Enjoy The Holiday: Recommendations On Safe 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 and wheelchair travel.
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. Even buses have flat entry points and empty spaces for wheelchair riders. The loud and gently insistent voices of advocates for the disabled travel enthusiast have made all of this possible for wheelchair travel.
Thanks to them, traveling people in wheelchairs are able to live their lives to the fullest and see the wonderful world that's waiting for them. Having said that, people of limited mobility still have to plan their holidays more carefully than others. 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.
If the destination is a remote region or a third world country, proper research must be undertaken.
Booking your vacation online is convenient but there are questions specific to your needs that you won't find answers to on a website. Like, can the doorways of the hotel rooms accommodate a wheelchair? Can you access the front door with your wheelchair? Some hotels even have rooms for the handicapped, and if they do, make sure you have a reservation number. It would be horrible to book a room and arrive only to find they have no record of your reservation. You need proof.
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. Depending on your reasons for requiring a wheelchair, some airlines may request that you use one of their chairs and will offer to stow your chair under the plane with the luggage. 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?
Some airlines ask for a fit-to-travel certificate or a note from your doctor about your health. Your doctor should give you a note just to be on the safe side. It should also include a list of approved medications. This will assist in getting through customs or security with a minimum of disruption if you are found to be carrying prescription drugs.
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. There is also the possibility that a fall from the wheelchair could occur. Travel insurance should be extensive. With a bit of planning, traveling the world from the comfort of your wheelchair should be a very satisfying experience.
tags:wheelchair travel,disabled,wheelchair tour,handicap,handicapped
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