So You Want to Travel
And you have a disability…
By Fred Rosen
HOW TO TRAVEL
Guidebooks for People with Disabilities
by FRED ROSEN
Travel Consultant for People with Disabilities
SO YOU WANT TO TRAVEL
Travel Tips For Senior Citizens And Persons With A Disability
With the age of jet travel, cruising, rail travel,
and other means of transportation, going to places of interest and excitement
has become the dream of all persons.And this includes a person with a mobility
problem or a disability.The disability could be slower means of walking,
trouble in communication or understanding, the use of a wheelchair, needing
oxygen, being blind or visually impaired, traveling with a service animal,
being deaf or hearing impaired, having the need of dialysis treatment and
the many other forms of disability that one encounters today.
Because you have a disability, it should not prevent
you from enjoying what life has to offer.You should know how to prepare
to travel.The Boy Scouts of America have a motto “BE PREPARED”.This motto
should also apply to you, the traveler with a disability.There are things
you should consider when planning a trip or vacation.And you should inform
a travel agent the nature of your disability and what your travel needs
are.
PREPARING TO TRAVEL
Your Medical Needs
- You should consult with your doctor to see if your medical condition will allow you to travel according to your selection of transportation.
- Get copies of all prescriptions from your physician in case it is necessary for refills.
- Carry enough prescription medication to last you longer than your planned journey.Always carry your prescriptions in their original bottles as some countries will want proof of your need for medication.
- Have your physician’s and pharmacist’s telephone number in case an emergency arises.
The Wheelchair Traveler
In regards to wheelchairs, suppliers of transportation
will have certain rules and regulations depending on the type
of wheelchair you use.It is recommended that you
use a folding, mechanical wheelchair.Also, consult your
insurance agent if your wheelchair is covered
by your homeowner’s policy.If not, consider adding a rider to cover
your wheelchair.
Inform a destination you have chosen, whether
a hotel, motel or resort, the nature of your disability and ask if they
have a roll-in shower if needed.
The Blind Or Visually Impaired Traveler
Either you, or your travel agent, should inform
the supplier of transportation that you are blind or visually
impaired.The supplier should inform you any travel
information, whether Braille or verbal, that is required.
You should also inform a destination the nature
of your disability and ask what services are supplied.
If you have the need of a service animal, you
should consult the form of transportation you have selected as to
what are the rules and regulations when traveling
with such an animal.The American With Disabilities Act of 1990
states that suppliers must allow a service animal
to accompany a passenger providing that the passenger proves the
need of a service animal.
The Deaf Or Hearing Impaired Traveler
Persons who are deaf or hearing impaired should
let a transport provider or destination be aware of his or her
disability and should ask what services are provided
to meet his or her needs.
If you have need of a hearing aid, you should
carry extra batteries.
The Diabetic Traveler
If you are diabetic and using insulin, you should
know that there are often changes in time across the area you are
traveling.Try to adjust your self-administration
of insulin to correspond to the hour you take it at home.
The Traveler Who Requires Dialysis Treatment
Many cruise lines, and many countries, will allow
persons who require dialysis treatment, the opportunity to
enjoy what is being offered.Here again a person
requiring dialysis treatment should inform their dialysis
treatment center of his or her plans and ask the
treatment center to make the necessary reservations so that the
person requiring dialysis treatment will be able
to receive this treatment according to the cruise line selected or
their destination.
The Need Of Ethnic Or Dietary Foods
If it is required that you have the need of certain
foods because of your religious beliefs or on a selected diet, you
should inform the supplier of transportation or
destination the need of such foods so that they will be adequately
provided.
Other Needs
If you are planning to travel, you should give
attention to other needs
- Purchasing medical and cancellation insurance.If you are traveling outside the USA, older citizens should be aware that Medicare and many private insurance companies, such as Blue Cross, will not pay for any medical treatment or bills if such services are needed by the traveler.
