Learn how to help people with disabilities


14 Ways to Make Traveling with a Disability Easier

If you travel with a disability, handicap,agent  before.
physical limitation, mobility limitation, or
developmental disability, have special needs,7. If you need oxygen or any other special
or use an electric wheelchair or handicapmedical equipment, call airlines and
scooter, it's a good idea to learn as much assuppliers well in advance of your trip. Don't
you  can  to  make  disabled  travel  easier.wait until the last minute. Start calling
them as soon as you know you're going to be
Or if you're a mature traveler or senior whotraveling  or  taking  a  trip.
is a slow walker or just wants a slower pace,
becoming more informed about disabled travelThen double-check with your travel agent and
services and disability travel resources,the airline at least three to four days
will lessen the anxiety that oftenbefore  your  flight.
accompanies  disabled  travelers.
8. Arrive early at the airport. It's better
The following travel tips, resources andto wait around there than miss your plane.
information for the disabled will help makeThis will eliminate some of the pre-trip
trips, tours, holidays and vacations a lotanxiety you might feel and make for more
easier for you, or for a child with aleisurely travel. This seems like common
disability,  whether short-term or long-term.knowledge but many people still arrive at the
gate  just  in  the  nick  of  time.
1. Plan your trip well in advance! Do you
need to order extra supplements, medicationsWith all that's going on in the world today
or renew prescriptions, fix eyeglasses orthere are many reasons why you want to allow
change prescriptions, get a physical, havefor  more  time  at  the  airport.
dental work done, have your wheelchair fixed
or  tuned  up,  etc.?9. In your airplane carry-on bag keep copies
of the prescriptions for your medications and
2. If possible, always book your traveleyeglasses, extra eyeglasses, sunglasses, all
through an agency that specializes in helpingyour medications and supplements, and a list
people with disabilities. This is importantof your doctor, dentist and other health
because specialized travel agents and tourprofessionals with their addresses, and phone
operators for the disabled are experiencednumbers.
and  can  save  you  some  awful  headaches.
Include your doctor's fax number for
They offer a lot of good tips and a wideprescriptions in case you lose your
range of services for the handicappedmedications. Keep duplicate copies of these
traveler. Among other things, they canin your luggage and at home by the telephone.
arrange for a: wheelchair at the airport,Know  where  your  medical  records are kept.
wheelchair accessible hotel room, wheelchair
rental, lift-equipped accessible van, full10. When you travel, and for any other time
van, minivan, RV, handicap scooter, or anytoo, if you take medications, learn their
other  handicap  vehicle.names and exactly what they're for if you
don't know. People come into the emergency
Travel agents for the disabled can helproom all the time and don't know what
arrange accessible transportation, help planmedications they're taking. You might be
the best accessible cruise, give cruise linesurprised to find out that most people say 'a
and cruising tips, arrange travel insurancelittle yellow pill' or 'a white capsule',
and  take  care  of  special  needs.etc.
Agents can check with hotels for: inner andEmergency workers need to know what you're
outer door widths to accommodate yourtaking so they don't give you medication that
wheelchair, ADA-approved handicap bath tubs,would interact adversely with it, overdose
grab bars, or for roll-in showers. Just tellyou or somehow interfere with their treatment
them  your  needs.and  your  recovery.
Travel agents can help you find cheap11. If you're traveling by air, tell the
airfare, cheap tickets, cheap flights, cheapflight attendants when you board, of any
travel auto insurance, cheap hotels, cheapmedical problem you might encounter on your
car rentals, cheap cruises, cheap vacationsflight. Note the location of the closest
and  cheap  travel  of  all  kinds.restroom before getting seated. Tell the
flight attendant if you think you'll need
3. Besides taking along your travel agent'sassistance  getting  to it during the flight.
phone number, you'll also want to take with
you the phone numbers for the travel agenciesYou may need or want an aisle seat for easy
that specialize in disabled travel at youraccess to the restrooms. Discuss seating with
destination, in the event you can't reachyour  travel  agent.
your  own  agent.
12. If you need someone to travel with you,
These travel agents may know how to solveask your travel agent for ideas or
problems that come up regarding your hotel,suggestions. Call the local chapters of
car or van rentals, etc., even if you didn'tmedical associations and ask if they can
order  your  tickets  through  them.recommend a travel assistant or travel
companion  to  help  or  accompany  you.
4. When traveling to another city, check out
the local health and medical associationsThere are national companies who offer
before you go. For example, get the phonetraveling nurses, traveling companions or
numbers for the local MS chapter if you havetravel assistants to accompany disabled
MS. These organizations can be greattravelers or people with serious medical
resources.issues.
They usually know what museums, restaurants,13. Make sure to take with you: any medical
theaters & other local facilities arecards, Medicare cards, discount cards, car or
wheelchair accessible and where you can getauto rental discount cards, auto insurance
oxygen, emergency supplies or medicalpolicy numbers and agent's phone number,
assistance. They may be able to help you withpassport, airline tickets, etickets, American
any  problems  that  arise.Express Travelers Cheques, debit cards,
credit cards, and drivers license. Photocopy
5. If you plan to rent a handicap scooter,everything.
wheelchair, electric wheelchair, handicap
van, full van, mini-van, RV or other vehicleKeep photocopies in your luggage and at home
in another city, don't wait until you getby the telephone or someplace where someone
there. Make all the arrangements before youhas  access  to  it  in  case  you  need  it.
leave  on  your  trip.
14. Read everything you can about traveling
Make sure you ask any specifics like, arewith a disability. Read disabled travel
there tie-downs, ramps, or hoists, etc. Checkbooks, access guides, accessible guidebooks,
on what van, RV, car or auto insurance you'lldisability travel articles and travel
need  before  you  go.publications for the disabled traveler. Read
the personal travel experiences of wheelchair
6. Don't leave anything to chance. If youusers and others who have traveled with
can, double-check all the arrangements yourdisabilities.  Be  informed.
travel agent makes. Call the airlines,
hotels, scooter, wheelchair, car, RV or vanThese travel tips, information, resources,
rental companies, medical equipment rentaland services for the disabled should help
companies, etc., and verify the specifics,you, or anyone with a disability, handicap,
especially if you're traveling in aphysical limitation, or who uses a
wheelchair or have any other special needswheelchair, have an easier, more pleasant,
like  oxygen.anxiety-free, trouble-free trip, tour,
holiday or vacation.
This is important if you haven't used the



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