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Disabled travelers may need to do some extra prep before traveling this holiday season

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Disabled travelers may need to do some extra prep before traveling this holiday season

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  • Travelers with disabilities should plan their transportation and accommodation in advance and be prepared for potential complications.
  • It is crucial to inform airlines about accessibility needs well ahead of time and allow extra time at the airport.
  • Researching local resources and disability travel blogs can provide valuable insights and assistance.

Holiday travel usually means crowded airports, clogged roadways and exorbitant prices. For those with accessibility needs, it can be an even more complicated time of year to get around. Travelers with disabilities can take steps to ease the ordeal, but it’s probably best to anticipate complications. 

Mark Raymond Jr., principal accessibility consultant Universal Development Consulting, said travelers with disabilities should plan ahead and think about their needs in three different buckets: transportation, air travel and accommodation. 

Here’s what he said should be kept in mind in each category to ensure the smoothest possible holiday trip. The overall theme is: plan ahead. 

Accessible transportation tips 

Whether your trip is entirely by ground or you need a last-mile pickup and drop-off to the airport, Raymond said it’s important to plan ahead. 

“Always have your vehicular transportation plans done,” he said. “Whether it’s having a public transportation plan or making sure that city has accessible taxi cabs, but have it identified on the front end and scheduled.” 

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You may not be able to get an accessible cab by default at some airports, for example, and some transportation systems may not be fully accessible either. 

Raymond said travelers should book accessible transportation in advance whenever possible, and research options and limitations for public transit in their destination if they’re not familiar with what’s available. 

Accessible air travel tips 

For air travel, Raymond said, it’s important to notify the airline about your accessibility needs as far in advance as possible, and to give yourself extra time at the airport. 

“Big thing is for people to plan accordingly, give themselves the time, be patient, because something’s going to go wrong,” he said. “You’re going to get there, something’s not going to go right, they’re going to say the plane’s too small. Make sure you call ahead. Let them know all your needs upfront.” 

Airlines typically damage thousands of wheelchairs and other mobility devices every year, and first-hand accounts by travelers show how accessible services in airports can be inconsistent. Unfortunately, that means the burden often falls to disabled travelers themselves to advocate for their own needs and know their rights and airline requirements in advance. 

The Department of Transportation has a Bill of Rights for disabled travelers that can be a handy resource. Some of the rights it outlines include the right to receive the appropriate seating accommodations based on accessibility needs, the right to travel with a mobility device or service animal, the right to receive information in an accessible format and others. 

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Amanda Parkman, a disabled professor at the University of Arizona, said she’s planning a trip to Iceland over the holidays and finds it’s always important to brush up on her rights before she travels.  

She agreed with Raymond that it’s important for travelers with accessibility needs to leave themselves extra time and be prepared if something goes wrong. 

“I’m making sure I have things for temporary fixes that could be quick fixes if my chair is broken in any way,” Parkman said. Her travel kit typically includes duct tape, Allen wrenches and other small tools for minor fixes. She added that she also typically puts signage on her wheelchair to let ground crews know how to handle it. 

“Ensuring there’s clear information on my chair should the baggage crew have any questions,” she said. “I include images … where to pick up the chair, if they need to disengage the battery, where and how to do that without causing any damages.” 

Accessible accommodation tips 

Raymond said travelers with disabilities should make sure their hotel or other accommodations are aware of their needs in advance. On his own travels, he said, he makes sure to call the hotel in advance to discuss what’s available. 

“I always want to talk to somebody. I need the accessible room with the roll-in shower,” he said. 

And while there’s no central, national repository for accessible travel information, Raymond said many cities have resources of their own to help identify accessible establishments, neighborhoods and services. 

“Looking to see if that city has an ADA department that can tell you what parts of the city are really, really done well,” can be a good way to get oriented in your destination, he said. 

Parkman added that many disabled travelers also have blogs, which can be invaluable resources for those heading to an unfamiliar destination or trying a new airline. 

“Information is the key. Information and planning is the most important thing,” she said. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.

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