Incapacity journey: Assets and suggestions

Planning a trip and showing up in an unfamiliar location, especially in another country, can be stressful enough for any traveler. However, people with disabilities or other mobility problems must anticipate any number of obstacles and contingencies.

“The United States really set the gold standard for physical access,” said Cerise Roth-Vinson, chief operating officer of the nonprofit Mobility International USA, which specializes in planning professional and academic exchange opportunities. “People have concerns about going to other countries and whether they can move around and communicate.”

Roth-Vinson, who is also the project manager for the State Department-sponsored National Disability Clearinghouse and Exchanges, says travelers may be concerned about accessible accommodation and cultural attitudes towards people with disabilities.

“You have the right to go anywhere in the world and there is a concept of the challenge of your choice. How much challenge do you face?” She says. Some people want something that suits their life in the United States and is influenced by the Disability Act. Others are fine with a more robust experience.

Ramps and other accessibility features give people with disabilities a degree of independence. In some countries, according to Roth-Vinson, people are more dependent on help from the community – for example, when a group of people spontaneously come together to lift a wheelchair user onto a bus. It’s all a matter of what a traveler likes to anticipate.

Roth-Vinson suggests that those looking for safety investigate the laws of the countries they plan to visit. Some have ADA equivalent regulations. Countries that have signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities are also worth considering (the list can be found at www.un.org/disabilities).

“Don’t let your own preconceived ideas prevent you from having an equivalent experience,” says Roth-Vinson. “Everyone faces uncertainty. Everyone is wondering if they get sick abroad. Everyone is wondering if they will get lost. “

In addition, physically challenged travelers might even have an advantage when traveling abroad because they are used to using public transport and dealing with communication problems. You’re already used to solving problems on the go.

Here are some tips from Roth-Vinson and Mobility International USA:

● Consider getting Travel insurance. Make sure pre-existing conditions are covered.

● Bring plenty of medication that you are taking. Make sure all medicines are approved in the country you are in.

● Bike shops are great places for wheelchair parts.

● Know your rights. This is especially important for air travel, at the airport and on the plane. Familiarize yourself with the applicable laws and regulations of the airline. Let the airline know of your situation and make support requests in advance.

● Have a backup plan for your accommodations too. In case your reserved accessible space is not available, bring items like a portable ramp, shower chair, and reacher to grab items that may be out of arm’s length.

● If you use an electric wheelchair, check whether you need a plug adapter and a voltage converter. Or see if you can rent a charger abroad. Have an emergency plan in place in the event of a power outage or voltage drop.

● Find disability organizations or resources at your destination that can provide you with area-specific information and local contacts.

● Learn foreign vocabulary that can help you describe your situation and needs.

● Understand cultural differences. You may get more or less attention in other countries than in the United States. On the other hand, says Roth-Vinson, you might stand out more as an American than as a wheelchair user or a blind person.

Below is a selection of the many resources and travel outfits that can help you plan a trip:

● The Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality, 212-447-7284, www.sath.org. A non-profit membership organization that maintains a database of companies and resources that support people with disabilities in all facets of travel, such as: B. in the rental of scooters, tour operators and reading suggestions.

● American Association of Travel Agencies (ASTA), 800-275-2782, www.asta.org. Search for travel agents by specialty, including disability and accessible travel.

● Barrier-free Europe, 011-39-011-30-1888, www.accessibleurope.com. A group of travel agencies headquartered in Italy specializing in accessible tourism.

● Accessible Rides, 800-846-4537, www.disabilitytravel.com. For slow walkers and wheelchair users offering cruises, tours and independent excursions. The destinations are Africa, Asia and Europe.

● National Center for Health, Physical Activity and Disability, 800-900-8086, www.ncpad.org. The center, hosted by the University of Alabama, has recreational resources for outdoor and travel activities across the country and abroad.

● Flying Wheels Travel, 877-451-5006, www.flyingwheelstravel.com. A full service travel agency offering escorted tours and bespoke independent programs for people with disabilities around the world.

● The tour, 800-783-5841, www.guidedtour.com. The company has been organizing trips for physically and developmentally handicapped adults since 1972. A nurse often accompanies tours.

● Road Scholar, 800-454-5768, www.roadscholar.org. Founded in 1975 as the Elderhostel, the educational travel provider offers travel at various levels of activity, including “easy,” which requires minimal sidewalks and limited stairs.