Essential Gear for Traveling with a Disability

Travel should be exciting, not stressful. However, when you have a disability, packing the right mobility equipment and adaptive travel gear can mean the difference between a smooth adventure and unexpected challenges. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or an extended trip, having the right equipment can help you feel confident, comfortable, and ready for whatever comes your way.

Your packing list will depend on where you’re going, how you’re getting there, your accommodations, and whether you’ll have support along the way. No matter your travel experience, checking in with your healthcare team can help you anticipate potential hurdles and plan ahead — so you can focus on enjoying the journey.

Luggage 

Although I am a full-time power wheelchair user living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, I use a manual wheelchair whenever I fly because it is more compact and maneuverable than my 350-pound power chair.

Because I cannot roll, my husband, Jim, pushes me. This is particularly difficult when he is also toting our luggage. Once, in a Paris train station, Jim strapped on a duffle bag and simultaneously pushed me and pulled a rolling suitcase behind him.

Purchasing luggage and bags designed for use with a wheelchair can help avoid this situation. I also recommend testing how you and your companions will handle heavy luggage and gear before a trip.

Gear

• Phoenix Instinct sells rolling luggage that attaches to the back of a wheelchair.
  

  Phoenix Instinct rolling luggage

• CushPocket is a wheelchair bag for storing essentials designed by a wheelchair user.
  

  CushPocket wheelchair bag

• Check with your wheelchair manufacturer for accessories such as backpacks, cupholders, and cane holders.

Tips 

• Put luggage tags on everything, even your carry-on bags.
• Whenever possible, use a valet service. Always carry cash for tipping.
• To be prepared for minor luggage snafus, pack bungee cords and duct tape.

Mobility aids

From navigating a large airport or cruise ship to visiting sprawling museums and strollable neighborhoods, you’ll likely walk (or roll) longer distances when traveling than you do at home.

If you are ambulatory and a wheelchair or scooter is an option for you, you should probably bring it, according to Becca Schroeder, OTR/L, an occupational therapist (OT) at the MDA ALS Care Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “That’s always a good idea, if only for energy conservation purposes,” she says.

Gear

MDA Ambassador Dwayne Wilson, who has Pompe disease and is semi-ambulatory, travels with a 60-pound folding power wheelchair by Fold and Go.

He likes it because it functions as more than just a wheelchair. “I am able to use it as a walker and push it from behind. I can also use it for a comfortable chair at a concert or a restaurant instead of trying to sit on a hard metal chair that may be too low to the ground for me to stand up from,” he says. “It is very practical and easy to maneuver in tight spaces like a restroom at an airport, stadium, arena, or amusement park.”

If you don’t have a wheelchair or scooter, consider bringing a lightweight folding stool to sit on when you need a break or are waiting in line. A rollator (a walker with a seat) helps with balance and has a place to sit and rest. Some models fold up compactly.

Tips

• When choosing mobility aids for a trip, consider your needs and the ease of transporting and using them. For example, can you or someone in your party lift a scooter? Does your wheelchair fold to fit in a car trunk?
• When flying with equipment, always review the airline’s rules regarding traveling with mobility and medical devices.
• You may be able to rent medical equipment and have it delivered to your hotel or cruise cabin. Contact a local durable medical equipment vendor or a worldwide company such as Special Needs at Sea before your trip to make arrangements.
• Many attractions (zoos, parks, museums) loan wheelchairs or scooters on a first-come, first-serve basis. Review their websites to see what they offer.

Bathroom concerns

One of the most stressful aspects of traveling is bathroom functionality. Being able to use the toilet and bathe are basic needs. I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels and encountered a range of issues, even in rooms advertised as accessible, from low toilets to roll-in showers without a seat.

Gear 

Becca recommends traveling with a portable commode/shower chair, such as:

• The Go-Anywhere Commode ‘n Shower Chair by Go! Mobility Solutions. A wheeled carrying case may be purchased separately.
  

  Go-Anywhere Commode ‘n Shower Chair

• The Nuprodx MC3000TX model shower and commode chair comes with a rolling travel case.
  

  Nuprodx MC3000TX shower and commode chair

• Consider a travel toilet riser that can fit in a tote bag, such as Earth Throne.

Tips

If you are not ambulatory, airplane lavatories are a major concern. Most plane lavatories (even those designated as accessible) are cramped and have inadequate space for a caregiver to assist. Becca suggests using a portable urinal, catheter, or incontinence products when flying.

Transfers

Hotel beds are frequently a foot higher than the seat of my wheelchair, and lifting me onto the bed is hard for Jim. Traveling with a transfer board has remedied this problem.

Gear

A transfer board aids wheelchair users in moving on and off a bed, getting on and off a toilet, or entering and exiting a car. These boards are lightweight and portable:

• Dolphin Toilet Board
  

  Dolphin Toilet Board

• Beasy Plastic Transfer Boards
  

  Beasy Specialty (bathroom)

For someone who needs more assistance, Becca says a transfer sling, such as the AbleSling Lite, can help with a lateral transfer into a car or airplane seat. The device has several straps and handles, enabling caregivers to lift a wheelchair user.

Tips

Some people travel with a portable patient lift (also called a Hoyer lift) to enable transfers in a hotel room. Many hotel rooms have platform beds, which do not have space under the bed needed for a Hoyer lift. Call the hotel before making a reservation to find out what type of bed they provide.

Portable ramps

On road trips, I bring a lightweight, portable ramp in my van. That ramp has allowed me to stay at a charming bed and breakfast, attend a wedding, and visit a friend’s home—all experiences that required negotiating some steps.

Gear

Portable ramps come in various price points depending on the size and material they are made from. Brands to consider include:

• Roll-A-Ramp can be customized by adding or taking away sections.
  

  Roll-a-Ramp

• EZ-Access Suitcase Ramps fold up and have a carrying handle.
  

  EZ-Access Suitcase Ramp

Tips

I rely on family and friends to carry and position my portable ramp. Experience has taught me to buy the lightest weight ramp available.

Embrace the adventure

Carefully considering your options and packing list will go a long way to smoothing your travels.

“Everybody’s needs are so different, so some things might work for some and be totally useless for others,” says Becca. She tells her clients to thoroughly research their destination and find accessible travel Facebook groups and blogs to learn where other travelers with disabilities go and how they handle accessibility issues. (Some suggestions: Curb Free with Cory Lee, Wheelchair Travel, and Wheel the World.)

Jim and I recommend checking with the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) at your destination for upcoming events such as art shows, baseball games, and festivals. CVBs are often a good resource for finding affordable and accessible things to do.

While this sounds like a lot of work, it’s worth it to get out of your comfort zone and experience something new. One study found simply planning your vacation can boost your happiness eight weeks before the travel date.

If you’re not an experienced traveler, begin with a destination close to home. Even a single night away can be fun and a good test run of equipment you will want to bring for a lengthier stay.