Planning Your Vacation

Warm weather combined with the end of the school year often lead to thoughts of travel. Whether you are planning an extended vacation abroad or just toying with the idea of an overnight stay somewhere nearby, you’ll find a wealth of services and options available to you.

Although a number of individuals with MS have mobility issues, a good portion of the MS community is not physically challenged. This article highlights some of the services that may be helpful in traveling with a physical disability, but it also provides many useful tips and sources to assist with travel plans in general. Additionally, some individuals with no outward mobility problems may simply tire easily, and renting a wheelchair to use on a trip can greatly conserve energy.

The passing of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) in 1986 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 brought many positive changes for travelers with special needs. Accessibility has become a priority in the business and public sectors. In 2001, President Bush announced the New Freedom Initiative, a comprehensive plan promoting the full participation of people with disabilities (representing more than 54 million people in the United States) in all aspects of American Life. For more information, go to www.disabilityinfo.gov.

The travel industry recognizes the need for services to individuals who have special needs, and finding out about such services has become particularly easy through the internet. Searching for the term “accessible travel” brings up countless entries, ranging from full-service travel agencies to government sites, book stores, and nonprofit organizations offering helpful information.

Before you begin your travel plans, you may want to check with your physician. He or she may have specific recommendations that will steer you toward a vacation and climate that best suits your individual needs. Your physician can also let you know what immunizations you may need for international travel.

If you are traveling alone or if you need someone to join your party for general or medical assistance, companions may be available through the travel agent or service you employ. These can be doctors, nurses, physical therapists, or other professionals who are using their vacation time to work as companions. The agency you employ should work with you to find an appropriate travel companion, who should be licensed and insured.

Your Destination
Learning about your destination in advance is a good idea, and you can get this information in a number of ways. Searching the internet will no doubt yield photos, facts, and information on attractions, events, and accommodations. You can also contact the Chamber of Commerce for any city in the United States, or the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau of any state, to request to have maps, brochures, and information mailed to you. If you already have a hotel selected, you may call the concierge and ask that he or she send you tourist information.

By finding out about your destination in advance, you can plan ahead and have more time to enjoy yourself once there. For instance, you can purchase tickets ahead of time for a show, make reservations at a restaurant, choose a hotel that is closest to the activities you are planning, and know the hours of the area attractions so you can schedule your time accordingly.

Working with a travel agency that specializes in accessible travel can help you to avoid surprises and ensure that your vacation goes as planned. You can find such travel and tour agencies all over the world and for many of the top travel destinations.
MossRehab ResourceNet (at www.mossresourcenet.org) is an excellent source and one of many internet sites that provide extensive information on accessible travel. MossRehab ResourceNet provides information on virtually all aspects of accessible travel – including travel tips and contacts for the different types of transportation; listings of accessible travel agencies, tourism offices by state and country, hotels and motels, vehicle rental agencies, plus travel resources and publications.

Transportation
Cruises
Many people enjoy cruises because you can begin your vacation the moment you go aboard. Cruises are all-inclusive, with rooms, meals, and activities all going on in the same place for the one price. This saves a lot of energy too – with no need to travel elsewhere to dinner or for a show, and no need to repack and move each time you leave for a new city. Some cruises are designed specifically for individuals with limited mobility.

MossRehab ResourceNet has a pre-cruise checklist of questions to ask when planning to travel on a certain cruise ship. If you will be using a wheelchair, you will need to inquire about the accessibility and features of the rooms, doors, and areas for activities and services. Suggestions include inquiring about dietary requirements, the accessibility of the ports that will be visited, and if the ship will dock (with a more stable walkway) or “tender” at the ports it visits.

Airlines
Provided you plan in advance, traveling by air is a fast and comfortable means of transportation. The Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association has a free brochure entitled Accessible Air Travel, A Guide for People with Disabilities. This may be ordered online by going to www.epva.org and clicking on “free publications,” or by calling (800) 444-0120. If you encounter a disability-related air travel problem, you may call the Federal Department of Transportation’s toll-free hotline at (800) 778-4838.

