Poor woman. I admire her desire to live life to her fullest, and if I ever find myself in her situation, I would probably do the same.
But I will say: I would not go on a smaller boat in that fashion. I would go up a gangway for a cruise ship, etc. but I don’t think I would go on smaller types of boats. Even healthy people slip, fall, etc. when embarking and debarking those things.
Also, I understand why people would be advocates for the ADA, but it is a typical piece of liberal legislation that was created with all those good intentions, but is so full of loopholes that it is wildly abused and misused in the most costly and fantastic ways.
I understand someone who has a handicap being an advocate for it, I just don’t think it should have been passed into law the way it was.
I think it was a pontoon boat (at least the excerpt used the word “pontoon”). They are very stable — I’m surprised that the accident occurred. It’s not like a typical small boat. The gangplank must have been quite wide to accommodate her wheelchair, too.
Poor woman, indeed. You are right about her not letting a severe disability get in the way of enoying life to the fullest.