Health Issues or Disabilities

Travel by air for people with health issues, handicaps, disabilities or special needs, can be challenging. The following air travel tips will help make your flight and trip, whether domestic or international, easier, cheaper and safer.

When making your travel reservations, request any carts, wheelchair services or any other transportation you'll need. Fully describe your limitations and needs. Get your airline ticket and boarding pass well ahead of time so you don't have to wait in any lines. You'll be able to arrange travel at a discount, get better travel deals, and avoid last minute travel headaches.

Talk with your airline representative or travel agent regarding the type of restrooms that are on the airplane. Call your airport and find out as much information as possible about the restrooms and handicapped parking at the airport.

You'll need to find out how you'll be boarding the airplane at each of the airports involved in your trip. You may need another type of airplane or alternative route so you'll have Jetways, or jet bridges, into the plane from the airport and not have to worry about stairs.

One year my mother and I were going to fly out of the San Jose, California airport and discovered after we arrived that we had to go outside on the ground level with the wheelchair to the tarmac. Four airline employees had to carry my mother in the wheelchair up the steep steps to board the plane. This might be impossible if there are weight issues.

Think about what seat arrangement will work best for you needs. Would an aisle seat make it more convenient to get to the restroom? You'll want to avoid sitting in the emergency exit row. The passengers in this row may be asked to help others in an emergency situation.

Let the airlines and flight attendants know if you have any assisting devices. Find out the best way to store them so they arrive without damage.

Always keep in mind what you can do easily and without assistance, as well as situations that would require help.

Can you transfer to seats by yourself? Will you need a transfer board or assistance from airline staff?

Consider hiring a travel nurse if you have serious health or medical issues. There are traveling nurses networks.

Can you describe your wheelchair, scooter or walker, dimensions, weight, type of tires, type of batteries, etc.? You may need to take along spare batteries. You also may need to rent or buy a travel wheelchair.

Make sure to mention to your travel agent or airline representative any assisting devices you may need or already have like canes and crutches. Do you need a slow pace or are you a slow walker?

If you will be traveling through different time zones, how will jet lag affect your situation?

Consider how the following will be of concern during your trip and discuss with your travel agent: upper body strength, communication ability, speech issues, voice issues, vision problems, hearing problems, heat issues, medication needs, oxygen requirements, and dietary requirements such as gluten-free meals.

Try to arrange or book your air travel through experienced travel agencies or tour operators that specialize in disabled travel. There are a large number of agencies throughout the U. S., Canada, Europe, Australia and many other countries.

Just in case you need them, it's also good to know if there are any travel agencies that specialize in disabled travel at your destination, for return travel, local resources or travel services.

At the airport let airline boarding personnel know that you may need extra time to board the plane. Sit close to the door at the gate so you're called first and then board at a comfortable pace.

After the plane has landed, never get off the plane until you see or have your assisting device, wheelchair, travel wheelchair, etc. Flight attendants have to stay on the airplane until the last passenger leaves. They will help you while you're on the plane but once you're off the plane they won't be able to help you.

Make sure you carry your medications and back-up prescriptions with you onto the plane, along with doctors' names, addresses, fax numbers for faxing prescriptions, phone numbers, medical diagnosis, names and dosages of medications you're taking and any allergies you have.

Photocopy passports, airline tickets, American Express Travelers Cheques, credit cards, any important papers.

Carry your health insurance information with you on the plane. Know what you'll do if you encounter a health problem or medical emergency on your trip. Get travel insurance to ensure less costly medical assistance. These emergency bills may not be covered under your health insurance policy. It'll ease your mind to have this back-up travel insurance and prevent costly emergency medical charges on your trip. Emergency medical costs can run considerably higher than standard medical fees.

These air travel tips should provide good insurance and help make your airplane travel, with health issues, handicaps, disabilities or special needs, easier, safer and cheaper.

For more information on air travel tips for the disabled and travel tips for people with health issues, go to www.AllAboutDisabledTravel.com a website specializing in travel and transportation tips, advice and resources including information on travel nurses and travel insurance

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Traveling With Disabilities - Part 1
By Darlene Siddons

I AM taking off into the skies again, and once again I am reminded that my days of grab and go have seized to exist. Number one, the airlines restrictions and secondly my mobility challenge, so I am going to lead you down my proven pathway to - flying can be fun, even with a challenge.

