Increased emphasis on public accessibility for disabled people has opened up a whole new world for wheelchair travel. Local governments are implementing new laws regarding accessibility of walkways and buildings for the disabled, making the world at large more accessible for the disabled.
New laws are requiring that buildings and sidewalks be more accessible. There are now automatic door openers, ramps into buildings, curb cuts on street corners and doorways are generally wider. Advocates for the disabled lobbying for increased accessibility for travel have paved the way for a new generation of wheelchair travelers.
The public is now more aware of the needs and challenges of the disabled traveler. Handicapped people in wheelchairs are now rolling around the world with fewer obstacles and greater ease. However, despite these societal advances, people who must travel in their wheelchairs still need to do some advance planning to ensure their comfort and safety, especially when planning vacations in foreign countries.
The accessibility of your destination, particularly if it’s a third world country or remote area, needs to be researched, as does your hotel, airline and accessibility to medication and medical facilities. The accessibility of your airline and hotel has to be researched as does access to medical facilities, including pharmacies if you require prescription medication
Rather than book your hotel through the Internet, call your hotel personally to inquire about accessibility and door widths in the room. Ask for a confirmation number or code as proof of your booking. This rarely, happens, but sometimes hotels overbook and can give your room away or deny that you even made a reservation.
Check with your airline to see what type of service for disabled people they provide. Getting on the plane with a wheelchair is not generally a problem, but make sure the space provided for wheelchair passengers is available. Ask about their policy regarding wheelchairs and whether you can board the plane with your own chair or whether you must use one of theirs. If your personal wheelchair is stowed as luggage, what will happen if the luggage crew accidentally damages your chair, or what is the protocol if your chair ends up being lost or accidentally shipped elsewhere?
Does your airline require a doctor’s note listing the prescription drugs that you’re taking? This would be a smart thing to do regardless of the airline’s policy. If you’re crossing a border or even if you’re being screened at security, you can avoid needless scrutiny about any drugs you’re carrying if you have a note from your doctor.
Travel insurance is another area of concern for wheelchair travelers. This is key because often those bound to a wheelchair may have compromised immune systems making them vulnerable to all manner of viruses. You need to be covered if you should become injured as a result of a fall. Food-borne illnesses and vulnerability to new viruses can also be a concern. All it takes to have a safe, healthy holiday is some advance planning.