Written by Chillie Falls, December 3, 2022
Yesterday, my Special Guest on the Chillie Chats portion of Travel and Cruise Industry News, December 2, 2022 was Sylvia Longmire, Ambassador for Scootaround and WHILL Power Chairs. Sylvia is Spin the Globe creator, a service-disabled veteran, mother, author, consultant, entrepreneur, world traveler, and was Ms. Wheelchair USA 2016. After she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005, her ability to walk started to deteriorate. Fortunately the progression of her MS was slow enough that she could gradually adapt to new ways of living.
Sylvia also had to learn how to travel with a walker, then with an electric scooter and eventually an electric wheelchair. Her work as a consultant has taken her all across the United States, and her addiction to leisure travel has taken her as far as the deserts of Dubai and the glaciers of Alaska. She often travels solo.
A few days ago, I announced that Scootaround and WHILL will be partial sponsors for at least my next three cruises. I requested the company provide me with someone that I could interview on the differences of traveling with a scooter and traveling with a power wheelchair. They recommended Sylvia.
Little did they know that I credit her for being the single biggest influencer in what I do today. First, she inspired me to travel solo. Then she inspired me to use my health, the battles with my breathing and my mobility challenges, to prove one can travel and cruise, even solo, with any disability. Sylvia has always lived by the same edict.
This became a truly personal interview for me and I loved every minute of it. Unfortunately, I did not have the time for about ten more questions. Hmmmmm. Chapter 2 coming up?
Here is the interview (and yesterday’s show).