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‘Oh The Places You’ll Go’: Traveling and Exploring with Confidence Megan McGowan OTR/LLauren Burgess OTR/L

Disclaimer

The health information provided in this presentation is provided for general informational and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for professional health advice. Consult your physicians, physical therapists, and occupational therapists regarding your individual needs with regards to mobility and travel.

Outline

● General Travel Safety Tips● Modes of Transportation● Accomodations● Activites● Energy Conservation● Alternatives to Vacations● Resources

Traveling in the world with COVID

●Know the most up to date CDC recommendations on masking, social distancing, and traveling.

● https://www.cdc.gov/

●Know your state’s most up to date policies and recommendations.

●Talk to your doctor!

Safe social distancing options

●Masking●Outdoor activities●Choosing who you travel and interact with carefully

General Safety Tips - Traveling with a disability

● Medications ● Bring extra or know of pharmacies close to where you

are traveling● Know that each country has its own guidelines about

which medicines are legal● check with the US embassy of the country you are

visiting

● Health Insurance● Always prepare for an emergency● In other countries know their policies● Consider medical evacuation insurance when traveling

abroad

General Safety Tips - Traveling with a disability

● Planning● Alert family, friends, and medical team when traveling● Call ahead to all destinations ● Put together an emergency plan of medical facilities,

pharmacies, or durable medical equipment companies● Travel insurance

● Packing checklists● https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/pack-smart● https://herpackinglist.com/ultimate-wheelchair-travel-packing-

list/

● Get advice from people who have done it● https://curbfreewithcorylee.com/● https://spintheglobe.net/dir/about/● https://www.thebimblers.com/

Renting Durable Medical Equipment

● Knowing ahead of time that there will be barriers, you can rent equipment at your destination to help● specialized wheelchairs, scooters, hoyer lifts,

walkers, bed wedge, bed rails

● You can try renting from the hotel, cruise ship, or rental company.● Scootaround● Special Needs at Sea● https://www.rentittoday.com/medical-equipment-rent

als● https://mobilitydeck.com/free-beach-wheelchair-rent

als/

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Airplane Travel

● Know your rights● From US Dept of Transportation website:

● “The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) is a law that makes it illegal for airlines to discriminate against passengers because of their disability. The Department of Transportation is responsible for enforcing the ACAA, which applies to all flights to, from, or within the United States.”

● “Airlines are also required to provide passengers with disabilities many types of assistance, including wheelchair or other guided assistance to board, deplane, or connect to another flight; seating accommodation assistance that meets passengers’ disability-related needs; and assistance with the loading and stowing of assistive devices.”

● Request to speak to the Complaint Resolution Official (CRO) for issues with airline accommodation or service

Airplane Travel

● Notify airline of need for accommodation in advance● Always check with airline for specific policies and

needs ahead of time ● Allow extra time● Consider walking distance in airport and for

connecting flights- use of airport wheelchair can save time and energy

● Early boarding● Assistive devices can sometimes be stored in the

cabin and do not count towards carry on luggage

Airplane Travel

● Many travel blogs focus on traveling with disabilities

● Research specific airlines and their policies● Per Southwest website:“Each aircraft is equipped with a

specially designed wheelchair storage compartment to allow in-cabin stowage of at least one standard-size, adult, collapsible wheelchair. If the wheelchair compartment is not occupied by another Customer's wheelchair, other assistive devices may be stowed within it.”

● Power wheelchairs and scooters have to be checked. “Southwest recommends that all removable parts of the wheelchair be stowed in the overhead bins.”

Airplane Travel

● Reduce risk of wheelchair damage (per wheelchairtravel.org)

● Stow your manual wheelchair in the aircraft cabin● If wheelchair is stored in cargo hold remove any loose

parts/objects and store them in the overhead bin● Attach instructions on how to handle and operate power

chair● Bring tools needed to disassemble your wheelchair (if

necessary)● If there is damage to your wheelchair report it to the airline

immediately, can also file a complaint with the DOT

● Airplane seats● Aisle wheelchair ● Hip cushion- 6”● If you need airline staff to help you transfer,

be prepared to instruct them● Gait belt, slide board, slings, 2 person assist if

needed● Consider where to sit on plane

● Consider length of flight and bathroom needs

Train Travel

● Amtrak offers accessible travel services (see website for details)

● Amtrak trains can accommodate most standard-sized mobility devices- see website for specific dimensions, may vary for individual trains

● Reservations required and can be made for ● Wheeled mobility device space (remain in your wheelchair)● Transfer accessible seats (stow your wheelchair)● Accessible room accommodations

● Need to check for accessibility of individual stations and accessible bathrooms on trains

● Passengers with disability and one traveling companion are eligible for a rail fare discount

Driving

● Can have your own vehicle that is accessible for you

● More space to bring equipment such as raised toilet seat, shower chair

● Consider stops and accessible bathrooms● Consider fatigue especially if you are driving● Consider obtaining handicap parking tag if

needed● Rent wheelchair accessible van or RV

Public Transportation

● Research options where you are going● Federal law requires public transportation

companies to accommodate people with disabilities

● Consider walking distance, stairs, elevator access

● Bus, subway, train● Wheelchair accessible taxi service

Wheelchair Accessible Cities

10 of the best US cities for wheelchair accessible travel (per Insider.com)

