| 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 handicap | | | | medical equipment, call airlines and |
| scooter, it's a good idea to learn as much as | | | | suppliers 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 who | | | | traveling or taking a trip. |
| is a slow walker or just wants a slower pace, | | | | |
| becoming more informed about disabled travel | | | | Then 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 often | | | | before your flight. |
| accompanies disabled travelers. | | | | |
| | | | 8. Arrive early at the airport. It's better |
| The following travel tips, resources and | | | | to wait around there than miss your plane. |
| information for the disabled will help make | | | | This will eliminate some of the pre-trip |
| trips, tours, holidays and vacations a lot | | | | anxiety you might feel and make for more |
| easier for you, or for a child with a | | | | leisurely 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, medications | | | | With all that's going on in the world today |
| or renew prescriptions, fix eyeglasses or | | | | there are many reasons why you want to allow |
| change prescriptions, get a physical, have | | | | for 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 travel | | | | eyeglasses, extra eyeglasses, sunglasses, all |
| through an agency that specializes in helping | | | | your medications and supplements, and a list |
| people with disabilities. This is important | | | | of your doctor, dentist and other health |
| because specialized travel agents and tour | | | | professionals with their addresses, and phone |
| operators for the disabled are experienced | | | | numbers. |
| and can save 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 these |
| traveler. Among other things, they can | | | | in 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, full | | | | 10. When you travel, and for any other time |
| van, minivan, RV, handicap scooter, or any | | | | too, 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 help | | | | room all the time and don't know what |
| arrange accessible transportation, help plan | | | | medications they're taking. You might be |
| the best accessible cruise, give cruise line | | | | surprised to find out that most people say 'a |
| and cruising tips, arrange travel insurance | | | | little yellow pill' or 'a white capsule', |
| and take care of special needs. | | | | etc. |
| | | | |
| Agents can check with hotels for: inner and | | | | Emergency workers need to know what you're |
| outer door widths to accommodate your | | | | taking 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 tell | | | | you or somehow interfere with their treatment |
| them your needs. | | | | and your recovery. |
| | | | |
| Travel agents can help you find cheap | | | | 11. If you're traveling by air, tell the |
| airfare, cheap tickets, cheap flights, cheap | | | | flight attendants when you board, of any |
| travel auto insurance, cheap hotels, cheap | | | | medical problem you might encounter on your |
| car rentals, cheap cruises, cheap vacations | | | | flight. 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's | | | | assistance getting to it during the flight. |
| phone number, you'll also want to take with | | | | |
| you the phone numbers for the travel agencies | | | | You may need or want an aisle seat for easy |
| that specialize in disabled travel at your | | | | access to the restrooms. Discuss seating with |
| destination, in the event you can't reach | | | | your travel agent. |
| your own agent. | | | | |
| | | | 12. If you need someone to travel with you, |
| These travel agents may know how to solve | | | | ask 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't | | | | medical 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 associations | | | | There are national companies who offer |
| before you go. For example, get the phone | | | | traveling nurses, traveling companions or |
| numbers for the local MS chapter if you have | | | | travel assistants to accompany disabled |
| MS. These organizations can be great | | | | travelers 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 are | | | | cards, Medicare cards, discount cards, car or |
| wheelchair accessible and where you can get | | | | auto rental discount cards, auto insurance |
| oxygen, emergency supplies or medical | | | | policy numbers and agent's phone number, |
| assistance. They may be able to help you with | | | | passport, 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 vehicle | | | | Keep photocopies in your luggage and at home |
| in another city, don't wait until you get | | | | by the telephone or someplace where someone |
| there. Make all the arrangements before you | | | | has 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, are | | | | with a disability. Read disabled travel |
| there tie-downs, ramps, or hoists, etc. Check | | | | books, access guides, accessible guidebooks, |
| on what van, RV, car or auto insurance you'll | | | | disability 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 you | | | | users and others who have traveled with |
| can, double-check all the arrangements your | | | | disabilities. Be informed. |
| travel agent makes. Call the airlines, | | | | |
| hotels, scooter, wheelchair, car, RV or van | | | | These travel tips, information, resources, |
| rental companies, medical equipment rental | | | | and 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 a | | | | physical limitation, or who uses a |
| wheelchair or have any other special needs | | | | wheelchair, 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 | | | | |