Planning a trip? Here are some helpful travel tips for your next journey. You can also find helpful travel information on the SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) web site.

• Choosing a Travel Agent
• Packing
• Health and Taking an Attendant
• Traveling with Oxygen
• Traveling with Service Animals

First, ask your friends with disabilities for referrals, then ask other friends friends. Getting a good recommendation could help you avoid novice agents and/or those who know nothing about disabilities. Visit at least two of the agencies and interview the agents about their knowledge of your chosen destination(s). Veteran agents are more likely to remember a hotel with an elevator or recall a museum's access. But remember, travel agents are there to book hotels and flights, not to measure bathroom doors. (Source: Global Access - A Network for Disabled Travelers)

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Traveling with a disability takes a great deal of planning. First, decide what you need on a daily basis but on a much smaller scale. If you are an ambulatory traveler, try to manage with just one carry-on piece of luggage. If you're a wheelchair traveler, take an additional carry on for wheelchair parts, charger, etc. and a wheelchair backpack. If you do use a wheelchair, take the narrowest one you can find. If you can cope without a motor chair, your luggage will be minimal. If not, you might want to consider a motor add-on device that fits your lightweight chair. Major chair parts can be on-board with you at all times, and you needn't be concerned about mishandling in the airplane baggage department. Let your batteries travel in the cargo after being boxed and labeled. New wheelchair batteries are also essential if you're taking a power chair. The airlines love gel cells. But the manufacturers tend to pack them to resemble a suspicious looking package, so get used to being searched. (Source: Global Access - A Network for Disabled Travelers)

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Traveling can be a tiring experience even if you're in the best of health. If you require medication, take extra bottles along and a written prescription from your doctor. Also, taking along an able-bodied friend or attendant will make your trip a lot smoother, especially if you plan to use rental cars and hand controls aren't available. If your disability requires a lot of personal care, don't travel with anyone who is not familiar with your needs. (Source: Global Access - A Network for Disabled Travelers)

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With proper planning, traveling with oxygen can be accomplished comfortably and safely. Simply make your arrangements well in advance and be willing to take the extra time to confirm details prior to your trip. All U.S. airlines require a doctor's letter for traveling with oxygen since the FAA requires a physician's statement of your oxygen needs in order to fly on a commercial airline. You cannot bring your own oxygen on board, you must use airline-supplied oxygen. Requirements vary from carrier to carrier but all require that arrangements are made in advance and all charge for in-flight oxygen. Some airlines require only 48 hours advance notice, while others require seven-day notice. Additionally, many airlines charge for oxygen either by flight (with each time you change planes being considered a separate flight) or by the amount of oxygen used. So, if possible it is better and can be less expensive to take a direct flight. Also, airlines don't provide oxygen for in-terminal use. These arrangements must be made separately. But it is important to note that some first-aid stations in airports do have oxygen available. To make arrangements for oxygen at your destination, start with your local oxygen dealer. National chains usually can assist by contacting their other offices in your destination to make the arrangements, and because many local dealers belong to a network of oxygen providers, most can assist with the arrangements. For more information on traveling with oxygen, contact the American Lung Association at: 1740 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-4374, Phone: 1-800-586-4872 (Source: Access-Able Travel Source)

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Under the ADA, privately-owned businesses that serve the public, such as restaurants, hotels, retail stores, taxicabs, theaters, concert halls and sports facilities are prohibited from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The ADA requires that businesses allow people with disabilities to bring their service animals onto business premises in whatever areas customers are generally allowed. The ADA defines a service animal as any guide dog, signal dog, or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to an individual with a disability. If they meet this definition, animals are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. The ADA takes priority over any county health department or state or local laws regarding service animals. All service animals must be permitted to accompany the individual with a disability to all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go. An individual with a service animal may not be segregated from other customers. A service animal is not a pet and the ADA requires that all businesses modify their "no pets" policy to allow the use of a service animal by a person with a disability. (Source: The U.S. Department of Justice, 1996)

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