Can you believe that it’s already June? Time is flying and we’re heading into the summer season full steam ahead. With the way the weather changes it feels like we hardly get a spring season anymore—winter tends to lead right into summer with the blink of an eye. For some folks this time of year marks a busy travel season-making plans for trips and creating itineraries of activities. For those living with disabilities, the idea of planning a trip can be taxing; making sure travel sites are accessible, packing the appropriate necessities, organizing each route to be taken—it can be exhausting before you even head out the door! But it’s important to know that there are different resources available to help you plan your trip, so hopefully you can enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
- The U.S. Department of State has a great resource guide for traveling with disabilities that includes links and information regarding service animals, assistive equipment, medical considerations, and disability information by destination. They also provide information for travel/medical insurance coverage.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation also has information for those traveling with disabilities, as well as Amtrak and Greyhound transportation routes.
- The National Park Service provides information for passes for those with disabilities visiting recreation sites.
- If traveling within the U.S. individuals have the ability to search specific destinations by city/state/park and connect to each state’s official website to find information.
If you’re able to work with a travel agent to book your trip this can be helpful as well, especially for planning different activities and events ahead of time and making sure things are accessible. If flying, check with your airline ahead of time too to make sure of their accommodations and that your needs will be met while traveling with their airline. Do the same for where you’re staying, be it a hotel or some other type of lodging, to ensure that the facility is accessible and accommodating. With some planning and a bit of preparation you can enjoy your traveling experiences and know what steps to take for the next time too.
