Accessible Travel for People with Mobility Impairments and Disabilities

Astoria

Astoria

Have you been putting off a long-held dream of traveling because of Parkinson's? With good planning and a willingness to be flexible and tolerant, you may not need to.

First, discuss your travel plans (ex. mode of transportation, destination, accommodations, length of stay) with your neurologist.

The goal of travel suppliers is to make their clients as comfortable as possible. The most important thing for you to do is to let them know in advance that you require assistance. For example, if you require a companion or assistant to accompany you through the security checkpoint at the airport to reach your gate, speak with your airline representative at check-in about obtaining a gate pass for your companion. Make sure to advice the airline at the time of reservation, and the security screeners at the airport if you have a DBS implant. Also, make sure you carry your medications in their original containers and have the doctor's prescription for each medication with you. If possible, bring enough medication for the entire trip and/or physician's orders for refills.

Most travel suppliers - airlines, hotels, cruise lines, trains - have specific arrangements in place for people with disabilities. Two good sources of information are the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality www.sath.org and the Transportation Security Administration www.tsa.gov.   

Wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers should be in top working condition before you leave home. If your wheelchair or scooter is equipped with pneumatic tires, bring along a small repair kit which you can buy at a bicycle shop, containing the items necessary to change a flat.

Here are a few tips regarding checking in your wheelchair or scooter with the airline. First, reconfirm your flights 24 hours in advance (flight numbers and flight times are always subject to change). Reconfirm that you are traveling by scooter or wheelchair and inform the airline, again, that you have a manual or electric wheelchair. Ask them, again, for maximum assistance.

Repeat this at check-in and ask the ticket personnel to gate check your wheelchair or scooter and obtain a luggage receipt. When you gate check your wheelchair or scooter, it allows you to roll you wheelchair directly to the entry of the plane where you will walk to your seat or transfer into an aisle chair for assistance to your seat.

Before handing your wheelchair over to the airline staff, remove the leg supports and portable seat cushions. Do not store them loose in the overhead bins as they could fall onto someone's head when the bins are opened. Instead, put them in your carry-on bag.

Scooter travelers who gate check their scooter should realize that a member of the airline staff will be appointed to drive your scooter into the cargo hold of the plane. Before handing over your scooter, place a piece of removable tape reading Do not remove on the top of the throttle control and secure the throttle control in the lowest position. Make sure your key, or power pin, is secured to the scooter with a strong, durable cord. The Transportation Security Administration recommends using a 12 or 14 inch 60 or 80 pound steel leader which you can buy at a fishing supply store. And lastly, remove any removable baskets and seat cushions to prevent losing them.

For electric wheelchairs it is recommended that you prevent the airline staff from actually driving it by switching the chair's transmission into neutral so it can easily be pushed. Unplug the battery connection, and remove the power cord if possible. If the entire joystick control can be easily removed, do so! If not, try to prevent damage by protecting the joystick as much as possible.

Traveling with your wheelchair or scooter on a train or airline is a cooperative event. Their job is the safe transport of passengers. Your job is to properly prepare your wheelchair or scooter for transportation.

How about a cruise? One of the most enjoyable and hassle-free ways to travel is on a cruise. You unpack only once while you sail from one sparkling city to another all the while taking in great scenery or relaxing ocean vistas.

Most cruise ships have corridors that can accommodate 180 degree turns for wheelchairs. Usually decks are accessible through automatic doors, and public rooms feature entrances with gradual inclines. Accessible staterooms offer sufficient turning-radius in sleeping areas, bathrooms and sitting areas for easy maneuverability. Some cruise lines have a variety of equipment on board, such as shower stools, bed extensions, raised toilet seats, and transfers benches. As with the airlines and railroads, discuss your needs and requirements at the time of your reservation to ensure that your special requests will be taken care off. However, cruise ships are not always ADA equipped and facilities abroad are not available to the level you have come to expect in the US.

Visiting exciting ports of call is a part of every ocean or river cruise. While not every port of call may be amenable to wheelchair transportation, every effort will be made by the cruise line to accommodate passengers with mobility impairments. Cruise staff can help you select shore excursions that best meet your needs. In ports where the ship cannot dock and tenders are used to travel from ship to shore, some cruise lines offer lifts that will make the tendering process smooth and stress-free.

Ocean cruise lines offer limited medical services onboard  for a fee  through independently contracted, licensed (international or domestic) physicians or nurses. River cruises usually do not have doctors or nurses onboard their ships. Should you need medical attention, it will be at local facilities, at your expense.

Viviane Tondeur is a Certified Travel Counselor a designation conferred by the Institute of Certified Travel Agents to travel professionals who have completed a rigorous five-part program of professional study and testing. Viviane has more than 30 years of experience in the travel and hospitality industry. She regularly consults with cruise lines operating ocean and river cruises in Europe, South America, and Egypt. Her areas of expertise include a designation in Accessible Travel. For further information, you can reach Viviane at 310-490-1478.  

In closing, I would like to state that traveling for people with special needs can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Many things are different from those at home, and what you might take for granted in your familiar surroundings may not be available during your tour or cruise. To make the most of your holiday, take along your spirit of adventure and willingness to be flexible. You will be richly rewarded because it is a unique cultural experience you will remember and talk about the rest of your life.

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