| If you travel with a disability, | | | | This is important if you haven't used |
| handicap, physical limitation, mobility | | | | the agent before. |
| limitation, or developmental disability, | | | | 7. If you need oxygen or any other |
| have special needs, or use an electric | | | | special medical equipment, call airlines |
| wheelchair or handicap scooter, it's a | | | | and suppliers well in advance of your |
| good idea to learn as much as you can to | | | | trip. Don't wait until the last minute. |
| make disabled travel easier. | | | | Start calling them as soon as you know |
| Or if you're a mature traveler or senior | | | | you're going to be traveling or taking a |
| who is a slow walker or just wants a | | | | trip. |
| slower pace, becoming more informed | | | | Then double-check with your travel agent |
| about disabled travel services and | | | | and the airline at least three to four |
| disability travel resources, will lessen | | | | days before your flight. |
| the anxiety that often accompanies | | | | 8. Arrive early at the airport. It's |
| disabled travelers. | | | | better to wait around there than miss |
| The following travel tips, resources and | | | | your plane. This will eliminate some of |
| information for the disabled will help | | | | the pre-trip anxiety you might feel and |
| make trips, tours, holidays and | | | | make for more leisurely travel. This |
| vacations a lot easier for you, or for a | | | | seems like common knowledge but many |
| child with a disability, whether | | | | people still arrive at the gate just in |
| short-term or long-term. | | | | the nick of time. |
| 1. Plan your trip well in advance! Do | | | | With all that's going on in the world |
| you need to order extra supplements, | | | | today there are many reasons why you |
| medications or renew prescriptions, fix | | | | want to allow for more time at the |
| eyeglasses or change prescriptions, get | | | | airport. |
| a physical, have dental work done, have | | | | 9. In your airplane carry-on bag keep |
| your wheelchair fixed or tuned up, etc.? | | | | copies of the prescriptions for your |
| 2. If possible, always book your travel | | | | medications and eyeglasses, extra |
| through an agency that specializes in | | | | eyeglasses, sunglasses, all your |
| helping people with disabilities. This | | | | medications and supplements, and a list |
| is important because specialized travel | | | | of your doctor, dentist and other health |
| agents and tour operators for the | | | | professionals with their addresses, and |
| disabled are experienced and can save | | | | phone numbers. |
| you some awful headaches. | | | | Include your doctor's fax number for |
| They offer a lot of good tips and a wide | | | | prescriptions in case you lose your |
| range of services for the handicapped | | | | medications. Keep duplicate copies of |
| traveler. Among other things, they can | | | | these in your luggage and at home by the |
| arrange for a: wheelchair at the | | | | telephone. Know where your medical |
| airport, wheelchair accessible hotel | | | | records are kept. |
| room, wheelchair rental, lift-equipped | | | | 10. When you travel, and for any other |
| accessible van, full van, minivan, RV, | | | | time too, if you take medications, learn |
| handicap scooter, or any other handicap | | | | their names and exactly what they're for |
| vehicle. | | | | if you don't know. People come into the |
| Travel agents for the disabled can help | | | | emergency room all the time and don't |
| arrange accessible transportation, help | | | | know what medications they're taking. |
| plan the best accessible cruise, give | | | | You might be surprised to find out that |
| cruise line and cruising tips, arrange | | | | most people say 'a little yellow pill' |
| travel insurance and take care of | | | | or 'a white capsule', etc. |
| special needs. | | | | Emergency workers need to know what |
| Agents can check with hotels for: inner | | | | you're taking so they don't give you |
| and outer door widths to accommodate | | | | medication that would interact adversely |
| your wheelchair, ADA-approved handicap | | | | with it, overdose you or somehow |
| bath tubs, grab bars, or for roll-in | | | | interfere with their treatment and your |
| showers. Just tell them your needs. | | | | recovery. |
| Travel agents can help you find cheap | | | | 11. If you're traveling by air, tell the |
| airfare, cheap tickets, cheap flights, | | | | flight attendants when you board, of any |
| cheap travel auto insurance, cheap | | | | medical problem you might encounter on |
| hotels, cheap car rentals, cheap | | | | your flight. Note the location of the |
| cruises, cheap vacations and cheap | | | | closest restroom before getting seated. |
| travel of all kinds. | | | | Tell the flight attendant if you think |
| 3. Besides taking along your travel | | | | you'll need assistance getting to it |
| agent's phone number, you'll also want | | | | during the flight. |
| to take with you the phone numbers for | | | | You may need or want an aisle seat for |
| the travel agencies that specialize in | | | | easy access to the restrooms. Discuss |
| disabled travel at your destination, in | | | | seating with your travel agent. |
| the event you can't reach your own | | | | 12. If you need someone to travel with |
| agent. | | | | you, ask your travel agent for ideas or |
| These travel agents may know how to | | | | suggestions. Call the local chapters of |
| solve problems that come up regarding | | | | medical associations and ask if they can |
| your hotel, car or van rentals, etc., | | | | recommend a travel assistant or travel |
| even if you didn't order your tickets | | | | companion to help or accompany you. |
| through them. | | | | There are national companies who offer |
| 4. When traveling to another city, check | | | | traveling nurses, traveling companions |
| out the local health and medical | | | | or travel assistants to accompany |
| associations before you go. For example, | | | | disabled travelers or people with |
| get the phone numbers for the local MS | | | | serious medical issues. |
| chapter if you have MS. These | | | | 13. Make sure to take with you: any |
| organizations can be great resources. | | | | medical cards, Medicare cards, discount |
| They usually know what museums, | | | | cards, car or auto rental discount |
| restaurants, theaters & other local | | | | cards, auto insurance policy numbers and |
| facilities are wheelchair accessible and | | | | agent's phone number, passport, airline |
| where you can get oxygen, emergency | | | | tickets, etickets, American Express |
| supplies or medical assistance. They may | | | | Travelers Cheques, debit cards, credit |
| be able to help you with any problems | | | | cards, and drivers license. Photocopy |
| that arise. | | | | everything. |
| 5. If you plan to rent a handicap | | | | Keep photocopies in your luggage and at |
| scooter, wheelchair, electric | | | | home by the telephone or someplace where |
| wheelchair, handicap van, full van, | | | | someone has access to it in case you |
| mini-van, RV or other vehicle in another | | | | need it. |
| city, don't wait until you get there. | | | | 14. Read everything you can about |
| Make all the arrangements before you | | | | traveling with a disability. Read |
| leave on your trip. | | | | disabled travel books, access guides, |
| Make sure you ask any specifics like, | | | | accessible guidebooks, disability travel |
| are there tie-downs, ramps, or hoists, | | | | articles and travel publications for the |
| etc. Check on what van, RV, car or auto | | | | disabled traveler. Read the personal |
| insurance you'll need before you go. | | | | travel experiences of wheelchair users |
| 6. Don't leave anything to chance. If | | | | and others who have traveled with |
| you can, double-check all the | | | | disabilities. Be informed. |
| arrangements your travel agent makes. | | | | These travel tips, information, |
| Call the airlines, hotels, scooter, | | | | resources, and services for the disabled |
| wheelchair, car, RV or van rental | | | | should help you, or anyone with a |
| companies, medical equipment rental | | | | disability, handicap, physical |
| companies, etc., and verify the | | | | limitation, or who uses a wheelchair, |
| specifics, especially if you're | | | | have an easier, more pleasant, |
| traveling in a wheelchair or have any | | | | anxiety-free, trouble-free trip, tour, |
| other special needs like oxygen. | | | | holiday or vacation. |