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Advanced Planning

Advanced planning is always essential. Planning a trip is always a hectic time, with so many things to organize at once, it is easy to forget something.

Here at Flying With Disability  we have compiled a quick checklist of things to take into account when planning your trip regarding your health.

Consult your doctor about:

  • Your need for immunizations
  • To ensure that you have all the prescriptions you will need for the duration of your trip (and some spare for emergencies)
  • All the medical equipment you might need, and any spare parts you might need in an emergency.
  • Recommendations for any non-prescription medications you might need such as pain killers, sun lotion, laxatives, spare glasses etc.
  • How to get medical assistance when you are away. Contact addresses for nearby hospitals etc., emergency telephone numbers and quality of health care in the country you are visiting.
Consult your travel agent about:

  • What special assistance you can expect from the hotel, tour group, transportation company etc. you intend to use while you are way.
  • What sort of accommodations will be needed throughout your trip, be it, car rental or organizing seating on planes, coaches, cruises etc.
  • Whether any special dietary needs will be sufficiently met at hotels/restaurants at your chosen destination.
  • Whether the hotel you intend to stay at has toilets suited to disabled travellers.
  • If you are renting a car, we strongly recommend that you call ahead and check that a hands control car will be available.
Try and make sure you reserve the type of car you need as soon as you know your date of arrival to prevent disappointment..

You will inevitably also need to carry a placard indicating that you are disabled. Your travel agent/car hire company should be able to provide information on finding out how to get a temporary placard for the country you will be visiting before you leave.

As a general rule, try and book as much as possible before you leave, so that you can make sure that they accommodate your various needs, or so that they can make the relevant preparations to accommodate your requirements.

In short, advanced preparation can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. It is far easier to deal with any problems from home, than in a foreign country where you may have to deal with language barriers.

Wheelchair users should make sure that their chair is in full working order and have a maintenance check in advance of the trip. Likewise, ensure that you have basic tools and parts for the assembly and repair of your wheelchair, in the event that something goes wrong.

Do not assume that you will readily be able to access wheelchair parts in other countries to fit your own type of chair.

Planning Ahead - More Information ...

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