ALWAYS start a folder to keep all your travel information in - keep a log of who you talked with and when and what you and they said - then as you make your reservations and travel plans and/or ideas always put those items in the folder.

FLYING can be fun and easy with a little planning and knowing what to expect. Always remember that a cheerful-fun attitude goes a long way in getting what you want and need.

YOUR first goal is to get a non-stop flight and the return flight also non-stop, even if it means to go to a different airport in your area - you will never regret this effort - the changing of planes is a huge challenge for anyone with a mobility or physical challenge.

GO online and look for all non-stop flights(round trip); now let me give you a little tip here: double check your return trip to make sure it is also non-stop as sometimes they will put you on a stop over flight, so don't assume that you will also be getting a non-stop coming back....just keep checking until you find a non-stop flight package for both ways.

FILL out reservation as usual and then near the end is an area for special assistance, complete this area with your special needs; then after you have your confirmation number, call customer service and/or reservations to personally talk with an airline employee about your special needs assistance, once again note who you talked to and what you said and what they said and include this information in your travel folder.

PRINT out your e-ticket and leave the original on your computer just incase you need to log in for any reason, like you lost your printed out one or you left/lost your travel folder. Leave it on your email computer folder until you arrive back home, this way you can pick it up if you ever need it during your trip.

TRAVEL Reflection: "All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."

-Martin Buber-

From - Darlene Siddons - My life is a work in progress; my current passion is heallth and wellness in the arena of organic food, holistic health, natural wellness and sharing information with the physically challenged. This is done thru my spiritual path, embracing the law of attraction, unconditional love and loving from love within. Spirited Boutique

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Traveling With Disabilities - Part 2
By Darlene Siddons

RESERVING your car: This can be one of the most important planning and arranging parts of your trip - so you want to take the time to make sure your needs are going to be met when you arrive at your destination.

YOU need to find out which car rental company has a kiosk at the airport near baggage pick up. There is usually only one or two companies inside the airport, the rest are in out laying areas of the airports - each airport is different - so to get to these out laying areas you need to take a shuttle and using these shuttles are a huge challenge for anyone with any sort of special needs.

SOME of the car rental companies will bring the car to you, however, you need to request this, they don't offer it and/or advertise it. So this is part of your researching when you are looking for the company to rent from, not always is the least expensive rental the best and it could work the other way also, the most expensive the best, only your research will tell. Also don't rely on a travel agent to handle this for you, as most of them don't know how to this part and are able to get it handled for you, and will be at the airport "assuming" it will be the way you want it, and here it is, the first HUGE travel experience on long awaited dream vacation.

WHEN you have chosen your company to rent from, ask them for the direct number to the destination office, not a general number, all of this takes time and tenacity, and believe me it is worth it when you are in a busy airport and everyone is rushing around, and you have baggage, need to use the restroom and there isn't anyone to help. So the more familiar you are with what they will do for you and have phone numbers and names, the easier it will be with less anxiety. Of course there is always a limo and if your budget allows for this, go that way.

IF you have lots of luggage and/or equipment, it may be best to get a Porter and they will help. I will covering this more thoroughly and in more detail in another article.

YOUR pre-planning on your rental car is very important, also cover where to drop the car off and make sure that also accommodates your needs. This is also VERY important, don't skip this part.

WALKER BAGS available at: www.spiritedboutique.com

TRAVEL REFLECTIONS: "Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul"
-Samuel Ullman-

My life is a work in progress; my current passion is health and wellness in the arena of organic food, holistic health, natural wellness and sharing information with the physically challenged. I reside in my own personal wellness center retreat and sanctuary in California and this affords me to bring to you my wisdom, knowledge and spiritual self in my writings. On this journey I have met many wonderful teachers and one of them is Joe Vitale, one of the teachers in The Secret, his ebook The Greatest Money Making Secret is offered for f.ree on my website. Please stop by and receive your copy today. Darlene Siddons Spirited Boutique

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