Accessible Travel Planning Checklist
If you plan on doing any accessible wheelchair travel make sure you make a checklist before packing for your trip. The last thing you want is to be stuck in another part of the world without your medicine, medical aids or other necessary items as you may not be able to find what you need in another country.
When compiling an accessible travel checklist make sure to include the following:
Medical Needs - These items may include pills, medicine, braces, hearing aids, canes, walkers, alert bracelets, inhalers, eye glasses, contact lenses, scooters and wheelchairs and their accessories.
Specific Personal Items - such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, and hair care products, makeup, catheters, toilet seats, shower chairs, commodes, urinary devices, pillows and cushions.
Appropriate Clothing - In order to do this, research the weather patterns of the places you will be visiting. This may help you decide what clothing will be needed for night and day time traveling.
Enjoyment Items - such as books, magazines, headphones, laptop computers, radios, batteries, mobile phones, and cameras.
Adaptable Equipment - Remember that many countries use different electrical systems than North America so you may need to take an electrical adaptor.
Personal Documents - such as drivers' licenses, health cards, credit cards, passports, visas, airline tickets, maps, insurance, currency converters, translation books and money.
Mobility Equipment - If you are taking your wheelchair or scooter make sure you have it serviced and it is in good working condition before you leave. You should also take along a small repair kit for the tires. Another good idea is to make sure your power wheelchair or scooter has a gel cell or dry cell battery. Wet cell batteries are discouraged because airlines have to take the batteries off of chairs and scooters and transport them in a leak proof container
Additional Travel Information - You should also find out from the travel agent what items are allowed and disallowed in the countries you will be visiting. If you are traveling on a tour ask them what items are supplied so you don't end up taking unnecessary articles with you.
Before you travel always make a travel list and check it twice. This list will make accessible wheelchair travel a lot smoother.
