How to Travel Successfully with Accessibility

Gabrielle deFiebre boarded a Delta Airlines flight to enjoy a fun girl’s weekend. Gabrielle has traverse myelitis and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Her wheelchair is measured for her body and to meet her specific needs, it is not easily replaced. Upon boarding, she gave the flight crew instructions on how to properly handle her wheelchair for it to be returned intact.

In a viral Tik Tok video, Gabrielle is devastated because her wheelchair came delivered from the cargo area, damaged and barely able to be used when her plane arrived. In the video, she is crying and saying, “this is my life, this is the only way I can live my life.” She had to scramble to fill out reports in the airport in order to have the airline replace or fix her wheelchair. She also had to find a temporary solution before she could continue with her trip. It added so much more stress to her trip that did not have to be added.

This is a reality for people who travel with disabilities. People who have disabilities, at times, can have anxiety about traveling due to situations such as this that are out of their control. Situations can be anything from damaged mobility devices, crowded places, lack of routine, or new sensory environments, just to name a few.

It can be hard to predict everything that could happen while traveling, and that can cause some people to avoid it altogether. However, the challenges people may face do not need to end the possibility of travel, if that is something they want to experience. As supporters, we strive to help the people who chose our services find meaning in their lives. Traveling can be one way to do that.

We all deserve dignified travel. Even though summer is winding down, it does not mean that travel is as well. Traveling can fill the individuals who chose our services with adventure, excitement, and a chance to have new experiences. Traveling with different needs can pose some challenges, but nothing that can’t be worked through.

It is important to remember that traveling may not be for everyone. Some of the individuals who we support are very happy being at home, at work, or in their familiar environment. Check with people to see if travel is something they even have an interest in doing. If not, it is OK, it is more important to listen to what is important to our individuals and respect their wants and needs.

If an individual you support expresses a desire to travel, it is a good idea to open communication about what they would like to do, see, experience and if there is a specific place they would like to visit. It is important that you communicate to the person that with travel comes research in order to make the trip

successful. Help the person outline what they need to learn when planning a trip such as weather conditions, cost, where to stay, taking off time off work or workshop, and best times to visit the location of choice.

Tips

Tips for traveling with adaptive equipment or with a person who has different needs:

• Plan ahead
• Check with the doctor to make sure the person is cleared for travel and that they have enough medication to take with them.
• Prepare your medication for a trip. Plan to bring a little bit extra in the case of a delayed travel day or extended stay.
• Call the specific airline you are traveling with to check policies about adaptive equipment, carry-on luggage, etc. Airline policies can be different from each other, even slightly, so it is always important to call and check before you travel.
• If you are planning to travel by air, you may contact TSA Cares, who support travelers who have disabilities or medical conditions. You can call 855-787-2227 or email TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov while planning your trip to gather information.
• If you are flying, bring medical device ID cards. Bring your device on the plane whenever possible in order to prevent it being lost in transport.
• If flying, try to book a non-stop flight if you can in order to avoid extra movement, transfers, or check-ins of adaptive equipment. This may also help someone who has difficulty with transitions.
• Sit down with the person and check with them to see what makes them comfortable when traveling. For example, you may want to map out less busy rest stops along the way in case the person does not do well in crowded environments.
• If a person does not do well with a lot of sensory stimulation or crowded environments, you may want to consider visiting places on their off season to try and avoid either. Some attractions provide sensory friendly hours that may be worth researching for the trip as well.
• Ask the person how they feel comfortable packing or traveling with their adaptive equipment. For example, if traveling by car, do they prefer to sit close to a charging site in case they would need to charge communication devices. Do they have a place where they prefer to store their wheelchair or walker?
• Make a visual schedule or itinerary for the trip. The schedule may help the person feel more comfortable in a new environment. Just because a person may have anxiety about change, may not mean that they do not want to travel and see new things, it just might mean that we need to find ways to make the experience comfortable for them.
• Bring comfort items from home to help the person feel less stressed.
• Discuss contingency plans in case something changes in the trip due to closures, weather, traffic, etc. Planning what will happen if the trip is not going as planned can help ease a person’s anxiety.
• Set realistic expectations. Understand that it is ok to take extra breaks, spend extra time in the hotel, or make extra pit stops along the way. Just making the trip can be exciting for the person. If we don’t meet the person where they are, it can make the trip difficult for an individual.

Also remember that traveling does not mean you have to go far. Pennsylvania has beautiful places to explore that can be a day trip, overnight trip, or even a weekend getaway. Starting out with a low-key trip might be a good start for someone who has not traveled often. Shorter trips might also be something that a person prefers as well.

Places to visit in PA:

Erie (Presque Isle gives the “beach” experience) Beach 8 specifically is easily accessible to all. It has ADA accessible restrooms, cement walkways that lead to the beach and mats that make it easy to walk on the sand as well as use mobility devices all the way to the shore.

Gateway Clipper in Pittsburgh The Gateway Clipper is completely handicap accessible and offers different cruise options that can include dinner, music, or a quick trip just to see the sites of the city. https://www.gatewayclipper.com

Hershey Park This would be a weekend trip due to the farther distance. However, there are lots of attractions to see in close proximity to the park.

Ohiopyle Falls offers a quieter escape that offers views of the water, quiet spots to take in nature and an ADA approved fishing spot.

Cooks Forest There is a paved trail at the end of the water tower at the entrance of the Sawmill Center for the Arts that is ADA accessible and offers a short easy hike.

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust offers sensory friendly shows throughout the year. https://trustarts.org/accessibility/sensory_friendly

Pittsburgh Ballet offers sensory friendly shows of the Nutcracker https://www.pbt.org/performances-tickets/sensory-friendly-performances/.

With some planning, realistic expectations, and open communication, traveling can be something that is possible and wonderful for the people we support.