Travel Commuting With A Disability: An Essential Checklist

Slowly but surely, the world is becoming a more accommodating place for those with additional mobility needs. Getting around from point A to point B is rarely easy even on top-drawer flights, but when managing disabilities, manoeuvering essential mobility equipment, and planning ahead for suitable accommodations, the challenge can be much greater. That’s unfortunate.

For this reason, no matter if you experience disability yourself or if you’re caring for someone who does, determining how to commute in comfort, capability and yes, style, is a vital skill. Thankfully, there are some fairly understandable methods you can take, and checklists you can follow to make the entire process easier to handle.

In this post, we’ll help you settle into that flow:

Consider Mobility Access

It’s important to make sure you have access for your wheelchairs, frames, or any other requirements you need, such as accessing a disabled bathroom or having room to maneuver in a disability-capable train carriage. Ramps, stair lifts, elevators and even road crossing need to have disability access.. Triple-check if these are available in rural or less developed areas.

Consider Room Accommodations

Depending on your mobility needs, room accommodations can differ. For example, room hoists can help you better maneuver around a space and access a bathroom without using mobility chairs. No matter if you prefer to stay in hotels, or are opting for specific accommodations such as furnished apartments Cleveland for longer stays, ensuring those provisions are present is necessary.

Consider Transport Allowances

Wheelchairs, scooters, and other equipment often require special handling and access. For example, having a ramp into a flight is fine, but if the provisions to secure the chair in place aren’t available, that’s a waste of time. Read the policies for how airlines approach disability access, or what special flights or options you may need to take. Public transportation, too, varies in accessibility and requires distinct preparation from location to location. Some buses and trains offer better accommodations than others. Even disabled parking near hotels can differ, and may prevent you from accessing a special vehicle as you otherwise might. To prepare in advance, it’s wise to:

Get Used To Calling & Confirming

As a new carer managing travel, it’s important to get into the habit of verifying in advance to ensure your needs are met. Accessibility features aren’t always guaranteed, even if advertised unfortunately, and sometimes being a huge advocate for change can make your return stay even better, or ensure standards are respected, like they should be, for the next guest who comes. A quick call to confirm ramps, elevators, or other essential facilities can prevent unnecessary stress and make certain you’re entitled to compensation should this fail to materialize. Make sure to get it in writing too, if you can, such as by requesting email confirmation. It’s a small step that provides significant peace of mind.

With this advice, you’ll be sure to commute with a disability, or caring for someone who has one. This way, you make transport and accommodation a friendlier place to those with various needs.