- Again you can request bulkhead seating. If you can afford the expense, upgrade to a higher-class seat, or ask to be seated next to empty seats, so you have more room to navigate. The same goes for wheelchairs users.
- Hotels in developed countries have a limited number of accessible rooms available. So, book rooms in advance so you can have a room with wider doorways and spacious bathrooms that make it easier for you to move around. Otherwise, most hotels have tub-shower combos, which are not accessible in a wheelchair and complicated when you’re on crutches. Accessible rooms will usually provide a walk-in shower, grab bars, and a detachable showerhead.
- Book hotels in advance and request rooms on the ground floor or near the elevator. If you’ll need a wheelchair while on hotel grounds, reserve a wheelchair in advance with the hotel.
- Make advanced preparations to see which airport shuttles and car rental buses can accommodate you. In developed countries, most transportation is fitted to support wheelchairs and folks with limited mobility on crutches.
- Public transportation in developed countries typically have signs, symbols, and are wheelchair accessible.
- Traveling will require you to expend more energy than you usually do in your everyday life. Therefore, it’s best to train for your trip by spending more time walking on your crutches and/or wheeling yourself in your wheelchair.
- If you can afford the expense, consider buying lighter mobility equipment for traveling. Items such as a lighter wheelchair, walker, lighter crutches, collapsible crutches, transport wheelchair, lighter cane, or a device that’s easier to break down will make your trip easier.
- Lighten your load as much as possible. Use luggage and materials that are lightweight, so you expend less energy moving your items. If possible, pack everything into one backpack, so it’s less to keep track of and more comfortable for people who are helping you.
- Keep in mind that you’re going to need more time to navigate airports, hotels, and tourist sites, so schedule extra time for everything you do so you’re not rushed and put yourself into danger trying to rush to places.
- Keep vital travel documents where they are easily accessible in a fanny pack. Bring extra $1 bills so that you can tip the attendants and anyone who helps facilitate your journey.
- Be cool; stress, pain, and discomfort can be magnified by the fatigue of traveling, so remember to stay calm and courteous to others.
If you run into access-related problems while at the airport, ask to speak to the Complaints Resolution Official (CRO); all airlines in the US are required to have a CRO on duty during airport operating hours. This airline employee is specially trained in the ACAA and can resolve access-related issues on the spot.
If the CRO is unable to assist you, file a written complaint with the airline after you return home. Sometimes this can be your best and only option for receiving monetary compensation for damages. Be mindful of deadlines, as airlines are not required to respond to complaints postmarked more than forty-five days after the incident. For complaints filed on time, the airlines must respond within thirty days.
If these two steps have not resolved your complaint, then you can file a complaint with the DOT for access-related problems. Claims must be done within six months of the incident and can result in changes to airline policies and practices. Filing a complaint can help make air travel more accessible.
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel in a wheelchair and on crutches. Some of the critical issues that quickly became apparent to me:
- Be patient, as many people mean well, but not everyone will be familiar with your needs and limitations. Also, keep in mind that most people are not patient, so they will avoid you or try not to help you, not always because they don’t want to but because they are worried that they won’t be able to provide the help you need. So, accept help where you can, and when people can’t or won’t, don’t stress about it. Move on to the next person, or take the time to educate the person on your needs and on how they can help you. Explain that even though you might not be able to do things the way others do you can still enjoy being there and experiencing it your way. So, avoid situations where others can take advantage of or cause you harm. I usually avoided exploring dark streets at night, brought a companion with me to dangerous countries, and used transportation to avoid moving through areas of higher risk. Don’t allow fear to force you into staying at home, most people are conscious of people with disabilities. I’ve experienced extreme kindness from folks from all around the world. People who were helpful and went out of their way to assist me when no one required them to do so. Most people will respect and admire you for taking on the challenge and try to help any way they can.
- Although I’m 6’ 2”, 210 lbs., and have years of experience in martial arts, I felt an immediate sense of vulnerability, and this is normal when you're in a wheelchair or on crutches. So, avoid situations where others can take advantage of or cause you harm. I avoided exploring dark streets at night, brought a companion with me to dangerous countries, and used transportation to avoid moving through areas of higher risk. Don’t allow fear to force you into staying at home. Most people are conscious of people with disabilities, and I’ve experienced extreme kindness from folks from all around the world. People who were helpful and went out of their way to assist me when no one required them to do so. Most people will respect and admire you for taking on the challenge and try to help however they can.
Nonetheless, you must be aware of your limitations and avoid situations where you could be at a significant disadvantage. Try to join groups, inquire before. Avoid dangerous areas. Stay away from lonely or dimly lit places. Don’t accept private rides or tours from strangers. When you go out, inform the hotel staff of your plans and anticipated return time. I’d also recommend checking in with someone at home regularly so they are aware of where you are in case you need assistance.
- Be conservative with your plans, and don’t try to pack too many activities into one day. It’s best to leave extra time for completing the activities, so you’re not under time constraints since you won’t be able to complete them as you usually would. Most things are going to take longer than they usually do, because you’re going to have to wait for elevators, assistance from staff, and you're going to need extra rest breaks.
- Allow extra time for sleep and recovery. Typically, when I travel, I can stay on my feet for up to sixteen hours a day walking and sightseeing, but while in a wheelchair or on crutches, a few hours were often enough to leave me exhausted. Remember, your body is meant to move you around most efficiently while on two legs. If you’re using your arms to propel a wheelchair, you have a battery-powered wheelchair, or have to use your shoulders and arms to move you around on a pair of crutches; you’re going to be moving in a much less efficient manner than a person normally would, and you're going to be expending much more energy as well. Give yourself extra time to sleep and take breaks throughout the day, so you don’t exert yourself too much and cause yourself to get tendonitis, strains, or muscle tears. As mentioned before, make sure you prepare for your trip by spending extra time mobilizing yourself and preparing your body for the extra endurance needed to travel.
- Start with more comfortable travel destinations until you get up to speed. Being stuck inside for months on end can be boring and depressing, but I was unsure of how to proceed because I felt vulnerable. So, I started with road trips in the western USA with my cousin Miska. I was unable to drive because of all the hardware installed in my body, and I needed help unloading my wheelchair; therefore, Miska drove, and I was the passenger. As my endurance and travel know-how increased, we went to first-world destinations like Hawaii. As my mobility improved, even more, I set out solo with crutches to countries such as Mexico, and I used a walking cane in the jungles of Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana. As you experience early success in your travels, you will slowly work out the bugs, develop strategies, and gain confidence in how to do things.
- Use social media to connect with other people with limited mobility, who live at the travel destinations you’d like to visit and get ideas about strategies you can use to navigate the local environment.
- Know that it is typical for a person with limited mobility to have to pay more for tours and other services. You are going to require more time and effort from the hosts, so don’t be taken aback when you hear they may be charging you more than others. It’s not personal; it’s economics, so don’t let that be a deterrent to engaging in activities. You never know when or if you’ll have the opportunity to experience something special.
Read: Wheelchair Accommodations While Traveling
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