Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Disabilities

Tips and Tricks for Traveling with Disabilities
By Christine Arnold, CTC

I have been a travel consultant and Sales Manager at Classic Travel for over 15 years and I was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) in March of 1997.

I have traveled to 42 different countries and I put some of these tips together based on my own personal experiences traveling with disabilities.

I hope they will encourage to you to get out there and travel---you CAN do anything you want to do if you have the right tools and an experienced Travel Consultant to help you!

General Tips Bring your doctor’s phone number and off-hours pager number. If you are traveling out of the country, don’t forget to add on the country code when you dial. Pace yourself. You know your body better than anyone. If you know going all-out is going to put the hurt on your body, save that climb of Kilimanjaro for the end of your holiday and recover on that plane ride. Carry any medications in their original containers---customs agents don’t really like to try and guess which pills are which. You may also want to bring a letter from your doctor about your condition----I always bring a letter just in case they do but have never once had to use it!


Planning Your Trip Use a professional travel agent----if it one who specializes in making arrangements for those with disabilities that is even better. This is especially useful if you require a wheelchair. Be sure to inform your agent about your special needs: your current mobility, equipment you will be bringing (or need at your destination), seating preferences, etc. The time of year you travel absolutely makes a difference. I prefer to travel in the off season (less standing in line, easier to get into restaurants, better seats at special events) and when temperatures are cooler. If heat wears you out, traveling when it's toasty could turn a vacation into little more than a quest for Air conditioning. Consider a cruise, even if you are not a "cruiser." I've traveled by ship extensively pre- and post- disability and there are many advantages to a cruise vacation. You unpack once (great for fatigue), disability access is good (especially if you need mobility aids), a doctor is always onboard, and your travel time is often at night when you are sleeping (no exhausting car rides). Recommendations? I like Alaska during the summer, the Caribbean during the winter, and Europe for the fall and spring. Want a more far-flung adventure? An African safari is great because you travel by 4x4, which means access to A/C and that you are seated. The safari lodges are spectacular and usually very small so you have very personalized service and the staff will cater to your special needs. Purchase travel insurance when you book your trip (I personally use Travelex for my own trips but there are others). Most travel insurance companies WILL recognize and cover you for pre-existing conditions, but only if you purchase the insurance within 21 days of putting down the first payment on the trip. And a word of warning: if you buy your insurance from the same company you are traveling with and they go belly up, you are out of luck. So I always recommend buying your insurance from a third party insurance company. Bring your disabled parking permit from home!! All U.S. states and most other countries recognize disabled permits issued by your home state or country. Rental vans generally do not include a disabled parking permit, and without one you will not be able to park in disabled parking spaces without risking a hefty fine. The fact that you are driving a van that is clearly a disabled van will not excuse you from a fine if you are parked in a disabled spot without a permit.

Gear

I like to carry a tiny, lightweight digital camera to record my travel memories: photographs, audio and video. The weight savings and convenience of just slipping it in your pocket is invaluable.
If you need help getting around the airport or a massive hotel, ask. Don’t be shy. This is your vacation and you don’t want to spend two days recovering from what amounts to stubborn pride.
If you need a wheelchair when traveling by plane or ship, most users suggest taking a manual chair if at all possible. You don’t have to worry about recharging batteries and dealing with the hassles of stowing the chair. Manual chairs can be brought up to the gate without a problem and are easier to tote in cars.

On the Plane / In the Airport

Request wheelchair assistance when booking your flight. When you check in, tell the ticket agent that you had requested assistance and they will call someone to the counter for you. This person will take you and whoever is traveling with you thru security--without having to stand in the long lines---and take you right to the gate.
If you have to switch planes because you're not flying direct, they will have someone waiting for you to take you to the next gate. I usually mention it to the flight attendant about 30 minutes before we land and sometimes signals get crossed so if there is not anyone there, let the gate agent know and they will call for someone for you. When you arrive at your destination, someone will be there and take you to baggage claim. Remember to take some dollar bills to tip with. The wheelchair assistance will help you conserve your energy. PLUS you usually are taken thru the crew line or to the front of the line for passport control and customs when traveling internationally.
Take advantage of early boarding and ask a flight attendant for help if you need it.
Consider using curb-side check in and the luggage porters when you arrive at the airport. Saving your energy for a few bucks is usually worth it.
And I'd suggest hitting the restrooms just before boarding.
DON’t get dehydrated! Drink plenty of water!

Advice on Inject-able medications

A small, soft-sided lunch size cooler (with an ice pack or two) works great to tote your medication and can be stored in your carry on backpack or bag.
Always keep your medications with you as part of your carry-on luggage. That’s one piece of luggage you can’t afford to lose. Same thing with extra glasses or other things you do not want to be without.
It’s smart to have a copy of the prescription receipt (from the box) for your inject-able medications as well as a letter from your doctor stating your medical condition and give yourself injections. I personally have never been stopped at security for having a boatload of potentially subcutaneous weapons, but better safe than sorry!
Call ahead to your hotel and ask that a portable refrigerator be put in your room if it does not have a mini bar. Most hotels will be able to honor that request.
Instead of lugging around a big sharps container for your needles, a needle clipper / storage device works great. These little gadgets clip off the needle (they can store up to 1,500 needles), allowing you to toss the syringe. Look for one at your local pharmacy.
I always bring a few extra shots with me just in case I do something stupid and screw up one of my injections or in case of delays---once I had to return home a day later than expected due to weather issues so better to be prepared