Shelley Peterman Schwarz’s book, 300 Tips for Making Life with Multiple Sclerosis Easier (Demos Medical Publishing, 1999), has many helpful tips on travel. For instance, if you need to request a special meal (vegetarian, Kosher, etc.), you should contact the airline 48 hours in advance. Once at the airport, Schwarz recommends using the services available to save yourself any extra strain. This includes checking your luggage at the curb, requesting a motorized cart or wheelchair to take you to your gate (the ticket counter agent can call this in for you), and requesting a seat without anyone next to you (if the plane is not full) for added comfort. If you think you might need them, ask for a blanket and pillow early while some are still available.

If you have brought your own wheelchair or scooter, you may be able to ride this to the entryway for the plane, and then transfer to an “aisle” or “boarding” chair. Typically, physically challenged individuals are the first to board and the last to depart from the plane, so the aisle chair may be used while the aisle is clear.

With the heightened security at airports, you will need to bring a photo ID (usually a driver’s license). If you do not have one, you may contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for instruction on how to get a state ID card with a photo.

If you take one of the approved MS treatments via injection, you will need to follow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations when boarding an airplane with your medication and syringes in your carry-on luggage. Minimally, you should be able to show the airline representative your medication and syringes along with a pre-printed pharmaceutical label which specifically identifies your medication (often on the outside of the original packaging). Because of the potential for forgery, doctor’s prescriptions and letters of medical necessity are not accepted. Since these are the minimal requirements, individuals flying should contact their specific airline in advance to see if any other rules apply. (Information summarized from Biogen’s MSActiveSource.com website.)

Ground Travel
When flying to a destination, you will usually need to take a shuttle, find a taxi, or rent a car or van to get around. MossRehab ResourceNet has a listing of several major rental agencies that offer specially equipped and accessible cars and vans. You can also consult the Easter Seals’ Project Action Accessible Traveler’s Database, which is an excellent resource for Public Transit Operators, Accessible Van Rental Companies, Accessible Taxis, Airport Transportation, Hotel-Motel Shuttles, and more. They may be reached by calling (202) 347-3066 or by logging onto www.projectaction.org.

Trains are another option for travel, and many find them to be scenic, fun, and relaxing. Amtrak may be reached by logging onto www.amtrak.com or by calling (800) 872-7245. Rail Canada may be contacted through www.viarail.ca or by calling (888) 842-7733.
The website for Amtrak’s Accessibility Information is www.amtrak.com/plan/accessibility.html. Access Amtrak is a guide to Amtrak services for travelers with disabilities. Alternative formats of “Access Amtrak” (Braille, large print, audio tape and diskettes) can be ordered by calling (877) 268-7252.

Amtrak has accessible coaches with accessible seating and restrooms. You will need to check with an Amtrak operator or travel agent to see which trains are accessible and let them know what equipment you plan to bring. Amtrak also has accessible sleeping accommodations.

Travel by bus and taking bus tours is yet another option for your next trip. Greyhound Bus Lines may be contacted through www.greyhound.com or by calling (800) 752-4841. Greyhound Canada may be contacted through www.greyhound.ca or by calling (800) 661-8747.

When planning to travel on a Greyhound Bus, wheelchair users should call the number listed above at least 48 hours in advance so a lift-equipped bus may be scheduled. If you cannot allow advance notice, Greyhound will still try to accommodate you. During your trip, you should inform the driver of any special needs you may have, and Greyhound employees will provide any reasonable assistance you may need throughout your entire trip. Travel agents also offer group tours and special day trips that use buses as a safe and enjoyable way to travel.

If you can drive to your vacation spot, recreational vehicles (RVs) and conversion vans are available for individuals with special needs. According to New RVer.com, they can include such modifications and accessories as: wheelchair lifts or ramps, lower kitchen counter and cabinets, widened entrance to roll-in showers, conveniently located controls, and roll-under sinks. For a directory with information on RV accessibility, RV shows, publications, rental sources, and clubs, you may write to RVIA, PO Box 2999, Dept. P, Reston, VA 20195.

