Having a disability does not mean you cannot travel around the world! It is possible with a little extra preparation.
If you plan to travel by plane, check these tips from the U.S. Department of State:
- Consult your travel agent, hotel, airline, or cruise ship company to learn about services during your trip and your destination, including specific requirements for service animals. View Mobility International USA’s tip sheet for Guide Dogs and International Travel.
- Call the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) helpline for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions to request assistance with the security screening process, or check TSA’s website, TSA Cares. They can answer questions about screening policies, procedures, and security checkpoints.
- Check websites such as Mobility International USA to find overseas disability organizations.
- Consult an organization that specializes in travel for people with intellectual disabilities.
Have a service animal and planning to travel internationally? Here are some tips for you:
- Contact your destination country’s nearest embassy or consulate for information on possible legal restrictions, accessibility issues, or cultural norms that may affect your travel with your service animal.
- Find out about any quarantine, vaccination, and documentation requirements that your destination, and any transit countries, may have.
- Talk with your vet about tips for traveling with your service animal.
- Make sure your hotel will accommodate your service animal.
- Confirm with your airline whether it has any additional requirements.
Do you plan to travel with assistive technologies or equipment? Check out these tips and resources:
- Research whether the airline follows specific policies for devices such as wheelchairs, portable machines, batteries, respirators, and oxygen.
- The airport/security screening in the departing and arriving airports may also have specific policies.
Check out more tips about ensuring your health and safety while traveling from the CDC.
Travel and tour companies specialized for travelers with disabilities exist for destinations all around the world. Here are some recommendations:
- Travel for All is a full-service travel agency that specializes in customizing vacations globally for travelers with various forms of disability.
- Seable Holidays provides accessible tailored holidays to the visually impaired community.
- Easy Access Travel specializes in accessible cruise vacations and packaged land tours for persons with physical disabilities.
- Planet Abled provides accessible travel solutions and leisure excursions for people with different disabilities.
- Wheel the World is a comprehensive guide for travelers with disabilities to find and book accessible travel experiences.
- Tapooz Travel makes the world accessible to travelers of all abilities, their friends, and their families.
Greenwich Library is committed to providing equal access to services and collections in a friendly and accommodating environment to our entire community. One of our mission goals is to provide resources and promote accessibility to all our patrons. To learn more, including about assistive technologies, homebound services, and more check out greenwichlibrary.org/accessibility.
Questions? Contact:
Ed, ADA Librarian
(203) 622-7918
emorrissey@greenwichlibrary.org