This time of year, after the year-end holidays and before summer vacation, can be a good time for travel planning.
SuiteUniversity has a course custom made for the season. It is Tami Brady's Travel Planning -- http://www.suite101.com/course.cfm/18488...Here are a few custom tips for traveling with a disability to supplement what you will learnin the course:
Learn your rights in Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts & Bolts Guide for Wheelers & Slow Walkers by Candy Harrington -- http://www.demosmedpub.com/book171.html Before you pack read, The Six Knows of Preparing to Travel here in the Disability & Travel column at Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1842...
Find travelogues at Gimp on the Go
http://www.gimponthego.com/ Follow the industry at The Rolling Rains Report http://www.RollingRains.com For firsthand recommendations ask at the Accessible Europe Message Board http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graff... Try an example of next generation accessibility reporting software at Access Israel
http://www.aisrael.org/english/ Subscribe free to Global Access Write to: clearpath@cox.net
Let your imagination go with list of links on inclusive travel here at: http://www.suite101.com/links.cfm/18423There are several ways to go - land, sea or air. If you are in the mood for a cruise:
To book a cruise, try one of the pioneers in wheelchair cruising Accessible Journeys http://www.disabilitytravel.com/ A Google search will turn up other specialists to chose from. Today most cruise lines clearly mark accessible rooms in online deck plans but you can read firsthand accounts of travel on the ship at sites like CruiseCritic.com http://www.CruiseCritic.com
Ports along cruise routes have responded with accessibility in order to win our business -- benefiting local wheelchair users in the process - but only a call to the cruise line itself will tell you whether the tender to get you ashore is accessible. Educating a local travel agent on your needs and sticking with them can be a big help but for the do-it-yourself traveler:
Hand control van rental in the US is still the work of Wheelchair Getaways http://www.wheelchair-getaways.com/ even if you go through one of the standard car rental agencies to rent one. If you need a vehicle rental outside the US check:
http://users.actcom.co.il/~swfm/ Microtel http://www.microtelinn.com/ has a corporate mission to be the motel of choice for wheelers Mobility International USA (MIUSA) is still the place to look if you are a student looking to study abroad or want to explore a career in international exchange
http://www.miusa.org/ Swap accessible homes at the Vacation Home Exchange
http://www.independentliving.org/vacaswa... Check US restaurant accessibility with Wired On Wheels
http://www.wiredonwheels.org/ Check UK restaurant access at Your Level Best
http://www.yourlevelbest.com/default.aspPlanning travel well takes both skill and an artist's touch. Take advantage of the many resources that are available to you to craft a memorable itinerary for your next trip.