In the past, the travel industry paid little attention to disabled travelers. They did not have the right systems in place to cater to travelers that have a physical disability or an intellectual disability. Nonetheless, things have changed and the travel industry is actually taking the needs of those who have different forms of disability into consideration when making travel arrangements. It is a law for travelers that have a form of disability to be treated just like any other traveler. Their needs need to be considered and it is the responsibility of the travel company that is organizing the trips to ensure that every traveler that has a disability, experiences a great time. When organizing a trip for an individual who has a disability, there are several different things that you need to consider. So, in case it is your first time to come across travel tips for the disabled, read on to learn some more.
Look at Your Options
This should be the first thing that you need to consider because you need a travel agency or company that caters to disabled travelers. Even though the travel industry is warming up to being inclusive, some companies have not yet included the right systems. Hence, it is good if you start by writing down all the different travel companies that have systems in place that can cater to disabled travelers. Come up with that list that you can use for reference purposes.
Call Ahead
It is always important to call a few weeks before the trip takes place. Every company needs a heads up for them to make the necessary arrangements. If you have never used a particular travel company before, you can always go online and find their contacts on their website. Take time to ensure that the necessary arrangements regarding accommodation and transportation have been made. It is good to note that the arrangements will depend on the type of disability that you or your loved one has.
Describe the Disability
There are so many different types of disability as they are disabled people. Travel companies need a clear description of the type of condition that you or your loved one has. You will find that most of them do not truly understand the languages or terms used to describe different types of disability and that is why if you can you need to give them as many details as possible.
Have Your Medicines Packed
If you need to take a particular type of medication frequently, you should always make a point of packing it. Store all the medication properly to avoid losing them or forgetting about them.
Look For Specialist
Another sucks that you need to consider is whether the travel agency that you are choosing has a specialist on board. This can come in handy for those people who have hearing impairments for example. Settling for a travel agency that has a sign language interpreter on board can help you communicate your needs faster and more effectively. Look for a travel agency that has specific services that cater to your needs.
Look at Reviews
Finally, make sure that you hear from other people about how effective the travel agency you are considering is. Has it dealt with other disabled people before? This is one of those questions that you will need an answer to.