Traveling with a disability can be daunting, yet still be rewarding experience. Here are some tips to help prepare for and overcome common barriers encountered while traveling for those living with disabilities.
Tour guides can make or break the experience for tourists with disabilities, yet little is known about their work in this market. This article intends to address this knowledge deficit.
Accessible Accommodations
Although many high-income nations have stringent accessibility requirements in place, certain places remain difficult for those with disabilities to navigate. Issues include poorly maintained sidewalks that limit walking even for healthy travelers; unconsidered currency designs; and lack of accessible restaurants and attractions.
Travel companies catering to disabilities have come to our aid, offering online guides with accommodations that are wheelchair friendly. Examples include NYCgo’s list of hotels that welcome wheelchairs; Wheelchair Jimmy (created by frequent traveler Jim Parsons who reviews hotels and rates them according to accessibility); and Handiscover which allows users to search accommodations based on physical limitations.
Booking in advance is the easiest way to guarantee that your accommodation meets your requirements, with several websites offering options that allow you to check door measurements and bathroom facilities before making a booking decision; some even provide extra assistance such as transport arrangements.
Accessible Transportation
Traveling requires thoughtful planning of how you will reach each destination – especially for people living with disabilities.
Access-A-Ride in New York provides public transportation for eligible riders with disabilities that prevent them from using buses and subways. As part of its shared ride service model, Access-A-Ride operates from origin-to-destination across all five boroughs as well as Westchester and Nassau counties – in line with Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.
Many cities around the world provide accessible mass transit systems, so be sure to refer to an online visitors guide or reach out to a tourist information center for area-specific details. When booking train, bus, or cruise trips it is also wise to inquire into any required documentation requirements for passengers with disabilities in advance.
Accessible Attractions
New York City attractions are committed to accessibility for visitors with disabilities, offering everything from multisensory experiences for dementia patients to the first ever Autism Nature Trail in the nation. People living with disabilities can take advantage of tactile exhibits, audio descriptions of art and theater performances, Braille/ASL tours as well as early opening times specifically targeted towards kids on the autism spectrum and much more!
Iceland Unlimited provides more than just hotel and restaurant evaluation services; they also offer full travel agency services, such as booking accessible transportation; providing wheelchair, scooter and walker rental; as well as accessing cruises and other activities.
Ability Adventures provides active vacationers with an exciting range of hosted trips to bucket-list destinations throughout the US and internationally. Trips take clients to national parks, waterfalls and fjords while hiking scenic trails – providing clients with unforgettable active vacation experiences!
Accessible Restaurants
No matter your wheelchair needs, from table near an accessible restroom to booths with ample turning space – New York City has many solutions. Contento’s Peruvian fusion restaurant provides an enjoyable dining experience with attentive staff and adaptive utensils – just one example among many available to wheelchair users in NYC.
Search out local disability organizations when travelling abroad in order to gather area-specific accessibility information. Such groups usually have local contacts who can offer useful tips and recommendations.
Learn some of the language spoken in your destination country before arriving there, which will help break down barriers when locals stare as you climb curbs or stairs, as well as providing assistance from hotel concierges, restaurateurs or tour operators services.
Accessible Shopping
With laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), disabled people can travel more frequently than those without disabilities; however, sometimes travel can be more challenging because some destinations make false claims or do not provide adequate information regarding accessibility of products and services offered there.
Lonely Planet provides online guides that assist travelers with disabilities in locating country-specific disability resources and translating important terms into local languages. Furthermore, this company offers trips that feature accessible hotels and activities – such as Alaska cruises and Mediterranean escorted tours.
Air travel can be especially daunting for disabled travelers. When making reservations, consider selecting special needs to bypass long security lines and gain priority boarding. Also, keep medications and supplies with you so they are not lost among checked luggage.