- The need to travel with a companion.Some forms of transportation will allow a companion accompanying a person with a disability to travel free or at a reduced rate.Check with the form of transportation you have selected as to what is their policy regarding a traveling companion.
- The use of credit cards.
USING A QUALIFIED TRAVEL AGENT
Preparing to travel is one half of solving your
travel needs.The other half is using a travel agent who specializes in
arranging travel for persons with a disability.Although
there are thousands of travel agents around the country,
only a few of them know what is needed to make
travel arrangements for their client according to their
disability.The following is a list of American
travel agents who can meet your needs.Regardless of your place of
residence, travel arrangements can be made with
any of the travel agents listed.
Qualified USA Travel Agents
AB New Horizons Travel
1016 Alpine Ridge Drive
Ballwin, Missouri 63021
USA
Phone…1-636-225-7690
Fax …...1-636-349-1725
Email….frtravel@swbell.net
Allen Becker is a Missouri travel agent who is
able to make travel arrangements for persons with
disabilities.Allen will investigate all forms
of transportation and accommodations to see if they have services that
meets your disability.
Access Tours
PO Box 2985
Jackson, Wyoming 83001
Phone…1-800-929-4811
Fax……1-208 787-2332
Slow walkers and wheelchair users who want to
visit the West will be interested in accessible tours provided by
Access Tours which has been masking places for
accessible impaired travelers since 1989.
Access Aloha Travel
414 Kuwilli Street, Suite 101
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Phone……..1-800-480-1143
Fax………..1-808-545-7657
Email……..access@lava.net
Access Aloha Travel can arrange both group and
individual travel for all physical limitations.Access Aloha Travel
can arrange for special discounts for persons
traveling to Hawaii.
Access Travel, Inc.
5405 Storm Drift
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Access Travel, Inc. provides information for persons
who have a mobility problem.They know that many questions
must be asked and answered by both travelers and
suppliers prior to any trip. This is the only way to insure a
smooth, easy, barrier free vacation for you.
Accessible Journeys
35 West Sellers Avenue
Ridley Park, Pennsylvania 19078
Phone…….1-800-TINGLES
Alt Phone...1-610-521-0339
Fax……….1-610 521- 6959
Email……..sales@disabilitytravel.com
Since 1985, Accessible Journeys has been designing
accessible holidays and escorting groups on accessible
vacations exclusively for slow walkers, wheelchair
travelers, their families and their friends.Accessible Journeys
is qualified to serve your accessibility needs
in worldwide travel.In addition to offices in Europe, Accessible
Journeys staff has traveled extensively in Asia,
Africa, South America and the Middle East; researching
destinations, inspecting hotels and accessing
attractions.
Alaska Welcomes You
PO Box 91333
Anchorage, Alaska 99509
Phone……..1-800-349-6301
Alt Phone…1-907-349-6301
Email……..awy@customcpu.com
Alaska Welcomes You offers all sorts of accessible
tours from 1-1/2 tours of Anchorage to 8 hour tours of
Seward to rafting on the Kenai Peninsula to multi-day
guided sightseeing.They are also willing to help you plan
individual tours.
Discovery Hills Travel
886 Overlook Circle
San Diego California 92069
Phone ………1-800-750-5975
Alt Phone…...1-760-744-6536
Fax ……….1-760-744-5765
Email………..mark@discoveryhillstravel.com
Mark Jackson, agency owner and partially disabled,
offers all travel services to customers, but excels in designing
vacations on all Cruise Lines, trips to Hawaii,
Mexico and Caribbean.
The Dialysis Traveler -- Dialysis At Sea Cruises
801 West Bay Drive
Suite 800
Largo, Florida 33770
Phone….1-800-544-7640
For Information Outside USA & Canada…1-727-518-7311
Fax……1-727-518-7322
Email….dasc@dialysisatsea.com
The Dialysis Traveler and Dialysis At Sea Cruise
is the largest provider of dialysis services aboard cruise ships in
the world.Since 1977, they have helped thousands
of individuals on dialysis and their families experience the
pleasure of cruising and the joy of making their
dream vacation. Theybelieve the reason for our success is
simple.. “We care about you and want to help you
and your family enjoy life in safety and comfort”.
