much as they can. Sometimes you think you made the perfect plan, but, it doesn’t always work out that way. On a past weekend trip, despite traveling with extension cords and extenders, there was not enough outlets for everyone to ‘plug in.’ Ethan was recently traveling,