Travel With A Disability: Preparing For The Trip

There are many considerations to be made when an individual is preparing to travel with disability that may require special accommodations. Different countries have different standards for dealing with disabilities and it is important to know what to expect and be prepared when planning a vacation.

Once the location has been decided upon most people begin making travel and living arrangements for their vacation. This is not the case when scheduling to travel with disability. To make the trip seamless and enjoyable it is important that the following suggestions be considered.

It is important to make a list of all of the equipment and medication that is used on a daily basis including any special equipment that may be needed if something unexpected happens. Having the complete list will make preparation for the trip much easier.

When going on vacation to another country it is very important that an individual be prepared for the need to seek medical care in that country. The US State Department has Consular Information which contains medical facilities and health information for every country in the world. The information includes the type of medical services provided as well as the locations of the facilities.

Make a list of all medications that are taken by their generic and medical names. In many countries the brand names used in the US are not the same as those used in other countries. If a person needs to get medication, having the generic and medical name of the information will allow them to acquire the medication much more quickly.

A card should be kept with an individual’s passport that lists the primary doctor’s name and phone numbers for day and off hours as well as the name of a back-up physician and his phone numbers. This card should also contain HMO or insurance information and embassy contact information.

Get a letter from the doctor on the physician’s letterhead that clearly states all of the medications and equipment that is required for the individual. Make two copies of this letter and keep one copy available to show security at airports and one copy to be placed in the box with medications and medical equipment.

When taking a wheelchair on vacation be sure that a box containing spare parts, wheels, controls, batteries, and an air valve are included. Also be sure to include wrenches, and other tools that would be required to fix the wheelchair. Most European countries have different size valves than the US does and use tools with metric measurements. If the wheelchair tire needs to be fixed in a foreign country go to a bicycle shop to get the repair.

Pack all medical supplies for the length of the trip in a hard case box with the letter from the physician mentioned above on top of the supplies. It is important that the individual making the trip pack this box carefully and assume that these items will not be available in the country they are visiting. Carrying enough medical supplies on the airplane to last for a few days will assure that if the luggage is late in arriving that the person traveling will not be left without medication.