Eco-Adventure International
Phone……1-888-710-WILD
Fax………1-920-563-9162
Email…….info@eaiadventure.com
Eco-Adventure specializes in travel to East Africa,
China and Costa Rica.Eco-Adventure now offers several
programs that are especially suited to people
with disabilities and mature adults. They have the equipment and the
personnel in place and are ready to go.
Enchanted Travel Tours
PMBA 367-231 East Alessandro Blvd
Riverside California 92508-6039
Phone…. 1-909-943-1492
Fax:…….1-909-943-3382
Email…...mrsenchted@unidial.com
Enchanted Travel Tours is being built by and for
physically challenged individuals.We know disability does not
mean inability.Their ultimate goal is to provide
physically challenged individuals the chance to participate in
life-enhancing activities that might not otherwise
be available to them.
Easy Access Travel
5386 Arlington Avenue
Riverside California 92504
Phone……...1-800-920-8989
Alt Phone….1-909-372-9595
FAX……….1-909-372-9596
Email………ezaccess@mediaone.net
Dedicated to meeting the special needs of disabled
and mature travelers.The goal is to research client’s vacation
choices and provide them with the necessary information
to make a trip enjoyable and rewarding.
Flying Wheels Travel
143 Bridge Street
PO Box 382
Owatonna Minnesota 55060
Phone……...1-800-535-6790
Alt Phone….1-507-451-5005
Fax………...1-507-451-1685
Email………thq@II.net
Flying Wheels Travel, founded in 1970, are experts
at arranging special needs travel.Tours are planned with the
disabled traveler in mind.The specialized facilities
that we provide are geared towards individuals rather than
volume of customers.We want you to know that your
able-bodied relatives and friends are always welcome on any
of our tours.
Medical Travel
5184 Majorca Club Drive
Boca Raton Florida 33486
Phone…….1-800-778-7935
Alt Phone...1-561-361-9384
Email……..ada@medicaltravel.org
Medical Travel is a specialty travel agency exclusively
for the special needs traveler, their families and their
friends.What Medical Travel provides
- Accessible Cruises on all major cruise lines.
- All our groups are hosted by medical professionals
- Trip planning and cruises for dialysis patients
- Free wheelchair transportation world wide when we handle your full travel reservations.
- We make available licensed travel companions.
- We make oxygen service available.
- We make accessible travel reservations for cruises, airlines, hotels, auto and van rentals, Amtrak and Rail Europe.
- Your dream vacations with your input after we do an analysis of all your travel needs.
Nautilus Tours & Cruises
22567 Ventura Blvd
Woodland Hills, California 91364
Phone……..1-800-797-6004outside CA
Alt Phone…1-818-591-3159
Fax:……….818-225-9981
Email……..willibingo@msn.com
Provides trip planning for travelers with disabilities
for almost 20 years.Nautilus Tours & Cruises specializes in
travel arrangements for persons with physical
disabilities, their families and friends.We work through a full
service agency and can handle air and train reservations,
hotels, rental cars, tours and cruises, both domestically
and internationally.We also develop and escort
tours and cruises.
Neverland Adventures
715 J. Street 201
San Diego, California 92101
Phone……1-800717-8226
Fax:………619-696-9090
Email…….neverland@home.com
We provide unique and exciting travel opportunities
that are both exciting and accessible.We offer Accessible
Tours Trip Planning, Cruises and Special Events.Our
tours are specially designed by and physically challenged
travelers.All you needs will be taken care of
and thought out in advance allowing you to enjoy what traveling
should be a vacation.Destinations to consider
are Australia, Alaska and British Isles.
