Managing Mobility Challenges

5/21/2009 1:01:29 PM

For a person with a disability, even the most exciting travel adventure presents mobility obstacles to be overcome. How can I maneuver the narrow aisles of the airplane? Can I handle the unwieldy door at the hotel? Will my wheelchair fit between the tables in the restaurant dining room?

For a person with a disability, even the most exciting travel adventure presents mobility obstacles to be overcome. How can I maneuver the narrow aisles of the airplane? Can I handle the unwieldy door at the hotel? Will my wheelchair fit between the tables in the restaurant dining room?

Fortunately, many mobility obstacles for anyone traveling in the United States have been removed because of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which specifies design requirements to make buildings and facilities, including transportation facilities, more accessible. Also, The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 requires airlines to accommodate persons with disabilities, whether at the ticket counter, on the concourse or on the airplane.

But the laws don't cover all the practical challenges, which are as varied as each individual's needs, says Jennifer Wittman Sanders, managing partner and travel specialist for Accessible Escapes, a provider of barrier-free travel programs and services. Therefore, planning is key.

"To plan ahead involves knowing what specific equipment the traveler uses to get around, whether they need an assistant or nurse to accompany them, and whether the hotel, sites, activities, transportation, restaurants and restrooms accommodate their particular needs," Sanders says.

The ADA is a difficult law to enforce, says Eric Lipp, executive director of the Open Doors Organization, whose goals are to teach businesses how to succeed in the disability market and to provide direct support to people with disabilities. Sometimes accessibility shortcomings can be overcome by old-fashioned customer service "through individual attention to each guest and their specific needs," he says. "A lot of people with disabilities have lived with them their whole lives, and a lot of them are flexible in terms of how they are accommodated."

Scott Rains is a world traveler and travel advocate whose Web site, RollingRains.com, covers the tourism industry from the perspective of a veteran traveler with a disability. He warns against being lulled by advertisements from vacation spots that communicate more about their image and appeal than about their accessibility. He suggests reading critically through the marketing materials for the facts. Getting accessibility information involves researching local hotels and resorts, as well as theaters, restaurants, music and sport venues. For example, are local tourist attractions independently accessible or is accessibility available only through prior arrangement?

Candy Harrington, editor of EmergingHorizons.com and author of 101 Accessible Vacations: Vacation Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers, suggests playing a game of "what-if" before leaving. "That way you will be well-prepared for problems that could occur on the road," she says. "One of the biggest issues is accessible transportation. Many wheelchair-users cannot walk at all, so if that's the case, they need a lift-equipped coach."

It's important to make sure that a hydraulic lift on a transportation vehicle can handle a traveler in a specific wheelchair, says Jani Nayar, executive coordinator of the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH), an organization that seeks to raise awareness of the needs of travelers with disabilities. The lifts have a capacity of 600 to 700 pounds. Some electric wheelchairs weigh 400 pounds or more. Depending on the size of the traveler and whether they use other heavy equipment, such as an oxygen concentrator, the lift may not be able to handle the wheelchair. “You need all the information beforehand, so it is not a surprise,” Nayar says. “Also, always get the dimensions of the wheelchair.”

“You should ask if they need a roll-in shower in their hotel room,” adds Harrington. “Not all accessible or ADA-compliant rooms come equipped with this feature (many have tub/shower combinations with grab bars) so if you need it you have to ask for it specifically.”

When going through security at the airport, Nayar urges being aware of knee implants, other metal implants or prosthetic devices that can trigger an alarm. Travelers should always carry a doctor's certificate and alert TSA personal before the alarm goes off.

Know Thy Traveler
Each person, whether with a disability or not, is an individual with a unique set of needs. Successfully overcoming mobility obstacles in a group travel situation depends on knowing as much as possible about each traveler and their specific disabilities.

“What are their abilities?” asks Nayar. “What are their disabilities? What can he or she do or not do? Can the traveler get up from the wheelchair, take a few steps, stand up a few seconds, move from a chair to a seat? You have to make sure you know what their abilities are. Don't assume anything. And ask specific questions, such as 'Do you need help transferring to a seat in the aircraft?'”

