If you have a disability or are traveling with someone with a disability, planning can minimize stress and also gives you a better idea of potential alternatives if certain lodging or locations don’t work out. These are a few things to consider when planning your next trip.
- Assess if You Should Travel: Although the U.S. has lifted COVID restrictions, you should still evaluate your own health before considering travel.
- Even though there are few restrictions, it’s still important to make sure that you feel well before you travel and aren’t carrying any sort of disease. Here are instances when you should not travel according to the CDC.
- You are currently sick.
- Your travel companions are sick.
- You are on the CDC’s “Do Not Board” or “Lookout” lists.
- You should also consider delaying travel if you live with someone with a compromised immune system or you have a high risk of catching infectious diseases.
- Decide If You Want to Use a Travel Agent: Travel agents may save you time by handling the full research and booking process. They can take care of small and large tasks like ensuring accessible accommodations and securing refund policies that align with your needs. If you need to cancel or reschedule a trip, you can also lean on your travel agent to take care of it. The drawback to travel agents is the upfront costs. Agents also may not be the best option if you prefer to do research on accommodations yourself. Weigh the pros and cons to see if a travel agent is the best choice for you.
Contact Your Transportation Provider
Regardless of whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or bus, you should call ahead to ensure you have the necessary accommodations available to you. Below are a few things to ask about when you’re doing your research.
- Assistive devices like wheelchairs and oxygen
- Facilities accommodations like accessible bathrooms, lifts, and bulkhead seats
- Services like pre-boarding and baggage assistance
- Accessible communication systems like through a TTY or video remote interpreting (VRI)
Airlines in the U.S. cannot require advanced notice that a person with a disability is traveling unless you need an accommodation that requires prep time. Some examples are respirator hookups and transporting an electric wheelchair on an aircraft with fewer than 60 seats. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also required to make electronic and information tech accessible to individuals with disabilities.
You can call the TSA 72 hours prior to your flight if you have questions about screening policies, procedures, and the security checkpoint. You can also go through their site to see information on security checkpoint accommodations. It’s helpful to also prepare a TSA notification card and other medical documentation to describe your condition. If you use assistive equipment, consider if it’s best to rent it in the area or to bring your own.
Finally, you also want to confirm what precautions the transportation provider is taking to keep passengers and staff safe. You should also check cancellation policies in case you need to cancel for any reason.
For more, don’t miss part one of this series, Know Your Rights When Traveling With Disabilities.
