Oh, the Places You'll Go!
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Oh, the Places You'll Go!

WHETHER driving across the state or flying to another state or country, travel is always an adventure and gives you a great feeling of independence.

Many travel agencies now specialize in travel for people with disabilities. You can rent accessible cars, vans, and RV's; and there are accessible cruise lines. Also, many travel companies offer discount rates for those with a disability. Often Amtrak and Greyhound, for example, will quote a discount rate for people with disabilities and for seniors. You can go anywhere with a little planning and creativity. While traveling, like other day to day circumstances, you have to be assertive and advocate for what you need.

When planning, think ahead:

  • Will you need special accommodations at any point in your trip (seeing-eye dog arrangements, special seating, car rentals, special meals, etc.)?
  • Arrange time and schedule so you will not become overtired.
  • Determine what special assistance you can expect and will need from the transportation company, hotel, tour group, etc.

Air Travel

Though you may need more assistance than usual because of the nature of airline travel, you are a paying customer and deserve the same respect and consideration as any other passenger, according to the law.

Let your travel agent know any anticipated needs so they can be recorded along with your reservation. Here are some things you may want to tell your agent before you arrive at the airport:

  • If you have a disability that requires extra assistance.
  • If you will need assistance on and off the plane. If you have difficulty walking, they usually use an aisle chair to push you down the narrow plane aisles. This is typically called a "carry-on" or "carry-off."
  • If you are changing planes, let the agent know if you would like assistance between your connecting flights.
  • If you are unable to get to the restroom on a long flight or international flight, make sure to request an on-board aisle chair. If you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of a flight, a flight attendant can bring you an aisle chair and push you to the bathroom. Newer planes now have restrooms that are larger, but it is still a tight squeeze. If mobility is difficult, plan for how you will use the bathroom on a long flight.
  • If you use a power wheelchair, make sure to tell the agent whether the battery is a wet or dry cell battery.
  • If you require oxygen, there are other requirements depending on the airline, such as a doctor's letter, advance notice, and extra charges. For more about traveling with oxygen, call the American Lung Association (800-586-4872) or The Oxygen Traveler (937-433-6007).
  • The bulkhead seat gives the most room to transfer; an aisle seat is often easier to get into. Some aircraft have lift-up arms to make transferring easier. If you don't get the seat you want when you make the reservation, the gate agent can usually switch seats for you.

Information is the key
When traveling, Susanna Bourgeois and Kim Calabretta of the NC Department of Health and Human Services always make a point of letting the train conductor or flight attendant know they are deaf in case there are announcements about schedule changes or safety. "We also realize that there are times when the conductor/flight attendant may forget to inform us, so we use the survival technique of using the passenger sitting next to us to fill us in, in case we miss out on valuable information. That is probably our biggest concern, as many of the announcements of change of stations/times/transportation tend to be on a loudspeaker," said Calabretta. "I have once or twice been caught in places I did not originally plan on going to!"Susanna added, "We always carry a paper and pen, so if worse comes to worst and we can't lip-read them well enough, we'll communicate by writing the information down."

Another survival technique for travelers is to give yourself plenty of time. When you check your baggage, review your needs with the ticket agent to make sure everything is clear and there will be no surprises when you reach the gate. If you use a wheelchair or scooter, you can take your wheelchair or scooter to the gate and "gate check" it so you receive it at the gate when the plane lands.

Boarding the plane
Again, check in with the gate agent and make sure to review your needs in as much detail as you can:

  • It is often easier when you are the first on the plane. Ask to pre-board.
  • Reconfirm any assistance you will need. Tell them if you need assistance transferring to the aisle chair so they have sufficient staff to help.
  • If you have a folding manual wheelchair, you can ask that it be stored in the closet on-board the airplane. Some planes do not have a closet and availability is on a first-come-first-served basis.
  • If you have any assistive device that won't fit in a closet or overhead bin on the airplane, make sure you get a "gate check" tag and receipt.
  • Make sure your name and contact information are on all equipment.

Getting off the plane
Before the plane lands, make sure the flight attendant knows if you need help getting off the plane. Be patient; it is likely that you will be the last one off if you need any assistance or an aisle chair.