Lipp also suggests asking a traveler beforehand what they need. “Don't be shy,” he says. “You're not saving any heartbreak by being shy. All you're doing is putting yourself and that person in a bad situation. You should ask them to communicate what they need.”

“We have encountered people with all sorts of personalities and opinions about their disabilities,” Sanders says. “Some people like to be as independent as possible while others prefer a lot of assistance. Every person with challenges has special needs specific to him or her and varying attitudes on how they would like to be treated. They come from all socioeconomic backgrounds, all cultures, and are all ages.”

Inclusion and Sensitivity
When planning a trip, it is important to include the whole group in all the activities, says Lipp: “You don't want to be the guy left out on the playground.”

Harrington agrees: “It depends on the activity, but I think it's best to keep the group together as much as possible. For example, if you visit a historical home that only has level access to the bottom floor, you might offer wheelchair-users some photos or a personalized interpretation of the upper floor. I wouldn't send them to an entirely different home that is more accessible, as it separates the group too much.”

Whether a person with a disability can do an alternative activity depends on the person, Nayar says. “Some people are very upset if there is something they cannot be included in. It's always better to ask for opinions beforehand. It's a personal choice. The cruise ships find that some people are perfectly happy to stay behind if they cannot go on a shore excursion; others are very upset.”

Expanding What's Possible
In fact, there are very few activities that a person with a disability couldn't theoretically participate in. “I never classify something as totally unworkable, as I know wheelchair-users who have gone sky diving and bungee jumping,” says Harrington. “It's best to just describe the activity to the person, let them know about the obstacles and the assistance you can provide, and then let them decide for themselves if they would like to do it.

For example, some people are happy to accept physical help that involves being touched, but others are not. “In the end, it depends on how much assistance can be offered, and how much assistance the person is willing to accept,” said Harrington.

Nayar agrees: “I went to India with a person using a wheelchair. They offered river rafting. The people assumed he couldn't do it, but all he needed was someone to help him onto the raft. In Kenya, someone with extreme disabilities (he could only move his fingers and turn his head) spent 28 days in the Kenyan/Ugandan forest watching the gorillas. Four Ugandans used an apparatus to carry his wheelchair. With the proper equipment, a disabled person can do a lot of things.”

It is a misconception that persons with disabilities only go to Disney World on vacation, says Harrington. “The truth is that Disney World is very accessible, but if you don't like theme parks, you just don't like them. There are a lot of accessible choices around, so don't pigeon-hole folks without asking their preferences.”

Handling group dynamics when a person with a disability is involved also requires communication, both during the event and before. “The rest of the group should know that someone with a disability will be in the group,” says Nayar. “You never know when someone might react with impatience or might be uncomfortable. If possible, let the group meet ahead so they are familiar with each other.”

Sadly, not all barriers to mobility are physical; attitudinal barriers are everywhere. “Often, service personnel treat a person with a disability as if they cannot make decisions for themselves. Instead, they ask questions of the traveling companions,” says Nayar.

But in the end, having a fellow traveler with a disability can help to transform the attitudes of the whole group. “People start out having a sense of pity, but after a trip they are inspired by the example,” says Nayar. “You see how motivated persons with disabilities are and how much they are willing to do to have a good life. They are not ready to give in and they don't want to give up. The group's outlook about people with disabilities changes. You come back from the trip with a totally different attitude.”

Places To Go
We asked Candy Harrington, author of 101 Accessible Vacations, for suggestions on top U.S. destinations for persons with disabilities. Here are her suggestions:

- Several big cities, such as San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago, have produced access guides that make much-needed access information readily available, and they have some great attractions, too.

- Las Vegas is very popular among persons with disabilities because the local hospitality industry has gone well beyond the minimum as far as providing accessible features. Most of the strip properties have more than the required number of accessible rooms, and some properties even feature accessible rooms with ceiling track lifts, a welcome feature for many wheelchair-users.

- The Grand Canyon Railway is great for a day trip or overnight at the Grand Canyon. There is a lift on the train and the park hotels have some nice rooms with roll-in showers. Plus the very accessible Rim Trail offers spectacular canyon views.

- Vancouver is another top pick for accessibility, and with the upcoming Olympics (and Paralympics), even more access improvements have been made there.

Larry Anderson

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