Disability Travel: Overcoming Challenges

Introduction

Betty Gordon and her husband Don were looking forward to a wide range of leisure activities and sightseeing opportunities as they checked into their vacation hotel. When they departed several days later, they had enjoyed everything on their wish list.

They had taken dips in the property's swimming pool and checked out an oceanfront beach and the brown pelicans that nest there. They took a horse-drawn sightseeing carriage ride along the city's cobblestone streets through its historic neighborhoods. They visited what's described as the largest inclusive playground in the world, which was designed to be welcoming to children with a variety of disabilities.

That facility was of particular interest to Betty, who has been confined to a wheelchair for many years. Despite that challenge, she has been able to live, travel and participate in activities which in the past would have been beyond her capability.

Main Item

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC), one in four adults (28.7 percent) in the United States has some type of disability. These include challenges relating to mobility, hearing loss, cognition and other conditions.

In recent years, government-mandated alterations to facilities, improvements provided by companies seeking to attract these customers and other changes have opened this country, and the world, to exploration by people who in the past could not avail themselves of that opportunity.

The Gordons were benefiting from some of these changes. Their experience only scratched the surface of alternatives to travel that await those who seek them out. From basics like wheelchair ramps and push-button door openers to some surprising facilities and services, the range of assistance available to people with a handicap who seek to travel is broad and growing.

Help at Hotels

The Marriott, Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels are among chains that share a reputation for offering wheelchair accessible rooms and other disabled-friendly facilities. Many individual properties also fit into that category.

The Otesaga Resort Hotel, a top-flight retreat in Cooperstown, New York has ADA-compliant guess rooms with wheelchair roll-in showers, roll-under sinks, lowly placed light switches and other features. Ramp slopes to common areas and a pool lift are among the amenities.

Those seeking to challenge Lady Luck in Las Vegas also find a friendly environment. The Main Strip, where most of the hotels, attractions and activities are located, is very accessible, with wide, smooth sidewalks in most stretches. Among welcoming hotels is the world-famous Bellagio, located mid-Strip, which offers three types of accessible rooms, has a swimming pool with a lift and includes its own casino.

Accessible-friendly Cities

Other cities also reach out to those seeking a disabled-supportive environment. Betty and Don Gordon found much to like about Charleston, South Carolina. For starters, it has been named several times by Conde Nast Traveler as the #1 Small US City. The terrain is flat and its historic area is compressed and welcoming to pedestrians. That makes it ideal for a walking or wheelchair tour. For those who prefer to ride, free wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses loop around the city.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the adjoining 60-mile stretch of ocean coastline, offer a something-for-everyone choice of seashore settings. Its tourism office has adopted a Sensory Friendly Pledge to create a welcoming, inclusive beach experience for everyone. Trained personnel are available at attractions and restaurants to support visitors who may require assistance, and the city's airport has a program which allows travelers with a disability to alert personnel that they may require assistance.

Going by Train or Ship

Amtrak has a menu of options for disabled travelers, beginning with wheelchair lifts and other boarding assistance. Most stations in major cities, and many others, are accessible. A horizontal bar, which is detectable by someone using a cane, alerts people that they are approaching the ticket counter. Passengers with mobility impairments may be pre-boarded. If meals are offered, they can be brought to a person's room or seat.

Those aboard a cruise ship who require individual help also have options. For example, every vessel in the American Cruise Lines fleet has accessible staterooms with wide doors and bathrooms large enough to accommodate a wheelchair along with grab rails, a shower bench and other conveniences. Most have an elevator that reaches every stateroom deck. Guests may complete an Accessibility Questionnaire before they embark. American Cruise Lines' small ships are designed to navigate U.S. waterways and coastlines, and offer more than 50 itineraries.

Plan Ahead

It's wise to check in advance about available facilities and services where you will be traveling, and staying. Because only a small fraction of hotel rooms are designed for guests with a disability, make your reservations well ahead of when you will begin your trip.

Check the hotel's website or call to discuss its accessibility features. Make sure that what it has available will meet your specific needs.

When you arrive, inspect the room before you unpack. Does it contain everything you'll need? Is it large enough to maneuver in comfortably?

You might wish to look at the accessiblego.com website. It enables people with disabilities to book their travel arrangements.

Author Credentials:

Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor's Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors's biography for further insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.

Page Information, Citing and Disclaimer

Disabled World is a comprehensive online resource that provides information and news related to disabilities, assistive technologies, and accessibility issues. Founded in 2004 our website covers a wide range of topics, including disability rights, healthcare, education, employment, and independent living, with the goal of supporting the disability community and their families.

Cite This Page (APA): Block, V. (2024, November 2). Disability Travel: Overcoming Challenges. Disabled World. Retrieved December 10, 2024 from www.disabled-world.com/travel/usa/overcoming.php

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