Financial empowerment means full participation in life, including travel. Travel Noire’s Patient Passenger series exists to close the gap between the travel industry’s slow progress on accessibility and the real, practical needs of travelers with disabilities.
Travel Noire’s latest article, The Wheelchair Traveler’s Guide to Going Anywhere, was written for the estimated 5.5 million Americans who navigate the world on wheels. It covers everything from pre-booking hotel calls and airline rights under the Air Carrier Access Act, to packing lists, cruise line recommendations and the most wheelchair-accessible cities in the world.
This is the kind of resource our community deserves—specific, honest and built around the questions that actually matter before you leave home.
Excerpted from “Roll With Confidence: The Wheelchair Traveler’s Guide To Going Anywhere” by Mitti Hicks, published by Travel Noire. Travel Noire’s Patient Passenger series offers dedicated coverage for travelers with disabilities. Read the full guide at TravelNoire.com.
Between rolling suitcases and rushing passengers trying to navigate security lines and reach their gate on time, the airport is moving at full speed. This is controlled chaos for most travelers.
For wheelchair users, it’s a carefully choreographed mission. Who confirmed the wheelchair assistance request? Is the accessible restroom before or after security? Will the gate agent actually hold the jetway?These aren’t afterthoughts. This is the itinerary before the itinerary for the estimated 5.5 million Americans who navigate the world on wheels.
The travel industry has been slow to catch up for travelers in wheelchairs, leaving many to navigate a world not always built with them in mind. From airline policies that protect your chair to hotel rooms that only look accessible in photos, knowing your rights and your options isn’t just helpful. It’s essential.
The most important part of the journey is the preparation before arriving at the hotel, airport, train station or the excursion. Before confirming any reservation, contact the hotel. Ask specifically: Is there an elevator or lift? Is the accessible room on the ground or near an elevator? How wide are the doorways? Is there a roll-in shower or grab bars? Will the sink be low enough? Is the pool lift operational?
Mastering the pre-game is what makes the journey possible.
