Disabled Travel: Tips and Advice for Travelers with Disabilities

Travel by people with disabilities, also known as “disabled travel” or “accessible travel,” is on the rise. The travel industry is waking up to the special needs of travelers with disabilities by providing more services and greater accommodation. Meanwhile, the sheer abundance of information on accessible travel is astounding — much of it generated by travelers with disabilities themselves.

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees that travelers with disabilities receive equal treatment under the law. While this would be the case in a perfect world, it doesn’t always work out that way in real life, especially in foreign countries where accessibility regulations vary widely. Despite having common sense, considerable public sentiment and strength in numbers, travelers with disabilities frequently face inadequate facilities, prejudice, misinformation, general hassles and higher prices than other travelers.

Compounding the problem is the fact that there are as many disabilities as there are disabled folks. Each person’s needs are a little different, and traveling in cookie-cutter airline seats, hotel rooms and rental car fleets can be very tricky. The following tips and resources will help disabled travelers and their companions anticipate some of the snags of accessible travel.

Disabled Travel Tips

1. Call ahead. Service providers are required by law in many cases to accommodate travelers with special needs. However, most need some time to make the necessary arrangements. Mention your needs at the time of reservation, and call the provider 24 to 48 hours before your arrival to confirm that proper accommodations have been made.
2. Be specific and clear when describing a disability. Not all service providers know the “lingo” of accessible travel, or the medical terms for certain conditions. Give as many details as you can about what you can and can’t do, and don’t downplay the severity of the disability. The more information a service provider has, the better they will be able to accommodate you. If they promise you certain accommodations, try to get these promises in writing.
3. Be specific and clear when describing the trip to your doctor. A doctor can often prescribe measures for coping with an unusually long flight, limited medical facilities at your destination, the unavailability of prescription drugs and other pitfalls of traveling. Be prepared — in some cases, your doctor may question the advisability of travel.
4. Take a doctor’s note and phone number. Travel with a statement from your doctor, preferably on letterhead, covering your condition, medications, potential complications, special needs and other pertinent information. Be sure you have a number where your doctor (or another medical professional) can be reached in an emergency situation at any hour of the day.
5. Bring extra medication. Many experts advise that you travel with two complete packages of essential medication in case of emergency. Store all medications and other necessary medical supplies in your carry-on bag.
6. Investigate physician availability where you will be traveling. Your doctor, health care provider, insurance company or local embassy can provide the names and contact numbers of physicians at your destination. For more information, see Health Care Abroad.
7. Carry medical alert information, preferably in a place that a medical professional or anyone who assists you will find easily (wallet card, necklace, close to your identification).
8. Consider using a specialist travel agent. Some agents provide stellar niche services; one might be very experienced in working with travelers with hearing impairments, another with developmentally impaired travelers. Since the requirements for these varied travelers can be staggeringly different, it helps to find someone who knows the ropes. Check the agent search feature at TravelSense.org to find qualified travel agents across the U.S.
9. Avoid connecting flights. Although wheelchairs are the last items to be checked into the luggage compartments, and thus first to be pulled off, flying direct can save you unnecessary time and hassle. One exception: If you have trouble maneuvering into airplane lavatories, long flights may become uncomfortable — so a series of shorter flights might be a better option. If you do choose to connect, be sure to allow plenty of time between flights (we’d recommend at least 90 minutes, or two hours if you need to go through customs or security) to get from one gate to the next.
10. Allow plenty of time before your flight to check in, get through security and transfer to your gate. Arrive at least two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight — more if you’re traveling at a peak time.
11. Check in with your flight attendant before your plane lands to make a plan for exit.
12. Don’t forget about transportation to and from the airport. If you have a wheelchair, make arrangements in advance to have an accessible vehicle pick you up in your destination city.
13. Bring spare parts and tools. Wheelchairs can take tremendous abuse while traveling; assemble a small kit of spare parts and tools for emergency repairs. You may also be required to dismantle a wheelchair for certain flights or activities; make sure you and your traveling companions know how to do this.
14. Know your rights. Before going through airport security, be aware of the TSA’s rules for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions. See also the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disability Resource Center.
15. Be creative. Reader Dorothy Dean, who has a mobility disability, wrote to us with the following suggestion: “When traveling by car, I can use a bariatric walker in lieu of grab bars in the bathroom. You simply walk it up to the toilet, put it in place against the toilet, turn around, sit down and you have sturdy arms to use for getting up. It’s a little uncomfortable but is fine for travel.” Dean notes that this tip works best with large, sturdy walkers that have hand holds designed to help people rise, not just walk: “I would never use my regular walker to get up from a toilet,” she wrote. (Here’s an example of this type of walker.)

Websites and Resources for Travelers with Disabilities

For more information on traveling with all types of disabilities, check out the websites and other resources below.

• Accessible Journeys: Tour operator for slow walkers, travelers with wheelchairs and their companions
• Accessible Travel Concierge: Concierge who will help you research accessible options and plan your trip
• Accessible Travel Solutions: Company providing accessible tours and other services for travelers with disabilities
• ClubMates Travel: Company that plans trips for travelers with physical and/or intellectual disabilities
• Cruise Critic: Info on cruising with a disability
• DisabledHolidays.com: U.K.-based travel agency for accessible vacations and cruises
• DisabledTravelers.com: Comprehensive listing of accessible travel specialists around the world
• Disabled Traveler’s Guide to the World: Travel tips and destination guides for travelers with disabilities
• Emerging Horizons: News and information for mobility-impaired travelers
• Gimp on the Go: Destination guides, travel tips, photo gallery and resources for travelers with disabilities
• Limitless Travel: U.K.-based company offering accessible tours in Europe
• Sage Traveling: Information for travelers with disabilities on accessible tours/hotels/cruises in Europe
• Travel on the Level: Tips and destination recommendations for travelers looking for less strenuous walking and fewer stairs
• Wheel the World: Listings of accessible accommodations and travel experiences for travelers with disabilities

More from SmarterTravel:

• 7 Safety Tips for Senior Travelers
• Traveling with a Disability: What Are Your Rights?
• Traveling with Dietary Restrictions