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Walt – I agree with you on Iguaçu. Did you see the rusted narrow walkways falling into the river (and over the waterfalls) next to the new boardwalk? That’s how we used to have to do it in the 1970’s. Precarious!

For Brazil specifically we just started a site for travel agents – TurisNautas – (in Portuguese) with a section on Inclusive Tourism. South Africa is gearing up with accessible infrastructure for the 2010 World Cup; India for the Commonwealth Games; Vancouver for the Winter Olympics; Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. Tune up that Blue Wheelchair for some more trips!

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Thanks for your feedback on the article. You’re right– one of the challenges of writing an article on the topic of disabled travel is that the range of disabilities is so vast that it’s all but impossible to address all kinds. That’s why I really appreciate the insights of your own experiences.

I’m by no means an expert in the area, but I’d recommend checking out some of the resources I mentioned in the article, particularly the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. Among other functions, they serve as a clearinghouse for information about services for people with varying disabilities who want to travel. They have contacts with other organizations, such as Special Needs at Sea, that truly are dedicated to helping disabled travelers, and I’ve found that they are genuinely open to requests, ideas, and listening to the difficulties that travelers have encountered– they take that information and try to offer new products and services based upon your input.

Like “green” travel, tourism industry reps. who bill themselves as “disabled friendly” or “accessible” don’t always conform to a specific set of standards, and it’s not at all unusual to encounter the kinds of frustrations you’ve detailed here. But SATH DOES have international standards, and it’s worth asking whether the hotel/transport provider/attraction you’re inquiring about follows SATH guidelines. If not, why not direct them to SATH? You may not benefit immediately, but hopefully you’re raising awareness and letting the tourism industry know that you expect more.

Peace,
Julie

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The minimum ADA standards really are minimum, so going to another country is going to be even worse. I’d recommend ditching the cruise, unless it’s going to Puerto Rico or a Hawaiian island. Agents always automatically hand people with wheelchairs the cruise brochures, because they have this idea that it’s an accessible wonderland. They’re wrong when it comes to people in wheelchairs, especially people with needs like your sister has. They’re often stopping at places without ramps and curb cuts or accessible transportation, there’s a lot of places you can’t go on the boat, the rooms are small, etc. Try a warmer state and do your own thing. I just had a great time in Hawaii. I rented a van with a wheelchair ramp, and stayed in accessible hotels. Of course, those rooms were full of problems for me, but when you’re traveling you work with what you’ve got. I don’t use a lift, but I could have rented one from a local medical supply place, they’ll set it up for you in your room. You can rent beach wheelchairs, find pools with lift chairs, accessible boat rides, helicopter rides, etc. You can even rent a private accessible condo or home if you look on the internet. That would work great for your sister. There were accessible bus tours everywhere to go on and I never had to leave my chair.

Travel agents only drove me crazy and ended up costing more money, even the “accessible” agents. It’s easier to do it all yourself, if you ask me. Instead of telling someone your needs so they can repeat them to someone else, cut out the middle man. You don’t need to pay someone to type some key words into Google. Research where you’d like to go and call. Just call every place and ask detailed questions. Have them measure doorways, look for specific obstacles, whatever, because they won’t know off the top of their head. When you’re not disabled, you don’t notice things you take for granted. I don’t know how many times people have told me something was accessible and I show up and there’s a flight of stairs. The earlier you can make arrangements the easier it all will be.

If you need any help you can contact me through my photo website, I’d be happy to help.

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But does not address the variances of what disabled means and what the different disability levels require.

What about those like my sister who is 227 lbs, lg electric wheelchair, who require a caregiver 24 hrs a day, a Hoyer lift to get to and from bed to wheelchair and need a bedpan to go to the bathroom, which means in and out of the bed again. More equipment to get into a room, whether it be a hotel room or a room on a cruise.Try to deal with all that , luggage, another person and moving her around in the lift in a 350 sq ft room…full of furniture!!! Impossible.

I have been very frustrated at the minimum standards that deem a place “accessible” to the disabled. (wide doorways and a roll in shower).

Planning a cruise for my sister has been a nightmare and I have spent many hours online, on the phone with travel agents who, despite what I state our needs are, only extoll the virtues of a room with a view…I have cried many tears of frustration. But I am still working on it…

Where is the article to help my sister and I find something that will really work for her?

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Thank you for this opportunity.
Best wishes,
David.

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http://www.accessibleescapes.com/

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Thanks for your feedback and the stories you shared. Dave and Walt both told me that their most gratifying travel-related moments are when they hear from other people who have read their writing who write to thank them for showing that travel with a disability is possible. By serving as a platform to share these stories–like the one about the guy changing the gearbox and the guy on his boat living through a tsunami–we’re helping people know they CAN travel.

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