Foreword:
This brochure has been prepared by the U.S. State Department Bureau of
Consular Affairs to provide general information for persons with disabilities
who plan to travel abroad.
Each year, thousands of
persons with disabilities travel the world by planes, trains, automobiles,
cruise ships, and even bicycles. With the proper planning and attitude, travel
can be rewarding and adventurous.
Each person with a
disability has his/her special needs. Individual countries have their own
standards of accessibility for disabled travelers. Some countries have
nondiscrimination laws that help to protect travelers with disabilities, while
other countries have no such laws. Preparing before you go can often prevent
difficulties and ensure that your planned destination will be accessible, safe
and enjoyable.
BEFORE YOU
GO
For information concerning
passports, visas, or travel tips in general, see our publications Your Trip Abroad and A Safe Trip Abroad which can
be found on our web site at http://travel.state.gov.
Choosing Your
Destination: Some countries make every effort to provide accessibility
for all travelers, including those with disabilities, while other countries do
not have the resources to do so, or do not consider it to be necessary. Before
you travel, research your planned stops and ask detailed questions about the
services that are provided. Also, be prepared for a certain amount of culture
shock. Some cultures are not very accepting or open about their citizens with
disabilities.
Once you have decided on a
destination, you may also consider local transportation needs to and from the
airport, luggage assistance and whether assistance will be needed to leave the
airport terminal. Some suggestions for finding resources are: contact the
airport management office; work with a travel agent who specializes in travel
for persons with disabilities; search the internet, call local disability
organizations; or check with various travel guides.
MEDICINE
Another aspect to consider
when planning your trip is the level of health care available at your planned
stops.
Your Doctor:
Talk to your physician about the activities you have planned and your
general physical condition, any immunizations that might be needed, and
medications, whether prescription or over the counter, that you might need for
your trip.
Medication:
If you take prescription medication, make sure you have enough to last the
duration of the trip, including extra medicine in case you are delayed. Pack
your medication in your carry-on bag. Delays can occur, and checked baggage
occasionally becomes misdirected or lost. Always carry your prescriptions in
their labeled containers as many countries have strict narco-trafficking laws
and might be suspicious of pills in unlabeled bottles. Bring your prescription
information and the names of their generic equivalents with you just in case.
Double-check one last time before leaving home that you have your medication
with you in your hand luggage.
Health Insurance: Make sure
you have adequate health insurance coverage while abroad. Your policy might not
cover such things as medical evacuations. Ask what coverage your plan provides
and how you can reach your insurance company during times of emergency. U.S.
Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services
outside the United States. But many travel agencies and private companies offer
insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas,
including emergency services such as medical evacuations. Be sure to check our
publication Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad for further
information. This publication is available at
http://travel.state.gov.
SERVICES &
EQUIPMENT
Service Dogs:
Travelers should be aware that some countries have restrictions on
service dogs traveling through or arriving in their countries. If you intend to
travel with a service dog, be sure to check on possible restrictions with the
embassy or consulate of each country that you will visit. (This and other
country information may be found on each country’s Consular Information Sheet at
our website http://travel.state.gov). If service dogs are permitted, learn about
quarantine or vaccination requirements.
Find out what documents are
needed, including international health certificates, rabies inoculation
certificates and if the documents need to be translated. Talk with your vet
about how to travel with your dog and how travel will affect the dog. You may
also want to ensure that hotels will accommodate your service dog and that there
will be an adequate area for the dog to relieve itself.
Equipment:
If you require a wheelchair, scooter or other equipment, consider having a
maintenance check done on it to ensure that everything is in working order
before you leave. You may want to research the availability of wheelchair and
medical equipment providers in the areas you plan to visit before you depart on
your trip.
Airline and Hotel
Travel Arrangements:
When making your travel
arrangements, you should think through air travel plans, considering flight
lengths and plane transfers.
In the United States, the
Air Carrier Access Act prohibits airlines from discriminating on the basis of
disability. This law affects issues such as denial of service to persons with
disabilities, seating, accessible features in terminals and aboard aircraft,
requirements regarding attendants, medical certificates, and transport, storage
and liability of mobility and medical equipment (such as wheelchairs, scooters
and other assistive devices). Unfortunately, the Americans with Disabilities Act
does not follow you when you leave the United States.
The Department of
Transportation outlines helpful information in New Horizons for
the Air Traveler with a Disability and Plane Talk: Facts for
Passengers With Disabilities. Both of these publications are available
at the Department of Transportation’s website www.dot.gov.
When making your
reservations, inform your travel agent or the carrier of the
following:
These airline suggestions
might be adapted when making your hotel reservations. You should make sure that
foreign hotels will be able to accommodate you and your needs as
well.
In all cases, ask that your
needs and requests be documented as part of the reservation and take down the
name of the agent. That way, if there is a problem, you will have a clear record
of what you requested, in the event it is necessary to take your complaint to a
customer relations office.
It is to every traveler’s
advantage to know the policies of the airline before arriving at the airport.
Arrive extra early to allow plenty of time for any last-minute problems to be
administered.
ONCE YOU HAVE
ARRIVED
Carry with you your written
itinerary and directions of where you wish to go. These can be shown to people
who might be able to help you if you are lost. This little step will make it
much easier when trying to get help from someone. Another tool that some have
found useful is a point-and-conversation guide.
Your journey can be the most
rewarding experience. There is a wealth of literature available both on the
Internet and in books with information and advice for disabled travelers. Take
the time to search the web and your local bookstore. By taking the time to
research and educate yourself about travel opportunities and considerations for
persons with disabilities, you can enjoy your adventure and have memories to
last a lifetime.
Additional
Resources:
These internet sites offer
excellent starting points. They are by no means the only sites available. The
following is provided for informational purposes only and in no way constitutes
an endorsement, expressed or implied, by the Department of State.
Mobility International USA (www.miusa.org)
The Society for Accessible Travel and
Hospitality (www.sath.org)
Moss Rehab Resource Net
(www.mossresourcenet.org)
There are a number of other
publications that also provide useful information for all travelers. Please feel free to check out the following pamphlets,
which are all available on the Internet on the Consular Affairs web site at
http://travel.state.gov:
Your Trip Abroad
A Safe Trip Abroad
Medical Information for Americans
Crisis Abroad
Overseas Citizens Services
Tips for Older Americans
Tips for Students
Tips
for Women Traveling Alone
Tips for Americans Residing
Abroad
Tips for Travelers to
Canada
Tips for Travelers to the
Caribbean
Tips for
Travelers to the Middle East & North Africa
Tips for Travelers to the People’s Republic of
China
Tips for Travelers to
Russia
Tips for Travelers to
Mexico
Tips for Travelers to South
Asia
Tips for Travelers to
Sub-Saharan Africa
Tips for
Travelers to Central and South
America
U.S. Department of State
Publication 10941
Bureau of Consular Affairs
September
2002
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