Disabled ... Or Even Just a Little Stiff?

Many travelers—as they get older—find themselves unable to compete with younger counterparts in the mad scramble that travel has become. The travel industry officially helps many, but others are sometimes left to fall through the cracks. Here's what I can tell you, in general, about travel options when you're slightly to fully disabled.

Much of the travel industry seems to view "disabled" narrowly as "confined to a wheelchair," and "accessible" as "accessible to someone in a wheelchair." The needs of those travelers are pretty well directed by the Americans with Disability Act and the Air Carrier Access Act:

• Airlines are required to accept wheelchair travelers, assist them in getting on and off planes, and accept wheelchairs (even electric ones) as checked baggage at no charge. Airports, too, are required to assist wheelchair travelers through security and other airport facilities. Some of these services require a 48-hour advance notice to the airline. For more information, log onto the Department of Transportation's Air Carrier Access Act (.pdf).
• Most new cruise ships have a sizable inventory of accessible cabins and public areas. Again, they are required to accommodate wheelchair travelers.
• Most of Amtrak's major stations and most of its passenger cars are accessible, although a few are not.
• Most hotels have at least a few accessible rooms.

All in all, the travel industry has accepted its mandate to accommodate travelers in wheelchairs reasonably well, in much of the world as well as in the United States. These requirements, however, leave a large group of travelers—impaired in some way but not dependent on wheelchairs—in limbo. Here, for example, is an email I recently received:

"My husband has serious knee problems and is able to climb only one or two steps. He does not require a wheelchair, but would be unable to board a steep ship gangplank or board a tour bus with steep stairs. How can we arrange trips?"

I can sympathize, because my wife shares a similar problem. Here are my suggestions:

Minor Physical Impairment: Ask for whatever assistance you need. If you see you can't negotiate a set of stairs, gangway, or such, ask for wheelchair treatment just for the single instance—almost all airports and airlines provide them. For a long airport trek, ask for a ride on one of those golf carts most airports have for that purpose. If you can't step over the tub into a tub-shower, ask for an accessible hotel room with a low-sill or no-sill shower.

Special Equipment Needs: In general, airlines are required either to accommodate travelers' equipment/supplies or provide substitutes. Although travelers who need oxygen cannot take their own pressure containers onboard, for example, the airlines are generally required to provide some source of oxygen. Airlines are also required to accommodate service animals and other aids.

Cognitive Impairment: Although I couldn't find anything on any major lines' websites, it is my understanding that at least some lines will provide the equivalent of unaccompanied minor care to adult travelers suffering from Alzheimer's or other conditions that might preclude fully independent travel.

Tours: Several operators run tours designed for disabled travelers. Among them are Access to the Planet and Access Tours. Independent Living Institute lists a few accessible vacation rentals. Avoid conventional tour buses entirely, if you can—I've never seen a low-floor bus used for tours.

The number one rule in all of this is that, regardless of the nature of the disability, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, railroads, and other suppliers are generally pretty good about arranging help. But if you or a traveling companion requires assistance, the best way to avoid disappointment and hassle is to arrange what you need in advance. Most airlines require 48 hours' notice, and that's probably a reasonably good figure for others as well. Don't be afraid to ask—chances are, you'll easily get the help you need. And for more information, visit Access-Able Travel Source, The Disabled Traveler, and Flying With Disability.