Accessible Travel: Expert Advice for People with Disabilities

Q: There are many different types of disability, some better understood by travel providers than others. Are there some general rules of thumb that anyone with a disability can use to help ensure a good accessible travel experience?

Harrington: Yes, you are right, there are many different disabilities, and to be honest I only cover mobility disabilities: from slow walkers to wheelchair-users. That's a huge chunk of the market right there, and it pretty much keeps me busy. You can't be an expert on everything, so I really had to fine tune the scope of my niche in order to gain real expertise.

But to answer your question, I think the best thing a traveler can do is to learn their rights regarding accessible travel. I know that sounds incredibly boring, but not only will it let you know what to expect (so that you know when to complain if things are not handled properly) but it can also save you money.

For example, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if a hotel provides a free airport shuttle, they also have to provide an accessible shuttle free of charge. Not all hotels own their own accessible shuttle bus, so sometimes they contract out that service. That's fine. And sometimes they try to charge customers for it (this can be $25-$50). That's not fine. Legally, they can't do this, so if it happens to you ask to speak to the manager. Again, not all front-line personnel know the laws about accessible travel.

Q: What are some of the greatest travel challenges still facing people with disabilities?

Harrington: I'd say communication is the biggest challenge when it comes to accessible travel. For example, you can't just ask for an accessible hotel room; you first need to determine what features a particular accessible room has. Even within the U.S., access can vary from property to property, so even the term "ADA compliant" is pretty meaningless. Access features can vary depending on when the property was constructed, where it is located, and how large it is. So, for example, if you need a roll-in shower, you have to ask for an accessible room with a roll-in shower. Not all accessible rooms have this feature, and if you don't ask for it, you won't get it.

In Europe, if you ask for an accessible room, you'll get a room with wide doors and an accessible pathway. If you want a roll-in shower or a raised toilet, you have to ask for an adapted room.

In most cases, you are dealing with reservation agents to determine the true access of a property, and unfortunately there is a lot of turnover in that entry-level position, so it can be frustrating at times. But you just have to keep asking and rephrasing those questions, and if you get the feeling that you are not communicating or that the reservation agent does not know what they are talking about, then just move on to another property. Always trust your instincts. Unfortunately there are a lot of flakes out there.

Q: There are many different types of disabilities, some better understood by travel providers than others. Are there some general rules of thumb that anyone with a disability can use to help ensure a good accessible travel experience?

Harrington: Yes, you are right, there are many different disabilities, and to be honest I only cover mobility disabilities: from slow walkers to wheelchair-users. That's a huge chunk of the market right there, and it pretty much keeps me busy. You can't be an expert on everything, so I really had to fine tune the scope of my niche in order to gain real expertise.

But to answer your question, I think the best thing a traveler can do is to learn their rights regarding accessible travel. I know that sounds incredibly boring, but not only will it let you know what to expect (so that you know when to complain if things are not handled properly) but it can also save you money.

For example, under the ADA if a hotel provides a free airport shuttle, they also have to provide an accessible shuttle free of charge. Not all hotels own their own accessible shuttle bus, so sometimes they contract out that service. That's fine. And sometimes they try to charge customers for it (this can be $25-$50). That's not fine. Legally, they can't do this, so if it happens to you ask to speak to the manager. Again, not all front-line personnel know the law.

Q: How have legislation and regulation helped or fallen short in terms creating more accessible travel opportunities, and making accessible travel more enjoyable for people with disabilities?

Harrington: Well, it's helped because there are specific accessibility standards (ADA Accessibility Guidelines) for all new properties that are constructed today. We even have trail standards and transportation standards. So new things being constructed today are, for the most part, very accessible. And outside the U.S., most first-world countries have some type of access-related legislation.

Currently we have no standards for cruise ships. The ADA Access Board has been working on those for many years, and the Supreme Court will decide if foreign flagged cruise ships are covered under the ADA.

But here's the funny thing -- the cruise lines were the first segment of the travel industry to address access and to add access features to their ships. Even today, under the law foreign flagged cruise lines like Royal Caribbean International are not required to have accessible cabins; however, RCI's Voyager Class ships are probably the most accessible vessels I've ever seen. They even have pool lifts and roll-in showers. RCI has chosen to make their ships accessible, probably because they realized the demand. Many other cruise lines have done the same thing.

When does accessible travel cost more? Which disabilities commonly affect older travelers? And how does accessible travel availability benefit all travelers? See page 3...