Many of us opt to take a trip by car, and when doing so, always have your vehicle serviced and checked by your mechanic before leaving. Have the air checked in the tires and in your spare as well. Emergency tools should be in your trunk, and you may also want to add some extras such as a first-aid kit, flash light, jumper cables, a can of tire inflator, and hazard reflectors or flares.

Schwartz’s book also recommends going to a copy center and making enlarged copies of the maps you will be using. She suggests highlighting your route and folding each map to a 5x5 size for easy handling, with a paperclip on the north side for quick orientation. Having a magnifying glass with a light in the glove compartment is also helpful.

Additional tips include bringing your windshield placard for disabled parking if you have one. This is also important if renting a vehicle. Should you forget to bring it along, you will need to go to the nearest Motor Vehicle Office for a temporary permit, and you may need a doctor’s letter.

Accommodations
Selecting a place to stay requires some extra work to guarantee that your needs will be met and your room will be comfortable. Access-Able Travel Source at www.access-able.com has this advice when looking for an accessible hotel, motel, or inn:

Renting a home for a week or more is another good idea when traveling. Homes are available (both in the United States and in other countries) that are wheelchair accessible and offer many benefits to people traveling. In addition to giving you more space and sometimes a yard and/or club privileges (such as tennis, golf, and swimming), they can also be more cost effective. If traveling with friends or family, a home often sleeps six or eight people for much less than a hotel with separate rooms. Among others, www.accessiblejourneys.com is an excellent website for travel information and includes listings of homes in several countries available for rent. They may also be reached by calling (800) 846-4537.

Preparation
The ease of your vacation depends on trip planning, packing, and making arrangements for things at home. In her book, Schwartz recommends making three lists. The first list is for the obvious things, such as clothing, accessories, toiletries, trip information, stamps, address book, laundry bag, etc.

The best advice is to pack light, and bring travel-size toiletries. If traveling by plane with a companion, you can each pack one change of clothes in the other’s bag, should one person’s luggage not arrive at its destination on time. You may want to pack a robe and comfortable pillow for your hotel stay. Other helpful items include: bent-neck straw for drinking water in bed, free-standing mirror, soap on a rope, portable smoke alarm, and a second pair of glasses.

The second list is for chores to complete, and this might include canceling lessons and finding carpool substitutes; arranging to hold mail and newspaper delivery; giving your neighbor a house key and trip itinerary with phone numbers; and hiring someone to take care of the yard work while away.

The third list consists of things to do when leaving. This includes setting the timer for the house lights, adjusting the thermostat, and turning down the water heater. Be sure to take out the garbage and grind any garbage that may be in your garbage disposal. Take care of perishable items in the refrigerator that won’t last until you return home. Before leaving, check that all windows and doors are locked, appliances have been turned off, and no water is running.

You will need to plan for taking along any medications, and if needed, bring a cooler (with ice in a sealed plastic bag) for a medication that needs to be refrigerated. Be sure to bring along extra doses of any medication in the event that your trip runs longer than planned. If traveling on a plane, train, boat, or bus, keep your medications and other absolute necessities in your carry-on luggage, as checked luggage can sometimes be lost or delayed.

Those traveling with a medical condition should bring a written summary of their medical history, along with contact names and numbers of their doctors. If traveling in another country, a separate summary in that country’s native language would be useful should something unexpected happen.

If going out of the country, bring along a copy of your passport and two passport photos, keeping them in a separate bag. Should it be lost or stolen, having a copy and extra photos will make replacing your passport much easier.

For More Information
Please feel free to go to any of the listed websites or call the listed numbers for more information. If you do not have access to the internet, you may call MSAA’s Helpline at (800) 532-7667 for assistance.

Through these different sources you may find all kinds of information to help you plan your vacation. A large number of books, magazines, and newsletters are available, along with listings of travel agencies and organizations around the world. You’ll even find personal travel stories, clubs, and other groups dedicated to the traveler with special needs.