14 ways to make traveling with a disability easier

Auto

If you are traveling with a disability, handicap, physical limitation, mobility limitation, or developmental disability, have special needs, or use a power wheelchair or handicap scooter, it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can to make handicap travel easier. .

Or if you’re a mature traveler or an older person who walks slowly or just wants a slower pace, learning more about disability travel services and disability travel resources will lessen the anxiety that often accompanies disabled travelers.

The following travel tips, resources, and information for the disabled will help make travel, tours, vacations, and vacations much easier for you or a child with a disability, whether short-term or long-term.

1. Plan your trip well in advance! Do you need to order additional supplements, medications or prescription refills, fix eyeglasses or change prescriptions, have a physical exam, get dental work done, fix or tune up your wheelchair, etc.?

2. If possible, always book your trip through an agency that specializes in helping people with disabilities. This is important because specialized travel agents and tour operators for the disabled are experienced and can save you a lot of headaches.

They offer lots of good advice and a wide range of services for the disabled traveler. Among other things, they can arrange an airport wheelchair, a wheelchair accessible hotel room, wheelchair rental, an accessible van equipped with a lift, a full van, a minivan, an RV, a handicapped scooter or any other handicapped vehicle.

Disability travel agents can help arrange accessible transportation, help plan the best accessible cruise, give advice on cruise lines and cruises, purchase travel insurance, and address special needs.

Agents can check with hotels about: interior and exterior door widths to accommodate your wheelchair, ADA-approved handicap tubs, grab bars, or roll-in showers. Just tell them your needs.

Travel agents can help you find cheap airfare, cheap tickets, cheap flights, cheap travel auto insurance, cheap hotels, cheap car rentals, cheap cruises, cheap vacations, and cheap travel of all kinds.

3. In addition to carrying your travel agent’s phone number, you’ll also want to carry the phone numbers of travel agencies that specialize in disabled travel at your destination, in case you can’t reach your own agent.

These travel agents may know how to resolve issues regarding your hotel, car or van rental, etc., even if you didn’t order your tickets through them.

4. When traveling to another city, check with the local health and medical associations before you travel. For example, get the phone numbers of your local MS chapter if you have MS. These organizations can be great resources.

They usually know which local museums, restaurants, theaters, and other facilities are wheelchair accessible and where you can get oxygen, emergency supplies, or medical assistance. They may be able to help you with any issues that come up.

5. If you plan to rent a handicap scooter, wheelchair, electric wheelchair, handicap van, full-size van, minivan, RV, or other vehicle in another city, don’t wait until you get there. Make all arrangements before you leave on your trip.

Be sure to ask for specific details like if there are tie-ups, ramps or hoists, etc. Check what van, RV, auto, or auto insurance you’ll need before you travel.

6. Leave nothing to chance. If you can, double check all arrangements your travel agent makes. Call airlines, hotels, scooter, wheelchair, car, RV or van rental companies, medical equipment rental companies, etc., and check details, especially if you travel in a wheelchair or have other needs special as oxygen.

This is important if you haven’t used the agent before.

7. If you need oxygen or any other special medical equipment, call the airlines and providers well in advance of your trip. Don’t wait until the last minute. Start calling them as soon as you know you will be traveling or taking a trip.

Then double check with your travel agent and the airline at least three to four days before your flight.

8. Get to the airport early. It is better to wait there than to miss the plane. This will remove some of the pre-trip anxiety you might feel and make the trip more enjoyable. This seems like common knowledge, but many people still make it to the door just in time.

With everything going on in the world today, there are many reasons why you want to spend more time at the airport.

9. In your airplane carry-on baggage, keep copies of your prescriptions for your medications and eyeglasses, extra eyeglasses, sunglasses, all your medications and supplements, and a list of your doctor, dentist, and other health care professionals with their names. addresses and phone numbers. .

Include your prescription doctor’s fax number in case you lose your medications. Keep duplicate copies of these in your luggage and at home near your phone. Know where your medical records are kept.

10. When you travel, and at any other time too, if you take medications, learn their names and what exactly they are for if you don’t know. People come to the emergency room all the time and don’t know what medications they are taking. You may be surprised to learn that most people say ‘a little yellow pill’ or ‘a white capsule’ etc.

Emergency workers need to know what you’re taking so they don’t give you medications that could negatively interact with it, give you an overdose, or in any way interfere with your treatment and recovery.

11. If you are traveling by air, please inform the flight attendants when addressing any medical issues you may encounter on your flight. Note the location of the closest restroom before sitting down. Tell the flight attendant if you think you’ll need help getting to him during the flight.

You may need or want an aisle seat for easy access to restrooms. Discuss seating with your travel agent.

12. If you need someone to travel with you, ask your travel agent for ideas or suggestions. Call local chapters of medical associations and ask if they can recommend a travel assistant or fellow traveler to help or accompany you.

There are national companies that offer traveling nurses, travel companions, or travel assistants to accompany travelers who are disabled or have serious medical problems.

13. Be sure to bring with you: all medical cards, Medicare cards, discount cards, auto or rental car discount cards, auto insurance policy numbers and agent phone numbers, passport, airline tickets, electronic tickets, American Express traveler’s checks, debit cards, credit cards and driver’s license. Photocopy everything.

Keep photocopies in your luggage and at home near the phone or somewhere someone has access to them in case you need them.

14. Read everything you can about traveling with a disability. Read disabled travel books, access guides, accessible guides, disabled travel articles, and travel publications for disabled travelers. Read the personal travel experiences of wheelchair users and others who have traveled with disabilities. To be informed.

These disability travel tips, information, resources, and services should help you or anyone with a disability, handicap, physical limitation, or use a wheelchair have an easier, more enjoyable, anxiety-free, and hassle-free trip. tour, holiday or vacation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *