If you are travelling with a disability, planning a trip—especially internationally—can be met with daunting obstacles. Disabled travel is a reality experienced by most of the millions of disabled people who travel each year.
A recent report by MMGY Global, Portrait of Travelers with Disabilities: Mobility and Accessibility, revealed that “nearly all (96%) of more than 2,700 respondents of the survey (those who either have a disability and use a mobility aid or their caretaker)…have faced an accommodation problem while traveling, experienced flight problems (86%) or have had in-market transportation problems (79%).”
Accessibility challenges can happen at nearly every stage of the travel journey, from transportation to lodging to seeing the sites. This is especially true if travelling internationally, where accessibility can vary dramatically by country and even within a country.
John Sage, founder of Sage Traveling—a travel company specializing in disability travel in Europe—knows this well. He’s travelled to more than 140 European cities in a wheelchair, assessing the accessibility of each location.
“In general, older cities and parts of cities have more accessibility challenges,” he says. “These are often the most desirable parts of the city for tourists, so accessibility challenges can be common. Finding an accessible bathroom in Paris’ Left Bank is challenging because many are downstairs. Edinburgh’s Royal Mile has a significant slope to it. Florence’s cobblestones present challenges for many disabled visitors.”
Travel journalist, adventure athlete and chef Amanda Burrill lives with a traumatic brain injury and has an unstoppable zest for travel. “I allow myself extra time when traveling to or from a place because it can take me longer to read and process signs,” she said.
Burrill is a former Navy captain and has travelled to Tanzania to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, lived in France for wine school and been to Germany, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Denmark, St. Maarten, Bonaire, Hong Kong, and Macau for “journalism, speaking engagements, and races.” She makes adjustments based on her needs to ensure a successful trip.
Sage and Burrill have tips for travellers with a disability.
Get organized in advance. “Everything is going to take so much longer than you think because there is more to consider if you are traveling with a disability,” Burrill said. Getting your paperwork together—such as for a visa—can save you a headache later. In Sage’s experience, “the more accessibility research you do, the more accessible your trip will be.”
Use an accessible travel specialist who focuses on disability travel. If you are not confident in the accessibility of a location, “enlist the help of a knowledgeable accessible travel specialist to ensure a smooth experience,” Sage said.
Book hotels far in advance. Sage noted that hotels usually only have 1 or 2 accessible rooms, so booking them at least nine months in advance can help you secure one at a reasonable price.
Build in necessary breaks. Due to her injury, loud noises and large groups of people can be particularly exhausting for Burrill. When she travels to a city, she has plenty of time to rest and recover at her hotel.
The U.S. Department of State provides travel tips, including resources for those with disabilities. Specific travel requirements for people with service animals are available from Mobility International. Check the TSA’s website – or call their helpline at 855-787-2227 – to request assistance with the security screening process.
Sage and Burrill agree that the extra work needed when you’re travelling with a disability is well worth it for the experience. In Burrill’s case, travelling has been a healing practice, facilitating neuroplasticity in her brain through new experiences.
“It’s hard to understate how helpful these new experiences have been for me,” she says. “It’s empowering and healing to enjoy life in this way.”
For Sage, his years of travelling in a wheelchair are a testament to those considering travelling with a disability for the first time. “It might take extra work or extra resources, but it is entirely possible,” he said.
Whether you’re a traveller with a disability or not, it’s essential to obtain travel protection that includes field rescue and medical evacuation so you’ll have the confidence to travel boldly worldwide.
Written by: Dr Michael Lovely
BIO: Dr Michael Lovely is a physician and a medical operations supervisor at Global Rescue, the leading medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services provider. He is certified in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Basic Life Support, and Advanced Trauma Life Support.
