It may seem like an insurmountable challenge but it is possible for people living with disability to travel from place to place in comfort and safety. Today, players in the hospitality industry such as hoteliers, rental car companies, taxi companies, tour companies and others are waking up to the needs of disabled travelers and are making adjustments to accommodate them.


The following advice for disabled travellers will make it easy to do so;
1. Make arrangements in advance. Discrimination against disable people is illegal but one cannot claim to have been discriminated against if they did not ask to be accommodated early enough. Most travel service providers are happy to make arrangements for disabled people. Special needs should be mentioned when making reservations and ideally confirmed 24 hours before the expected time of arrival.
2. One should be specific about their needs, mentioning in detail the limitations of the disabled person. This way, a service provider can be able to better accommodate special needs.
3. It is important to notify a doctor about upcoming travel. Sometimes, it may be necessary to hire a travel nurse to cater to the needs of a disabled or seriously ill person. A doctor will advice on this or guide accompanying travelers on how to take care of then in the course of a long flight or drive. Doctors may sometimes advice against travel such as for a disabled person whose injuries or condition may be excarbeted by travel.
4. Another piece of advice for disabled travelers is that if the disabled person uses medication, it is important to get more than will be needed just in case there would be a delay that would cause the return date to be pushed forward. It is also important to travel with a statement from the doctor that details the medication a disabled traveler is using, if any and potential complications that may arise. A regular doctor can also recommend another one they know of at the travel destination which would be very reassuring in case an emergency arose. Insurance companies can also recommend doctors.
5. Consider using a specialized travel agent. Such agents take care of all the travel arrangements from air tickets, airport transfers, suitable hotel accommodation and perhaps tours with tour vehicles and to attractions that cater to the needs of the disabled.
6. If you can, avoid connecting flights if you are traveling by air or train. Direct routes have less hassle and reduce the time spent traveling. If connecting cannot be avoided, leave at least an hour or so between flights so that the disabled person can rest.
7. Take spare parts and tools for the wheelchair which may take a beating when being used on the move. Do put together a small kit of tools and spare parts for repairs. Also, make sure those accompanying a disabled traveler know how to collapse and reassemble it.
Safe and comfortable travel for the disabled
The motability vehicles from GM Coachwork were created to ensure disabled people could get around without too much hassle. GM Coachwork has different wheelchair access vehicles including compact vehicles such as the Citreon Berlingo Blaze and large, luxurious one like the VW Caravelle Monterey. All the vehicles have a rear, lightweight ramp with a low angle that goes into a lowered floor. There are also wheelchair access vehicles that can accommodate several passengers. The vehicles have four-point wheelchair securing systems and lap and diagonal seatbelts that can be adjusted. The best piece of advice for disabled travellers; buy or hire GM motability vehicles to use while traveling and enjoy your trip as much as everybody else.