Roll Around Travel
239 Commercial Street
Malden, Massachusetts 02148
Phone…..1-866-382-8728
Fax……. 1-781-322-8197
Email…...enquiries@rollaround.org
Rollaround Travel is a business dedicated to the
needs of disabled and any mobility challenged travelers.Having
offices in both the USA and the UK, we are ideally
located to provide local support for citizens of the USA and
the EU.Rollaround Travel USA offers a very personal
and confidential service. Whatever your needs, call us,
because if you can travel, we can take you!Use
our executive team and our extensive international network of
professional specialist’s operators to gain access
to:
- Exclusive escorted tours for a very special travel experience.
- Personal itinerary planning.
- Accessible accommodation reservation service.
- Adapted and accessible vehicle rental.
- Flight reservations.
- Accessible cruises.
- Tours for Dialysis patients to Britain, Ireland and Italy.
- Tours for Oxygen dependent clients.
Sundial Special Vacations
600 Broadway
Seaside, Oregon 9738
Phone……..1-800-547-9198
Alt Phone…1-503-738-3324
Fax………..1-503-738-3369
We provide tours for the developmentally disabled.Our
vacations are especially designed for the developmentally
disabled persons and are escorted by experienced
Sundial staff.Our purpose is to encourage handicapped travelers
and to ease their way. All vacation arrangements
are made by our qualified travel consultants in cooperation with
the airlines, hotels, and other companies.
The Guided Tour
7900 Old York Road
114-B
Elkins Park, Pennsylvania19027-2339
Phone…….1-800-783-5841
Alt Phone…1-215-782-1370
Fax………..1-215-635-2637
Email……..gtour400@aol.com
The Guided Tour is a special program that offers
opportunities for personal growth, recreation and socialization
through travel for men and women with developmental
and physical challenges. The travelers come from all over
the United States who want to experience the same
joys of travel that the non-challenged community experiences.
Travel Discoveries, Inc.
11948 Preswick Lane
PO Box 1428
Mukilteo (Seattle Area), Washington 98275
Phone……1-800-909-5966
Email…….lynn@travel-discoveries.com
They are experienced in planning travel for persons
who are visually impaired.Each year they offer both domestic
and international integrated tours.
Travel Outlet, Inc.
114 Aaron Way
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003
Phone……..1-800-708-6359
Alt Phone…1-304-242-7772
Fax………..1-304-242-7807
Email……...info@travwloutlet.com
We are an agency that specializes in travel arrangements
for travelers with physical disabilities, their relatives and
friends and anyone desiring slower-paced travel.Travel
Outlet’s primary concerns are quality and personal service
when booking your tours.
Travel Turtle Tours
165 Inspirational Drive
Sedona, Arizona 86336
Phone……...1-800-453-9195
Alt Phone….1-520-204-1781
Email………Tourturtle@aol.com
Looking for a guided tour?Our domestic and international
guided tours for slow walkers and mobility impaired is
just what the turtle ordered.
Undiscovered Britain
11978 Audubon Place
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19116
Phone……1-215-9690542
Fax………1-215-9699251
Email…….Ann@undiscoveredbritain.com
Undiscovered Britain specializes in the disabled
and/or mature traveler who prefers a slower-paced
tour.Undiscovered Britain can provide information
for:
·Vehicle rentals with wheelchair lifts
and/or hand controls.
·Rail tickets.
·Ferry tickets.
·Airport and cruise ship transfers in an
accessible van.
·Theatre tickets.
·Special events.
·Day tours both in the city and out in
the countryside.
·Private driver/guides
CONCLUSION
So you see you can travel even though you have
a mobility problem or are disabled. You might not be able to do
everything, but you can probably do more than
you thought. You know that the world isn’t perfect and something
could go wrong.But by careful preparation and
using a qualified travel agent or tour operator, as those listed
above, who specialize in arranging travel for
persons with a disability, you can reduce that possibility.And then
you can enjoy, to the best of your ability, all
that the world has to offer.
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