● Seattle, WA● Washington DC● Los Angeles, CA● Denver, CO● Portland, OR● San Francisco, CA● Las Vegas, NV● Philadelphia, PA● Chicago, IL

Best Cities in the US for Wheelchair-Accessible Travel (insider.com)

Accomodations

Hotels:Know the facts

ADA design requirement for hotels

● A hotel’s size matters● A hotel of 25 rooms only requires 2 rooms to be

handicap accessible vs. a hotel of 76 rooms requires 9 rooms

● A tub with grab bars is considered compliant with ADA● For every 50 rooms, only 1 roll in shower is required

● Most accessible rooms will have 1 bed only● Minimal width of hotel doorways is 32 inches and

hallways/ramps is 36 inches● There is no standard bed height required by ADA● Bathtubs must require a built in shower seat or

removable seat with grabs bars on the back wall and control wall

● Toilets are at least 17 inches but no more that 19 inches

● Hotels are required to fulfill accommodation requests that do not place an undue burden to the business

Navigating Hotels

Do the research...it will pay off! Ask:● How wide are the room and bathroom doors● How many beds are there? Whats is there height?● Do the beds have open-frame beds that accommodate

transfer lifts?● Is there a roll in shower?● Are there grab bars around the toilet? Where are

they?● What is the height of the toilet?● Where are the accessible rooms in the hotel?● What is the height of the sink?● What is the shower seat option?● Are there lever-type handles on all doors?● Ask about any accommodations they will be willing to

make

Navigating Hotels

Strategies to navigate rooms that are less than ideal:

● If there is only one bed -> ask for a rollaway.● They gave your room away -> try to avoid this by making

multiple phone calls prior to the stay, but don’t settle if this is the case.

● The shower/tub is too unsafe to get in -> ask for alternatives, or come prepared with your own or a shower wand

● You got a roll in shower, but it causes a flood -> request extra blankets and towels to create a barricade

● Bed is not a good height -> pre-arrange renting a lift, strategically arrange furniture in the room

● Rooms are too crowded with furniture -> ask staff to remove

● Toilets are too low -> bring a raised toilet seat, free2go, Gogirl, etc.

Alternatives to hotels

● Handicap Accessible RVs● Know that recreational vehicles don’t fall under the

guidelines of ADA, so a lot of research will need to go into this!

● Newmar and Winnebago● Renting

● Outdoorsy● RVshare

● Airbnb● Can filter your searches by:

● steps, entrance width, disabled parking spot, grab bars, step free shower, shower chair, ceiling hoist

● Search results > more filters > more options > choose features

Alternatives to hotels

● Cruising● Choose a cruise line carefully, some care more to

accessibility needs more than others● Most do have an accessibility department - use them!● example: Celebrity cruise will arrange accessible

transportation to and from the ship● Durable medical Equipment rentals

● Medical Needs at Sea● Tenders that take passengers off the ship may not

be accessible, make sure to check on this!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1959

Public Restrooms

● Don’t plan on having access to what you need● Bring raised toilet seats, Gogirl, free2go, bariatric

walkers● Unisex bathrooms are ideal for caregiver support● Use bathroom finders:

● Sit or Squat● Bathroom Scout● Flush

● Caregivers can bring a fireman's key to open a public restroom stall

Travel Activities

● Accessible cruises● Accessible beaches- sand chair rentals● Wheelchair accessible trails/parks● Utilize travel agents specializing in disability travel● Museums● Sightseeing- can find accessible tours● Restaurants- call to see if there are any stairs, use

bar stool seating for easier transfers, ask for chef to cut meat if this is difficult

● Social distance-friendly activities- outdoor nature activities, outdoor dining, takeout picnic

Travel Agencies

● Wheel the World● WheelchairTravel.org● Curbfree● Disabled Accessible Travel● Easy Access Travel● Sage Traveling● Spin the Globe Travel● Travel-for-All● Wheelchair Escapes

Energy Conservation

● Be mindful of travel fatigue on top of typical myositis fatigue

● It is okay to rest on vacation● Schedule some down time into your trip with rest or

more relaxing activities● Consider your travel itinerary- very early or late

flights, layovers, long car trips can all contribute to fatigue

● Luggage shipping can be helpful to save energy- research which company best meets your needs

● Book your accommodations close to the things you want to do to decrease travel time

● Consider wheelchair or scooter rental for walking-heavy days

Alternatives to vacations

● Staycations● Day trips● Exploring parks/museums● Doing a scavenger hunt● Day boat cruises● Virtual trips

Resources

● Special Needs Group provides equipment rentals, including scooters, wheelchairs, powerchairs, oxygen, patient lifts, hospital beds and more. Equipment is delivered to cruises, hotels, convention centers and other requested locations.

● Emerging Horizons is an accessible travel magazine covering news, resources and travel tips.

● Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation (christopherreeve.org)● Wheelchair Travel - Wheelchair Accessible Travel Blog by John Morris-

wheelchairtravel.org● Welcome - Curb Free with Cory Lee: A Wheelchair Travel Blog-

curbfreewithcorylee.com● Department of Transportation website● Airline and Amtrak websites● Myositis Support and Understanding

Myositis Patient Financial Assistance Program