Do you know how to troubleshoot a lift on a van for an inexperienced driver? Can you instruct the baggage crew on how to stow your wheelchair, walker, or scooter? Handle your respirator or oxygen bottle? Have you memorized the accessibility features of various airplanes by make and model of the aircraft? Can you show the flight attendant the location of the button to unlock movable airline seat arms?
Language teachers and travel gurus may tell you that the most important first words to learn in another language are "Please" or "Thank you." I tend to prefer to master words like "Nyet!" ("No!"; Russian), "Rollstuhl" ("wheelchair"; German), "Kaaga" ("mine"; Somali), and useful phrases like "De jeito nenhum!" (roughly and in context, "Don't mess with that wheelchair!"; Portuguese).
Know Your Safety Net
Life is tough. (That's probably why you want to go on vacation in the first place!) Traveling with a disability can be a test of skill. Expect the unexpected, "what if" around worst cases, and then strategize about how to deal with what you discover.
Did you leave a copy of your itinerary with friends and family back home? Have you established a schedule for periodically contacting people back home? Do they know what to do if they don't hear from you? If you have friends or contacts at your destination, have you double checked to see that all contact information is up to date and correct? Do you know how your travel companion responds in an emergency? Have you discussed various emergency scenarios with him or her?
Does your personal insurance cover you while out of the country? Do you have travel insurance to make up the difference between what the airline will pay if they damage of your equipment and the actual replacement cost? Do you have necessary vaccinations, medicine, prescriptions, and letters of medical necessity? Are your money and important documents kept in a secure place?
Do you have multiple copies of information such as contact names and addresses or what to do if your credit card is stolen? Are those copies distributed between various carry-on and checked-in items?
Know Your Rights And Responsibilities
Laws, policies, business practices, and cultural norms change from region to region and country to country. Don't be easily discouraged. Keeping track of the specifics merits an advanced degree in traveling with a disability. Be as knowledgeable as possible.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Scott Paul Rains's Travel & Disability topic, please visit the Discussions page.