When Callie had her amputation, we vowed that we would never let her prosthetic leg limit her in any capacity. Anything that she wanted to do, any activity she wanted to try, any trip she wanted to take we would do it and our motto quickly became “We will figure it out.”
Nothing puts that moto to the test faster than traveling. So what does it mean to be a traveler with a disability? And how can we overcome the challenges that arise when we strike out on the road, into the air, and out to sea?
While the answers to those questions vary greatly depending on the individual — the types and severity of disabilities, not to mention personal preferences all play a role — it’s absolutely clear for us, that traveling with a disability is not only possible, but also 100% worth it.
Sharing our six tips to make traveling with a disability easier:
1. Plan time for plenty of breaks and rest stops.
We try to structure in rest time during our vacation as a whole and during our daily activities. Callie doesn’t have the endurance that other kids do, so we have to be able to take breaks through out the day for her to rest her leg. We also try to plan a day mid vacation that is strictly for sleeping in, relaxing, and doesn’t involve a lot of activities. The last thing we want to do on a vacation is have Callie walk so much she gets a sore on leg and is immobile for the rest of the trip.
2. We scout out accessibility before hand.
Does the location have a lot of stairs? Is the flooring not paved? Is there a way for her to get around comfortably or will we have to carry her? Do they offer programs like Disney’s Fast Pass/Accessibility Pass so we don’t have to make her stand for long periods of time? Are we able to board the flight ahead of time to give her more time to get situated?
We look at all of those things prior to the trip to be able to make it easier for us to navigate. Research travel companies that have a reputation for being truly accessible. Look for hotels, resorts, airlines, cruise lines, travel advisors, and tour companies with a proven history of designing spaces for travelers with disabilities. They often put more intentional effort into training staff to be sensitive and proactive to the needs of all customers, regardless of ability.
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To avoid being disappointed by amenities upon your arrival, contact the travel provider to ask about their accommodations and make requests for assistance early. You know best what you need, but some common features of the property/location to ask about include:
- Stairs, ramps, and elevators
- Thresholds, if no-lip doorways or roll-in showers are necessary
- Grab bars in the bathroom (in the shower and by the toilet)
- Shower seats
- Width of doorways and shower entry to accommodate your wheelchair
- Paved pathways in and out of the building to reduce tripping, regardless of whether your disability is related to mobility, vision, or other
- Pet relief areas if you have a service animal
- Visual alerts if a hearing impairment prevents you from hearing a doorbell or emergency/fire alarms
- Dietary accommodations if you have a food allergy or if a sensory disorder restricts what you can eat
- The size of the rooms if you need extra clearance for a wheelchair or scooter, or are worried about tripping hazards for any reason
- Refrigeration in your room if you need to keep medication cold
Online reviews and forums are another excellent way to find first-hand experiences from other travelers with disabilities. Simply googling “[location name] accessibility” is a good way to get started. This is how we booked our excursion during our recent trip to Roatan. Shout out to the Jolly Roger Catamaran!
3. Be flexible when flying.
Going through TSA with Callie’s prosthetic leg and my insulin pump, CGM, and diabetic supplies is a three ring circus. We have to be able to allow for extra time to clear security as well as time for us to explain everything to the agents. We also try and keep in mind they aren’t giving us a hard time–they simply have a job to do to keep all of the travelers safe. More power to them and we’re grateful for the thorough job that they do. We do take measures ahead of time for flying with a disability–flexibility is key, but I’m going to do all that I can to make it as smooth as possible!
We request assistance in advance.
You can (and should) request such assistance when making your reservation online (or by calling the airline’s special assistance phone line).
As you make your way through the booking process on the American Airlines website, for example, you’ll see a link to “add special assistance.” Click on that link and you’ll find various options, such as “mobility” and “traveling with a service animal.” After checking the boxes, you’ll be prompted to be more specific, so the airline understands your particular need. If you check “mobility,” you’ll be asked to specify how much assistance you’ll need by checking another box, with options such as “can walk — need help only if there are stairs.”
Speak up at security checkpoints.
The first thing out of my mouth when we get to the TSA agent is “My daughter is a lower limb amputee and uses a prosthetic leg. I have diabetes and wear an insulin pump so I can’t go through the screening device.” The absolute last thing we want to do is have the process be a guessing game–and as the expert on my daughter’s disability (and my own chronic illness), I have to lead out for the agents many times.
Request a ride to your gate.
This is Callie’s favorite part of flying. The airlines offer courtesy carts in some airports and we typically just wait to catch one. She loves cruising up and down the airport terminals in style.
4. Introduction to Adventure
Speaking of activities, when we are given the option of picking tours, programs, or excursions, we are mindful of her limitations but also try to introduce her to as many things as we can. When we went on a Disney cruise, we knew that it would be hard for her to go snorkeling for a full day so we decided to do a partial beach day and then go on a glass bottom boat ride. The boat ride was perfect because she could just relax and check out the fish after her morning at the beach!
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When we take more strenuous trips (like to National Parks) we tend to structure the day so that there is an “adventure” in the AM when she is at her best, full rested and full of energy. We tend to structure the back half of the day more focused on rest so that she doesn’t wear herself out. We want to make sure that we are not limiting her experiences in anyway–more so structuring the day for adventure + recovery!
5. Pack extras
We always take extra liners for her prosthetic as well as a mini tool kit. Luckily James is super handy and can fix almost anything that goes wrong with her leg in an emergency. There have been a few times we’ve had to use a zip tie to keep her leg together because a screw fell out of it! We also make sure to pack cream for her leg, band aids, and an Ace wrap for swelling.
Other items you might want to consider packing:
- medical equipment
- collapsible shower chair
- medications/prescriptions
- collapsible walking aids
- assistive hearing aids
- medical ID
6. Ease up on expectations.
We’ve gotten very good at rolling with the punches and not putting too much pressure on ourselves while traveling. We used to build up the trip in our minds; expecting to have this out of this world, magical, and life changing experience only to have something literally rain on our parade. Either the weather doesn’t cooperate, someone gets sick, someone else is cranky, or we get lost and miss the turn for our Air BnB and spend 45 minutes going in the wrong direction (true story).
By setting the expectation that our travel is meant to spend time connecting, laughing til our stomachs hurt, and simply creating memories, we take off the pressure of the trip. Some of our best memories from trips are the quiet times together as a family and those are what I cherish most.
Traveling with a disability is possible (and for this family, highly encouraged!). Remember to be prepared, give yourself some grace, rest when you need to, and go make some amazing memories!
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