Public Transportation

If you plan to use public transportation, always call the transit authority well in advance to determine its services. If public transportation is not accessible, you can use the para-transit system. Keep in mind that use of the para-transit system may require eligibility and advance application.

Taxis are always an option if you don't need a wheelchair lift. Most taxi drivers will put a manual wheelchair into a trunk but offer little other assistance. A few taxi companies offer accessible taxis.

Tour and Vehicle Rentals
When a person who is hard of hearing or deaf wants to participate in a tour, he/she must ask in advance if there are any accommodations, either in the form of interpreters or assistive listening devices (ALD). Making the request ahead of time gives the tour agency time to secure an interpreter or get the ALD ready for the person in need of accommodation.

If you will be renting a car or van and require hand controls or a lift, find out where there are available vehicles before leaving home. Most major car rental companies now offer hand controls on their vehicles. Keep these things in mind to avoid hassles.

  • Most companies require 48 hours notice to put hand controls on a rental car. In many cases they automatically put them in a full-size two-door car unless you specify otherwise.
  • If you make reservations through an 800 number, get the phone number for the local office where you will pick up the car. Call that office at least 24 hours in advance to make sure they will have what you need when you arrive.
  • If you fly into an airport, few rental car companies have accessible transportation from the terminal to the place where you pick up your car. If you are unable to get into a bus, the rental company should come and pick you up in a car. Insist on this.
  • Bring a handicapped placard, if needed, to display in the vehicle. Find out how to get a temporary placard for states or countries of your destination before your travels begin.
  • If you need a van with a lift, Wheelchair Getaways has an extensive network of vans for rent. For reservations, call 800-642-2042. There are many other accessible van rental companies; for a list check out this website: http://www.blvd.com/Travel_and_Recreation/Accessible_Van_Rentals/. You can also call the local independent living center in the city you are traveling to for assistance with public transportation or van rental.

Lodging

If you will be staying in a hotel or motel, accessibility is a key issue to make your stay a pleasant one. An accessible room in one hotel may be very different in another hotel. The following are tips for booking a room:

  • Contact the hotel directly. Central reservations don't have information about room accessibility. In many cases, they can only request an accessible room.
  • Ask specific questions about accessibility based on your needs. Ask about door width, roll-in shower or tub, sink access, dog accommodations, etc. Ask them to go measure or give you specifics if they don't know the answer. (Most hotels and motels will have a shower or tub bench that you can request.)
  • Check to see if the hotel has the Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Kit that will include a TTY, volume control phone, fire alarm and wake-up alarm as well as a door knocker that is devised for Deaf and Hard of Hearing consumers. TVs should be equipped with closed captioning capabilities.
  • If you are at all concerned, ask to see the room before you agree to sign anything.

If problems arise during your trip, go to customer service. According to Kim Calabretta, "It becomes our responsibility to be assertive in making sure we have the information we need, and that it is accurate information." If you plan ahead and do your homework, traveling can be a wonderful experience. If you experience a lack of access at some point during your trip, be prepared to know your rights and to speak up.

[By Lauren Howard, Consultant, NC Office on Disability and Health]


Complaints...

To complain about a lack of access for travelers with disabilities:


Travel Resources...

Access-Able Travel Source
Accessible travel options. Email access-able@home.com
303-232-2979
www.access-able.com

Easy Access to National Parks: The Sierra Club Guide for People with Disabilities
by Wendy Roth and Michael Tompane, May 1992.

Fodor's Great American Vacations for Travelers with Disabilities (2nd Ed)
by Donna Cornacchio and Anto Howard, November 1996.

Global Access Disabled Travel Network
http://www.globalaccessnews.com/

The Guided Tour Inc.
Outings for persons with developmental and physical challenges.
7900 Old York Road, Suite 114-B
Elkins Park, PA 19027-2339
800-783-5841
www.guidedtour.com/home.html

Trips, Inc.
Travel outings for people of various abilities. 96 East 19th Street Eugene, Oregon 97403-1320. 800-686-1013 www.tripsinc.com/


See also ...

Looking for That Perfect Vacation in North Carolina

D.C. Offers Many Accessible Sites

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