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