In this post our frequent guest writer, Jesse Clark, provides travel tips for those who are differently-abled. This is a topic I have thought a lot about recently and her recommendations may help ease the challenges differently-abled people might face. Check out the links included, they contain useful resources. Her bio information is below. 

When you’re differently abled, traveling can seem intimidating. You might be eager to explore the world, but at the same time, you may worry that once you leave home, you won’t have access to the accommodations and support you need. But today, it’s becoming easier for differently-abled travelers to travel. With resources from The Independent Tourist, you’ll be able to plan your dream vacation. Plus, these tips will help you navigate everything from finding a place to stay to organizing your medical records!

Plan Carefully

Deciding where to go is your first task! Consider cities that have specifically taken steps to better support differently abled residents and tourists. Culture Trip states that cities like Berlin, Germany, Seattle, WA, Sydney, Australia, and Montreal, Canada have all made commitments to better serve differently abled visitors.

Protect Your Travel Documents

Everyone should pack a few key documents when they travel, especially when they go overseas. This is particularly important for differently-abled travelers – if you need to seek medical care or assistance when you’re far away from home, you’ll want to be able to hand over any healthcare paperwork you have that details your needs. You can also create a backup digital file for your documents.

As you digitize your paper records, you can also combine different documents into a single file for convenience. Just follow these quick steps to add content to your PDF document! You can add pages to PDFs with an online tool. You can even use a tool like this to reorder, delete, and rotate specific pages.

Accessible Accommodations

At home, you have all the tools and features you need to maneuver around safely – but what about when you’re traveling? It can take some time to find a hotel where you can stay comfortably, but with a little bit of research, you should be able to book accommodations where your needs will be met. Adaptive Living Guide recommends looking up promising hotels on reservations websites and then calling the hotels directly to ask questions about their services and accessibility features. Once you’ve asked about the specific services they offer, you can book the hotel that will best suit your needs.

Traveling Safely

Perhaps you’re going to take a road trip with your friend, and you already know that the vehicle you’ll be taking is outfitted for your needs. But what if you’re going to be flying? If you’re nervous about the flight, it’s understandable – flying can be stressful even under the best of circumstances. Upgraded Points recommends booking your flight with an airline that has strong protections for differently-abled travelers, getting to the airport early, and communicating clearly with the flight staff. The good news is that many airlines accommodate differently-abled travelers by allowing them to board the plane first and ensuring their needs are met to the best of the airline’s abilities.

Pack Smart

Don’t wait until the night before your trip to start packing! Make a comprehensive packing list ahead of time so that you don’t lose track of anything you need. You can include a few different categories, like clothing, toiletries, medications, and any medical aids or tools that you use on a daily basis. If you’re going overseas, keep your passport in an easily accessible compartment in your backpack.

When you’re booking your flight, you’ll want to double-check the airline’s baggage policies. Choose an airline with lenient baggage policies so that you won’t be charged for bringing extra luggage with you on the flight.

Traveling when you’re differently abled isn’t always easy. You might have to deal with some obstacles as you plan your trip. But with careful preparation, you can take to the skies and see the destinations you’ve always dreamed about. By following these tips, you’ll be able to map out your itinerary, digitize your paperwork, and stay safe while you’re enjoying your trip.

Want to get inspired for your next trip? Find the tips and recommendations you need from The Independent Tourist! Browse our website today to start planning your vacation.

Jesse Clark is a traveler, so she’s no stranger to experiencing wanderlust and that strong desire to travel. She’s already had enough experiences to last a lifetime, but she’s not stopping anytime soon. Find out more and contact her through soulful-travel.com.

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