Look , i'm colombian.
First of all , I'm very happy about your travel to this country. You'll see that Colombia is a beautiful county.
The people in wheelchairs are treated very good . I think the American people have not full respect for the people with disabilities (that's what i've seen in many programs; sorry if it's not true) . But in Colombia you'll see that every person is respectful and polite with people with disabilities. If you ask for some help to do something be sure that some person will help you. Here we have not the culture of mocking the people who is not "normal".
So anyone will be rude with you because of being disabled, instead they will treat you like better taht the others :)
I hope you like my answer and that you have a great travel :)
Hey!
So I was born in Colombia and have visited Panama and the Dominican Rep. several times in my life. Obviously in all countries there will be some people who NEED to be somewhere and will not stop for you to go on your way and may rudely bump into you. This is generally only in public places such as sidewalks or things like that. But these people are definitely not the majority in ANY of these countries!!!! In restaurants or stores or popular tourist destinations I am sure they have managed before and will be very accommodating in helping you have a great visit.
In all, the people from all three of those countries are for sure some of the nicest I've ever met, and I doubt you will encounter many, if at all, that act in a rude manner on purpose.
Hi there,
I spent a few months both in Colombia and Panama. As you pretty much know accessibility for wheelchairs in these countries is not that good. However, people will definitely treat you with respect and are very polite. You should not encounter any rudeness. Especially people in Colombia are known (and it is true) to be very friendly, and that means to everybody.
Have a great vacation.
Well, I live in Mexico and can speak from experience here.There is far less acomodation for handicapped people...like sloped curbs and entrances. People will stand smack dab in front or your chair or dash across in front of you like you are not there. they do NOT move for you to pass. Some people will be very courteous, others just act like you are not there and use no common sense moving around you. you have to say "con permiso" nice and loudly to get them to let you pass. Kids stare. and run smack in front of you.People stand gabbing in hallways or doorways , totally oblivious to you trying to pass by. Just a huge amount of ignorance. You need to speak up. Few people in wheel chairs leave the house, so most folks have no experience being around them. Taxi drivers are good about taking wheelchair users around and putting the chair in and out of the car...if you do not need too much help transferring...or py extra. i hope you can work it out and have a good time.
specifically, panama, colombia and dominican rep.
i have vacation time coming up, looking to head south
or the caribbean (d.r.) but worried about rude, ignorant
people towards my disability (wheelchair user) like they
do in the USA. so, how are the 'disabled' treated in those countries?
i know, i a lot things, buildings, roads, etc. will not
be accessible to me...np. i just want to eat good food, meet
people and just 'look'. hell...not everything is accessible for
me in america, either!...but i manage all right.
appreciate answers, from ppl who've traveled or live
in these mentioned countries. thank you.
