Disabled Travellers

Disability; whether short term or permanent, doesn’t stop people wanting to travel, be it pleasure or business. Arranging travel for someone who has impaired vision or hearing, or who may be a wheelchair user, can be an alarming prospect, but it doesn’t have to be an impossible task. Careful planning is needed, but provided you do the proper research any trip can still run smoothly.

Travel opportunities and choices for disabled people have grown dramatically over the past few years, and your travel agent can play an important role in ensuring the success of what may, in many cases, be a first trip away from home.

Planning your trip

In order to help a disabled traveller plan a holiday or business trip, the most important thing for your travel agent is to obtain as much information as possible. Communication is essential to ensure the success of your trip; it is your travel agent's task to provide all the information a tour operator will need. Misunderstandings will be minimised if you request written confirmation that all needs can be met.

When, where and for how long has the client travelled on previous occasions?
What problems, if any, were encountered?
Is he or she travelling alone and, if so, are they able to travel completely independently?
Transport to, from and at the final destination.
Accommodation and facilities at the resort.
During excursions on your holiday/trip.

Help will usually be at hand at terminals and in hotels but should not be expected or relied upon unless confirmed in writing beforehand. Sometimes it is sufficient to arrange minor help from a hotel in advance i.e. a ramp for steps. If complete independence is impossible, someone who can give the extra help needed should accompany the disabled person.

There are some organisations specialising in holidays for severely disabled unaccompanied people, both in this country and abroad, one of which is Tourism For All. They have information on hundreds of accessible hotels and visitor attractions in the UK and a range of information sheets on overseas destinations. For detailed information of services and schemes available for disabled travellers visit www.direct.gov.uk.

Travel by Air

When travelling, be sure to check the airlines policy and attitude towards carrying disabled people. Research the facilities they offer - both on the ground and in the air. Consider the following;

The type of aircraft.
The availability of special diets.
The method of boarding the aircraft.
The time of travel may also be important, as might the difference between a non-stop flight and one that involves stopovers.
Confirm the arrangements for checking in and boarding and remember that equal care is needed for the return journey.
Extras on board the flight- medical equipment, more legroom etc.

Some of the most comprehensive advice on air travel for disabled people can be found from RADAR (Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation). Each UK airport gives details of the services that they can offer to disabled travellers. For information on individual airports policies concerning passengers with special needs click here. If a travel companion is needed the airline may be able to offer a reduced fare for the second ticket. This will usually be a reduction against the full fare.

If assistance from airline staff is needed the airline may ask you to complete an Incapacitated Passengers Handling Advice (INCAD) form and/or a Medical Information Form (MEDIF). These are standard forms used by many airlines to help staff organise any assistance or equipment you may need during the journey and to decide whether the passenger is fit to fly. You can fill in the INCAD form yourself, but the MEDIF form must be completed by your doctor.

The Department for Transport has published a code of practice called 'Access to Air Travel for Disabled People'. It covers the whole journey experience, from accessing information at the booking stage through to arriving at the final destination.

Travel by Road

The provision of facilities for disabled travellers in coaches, taxis and hire cars varies considerably from country to country. Even where there are specially adapted vehicles, as in the UK, these may not be available on all routes or at more than a few locations.

Taxis

London black cabs are wheelchair accessible and most have a variety of additional aids for disabled travellers, including; Ramps, swivel seat, intermediate step, seat sight patches, large coloured grab handles, intercom induction loop, free carriage of assistance dogs, and Taxicard.

Taxicard schemes provide subsidised trips in licensed taxis for Londoners with serious mobility problems who have difficulty in using public transport. For more information, visit Transport for London.

Outside London, local authorities (district/borough councils or unitary authorities) are responsible for licensing taxis and PHVs. For a comprehensive list of local councils in the UK click here.

Buses

New single and double-decker buses are designed to be accessible to disabled people, including wheelchair users. Local councils must offer disabled people in their area free off-peak travel on local bus services; there is no charge for the bus pass. In England, from 1 April 2008, everyone who is eligible for concessionary bus travel will be entitled to free off-peak travel on all local buses. In Wales, if you're entitled to a bus pass from your local authority, you can use it at any time of the day and are entitled to travel on local bus services in any council area. In Scotland, if you are entitled to a bus pass, you can use local bus and scheduled long-distance coach services at any time of the day. This scheme is run by Transport Scotland and you’ll need to apply for an Entitlement Card to travel for free.

Coaches

Coaches used on scheduled services may not always be accessible to all disabled people, especially wheelchair users, as they often have several steep steps up from the entrance door. However, under the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000, all new coaches must be wheelchair accessible. By 2020, all buses and coaches must be fully accessible to disabled people.

Some major coach companies offer concessionary fares or free travel to disabled people. You may need to show your local authority bus pass as proof of your disability.

Coach drivers are now required by law to provide reasonable assistance to disabled people, in particular to help them get on and off the coach. This does not extend to physically lifting passengers or heavy mobility equipment. If you need help to get on and off the coach, you should ask for this when you book your ticket. If you need assistance at the coach station, contact either the station or the coach company before you travel and let them know what help you will need.

Many ticket office windows have induction loops to help people who have a hearing aid. These windows are clearly marked. Phones at many stations are also fitted with devices to help people who have a hearing aid. You can also take support and assistance dogs into station buffets and restaurants, and onto coaches. Many coach stations have accessible toilets. Some operate under the National Key Scheme (NKS), which enable disabled people to use accessible public toilets independently by using their own NKS key. You can buy an NKS key from RADAR. Some coaches have toilets on board. If you can't access the toilet on a long-distance coach journey (for example, because it is situated down some steps), the driver should stop at coach stations along the route so you can use the toilets.

Car Rental

Some international car rental firms have cars equipped with hand controls for drivers with lower-limb disability. For a guide to International companies who can help click here. For rental of specialized vehicles, specifically catered to disabled people, click here.

The Motability Scheme can help you with leasing or buying a car. Through the contract hire scheme you can lease a new car supplied by a Motability Accredited dealer for at least three years. Comprehensive insurance, routine servicing and breakdown assistance are included. You will need to pay for the fitting and removal of any adaptations. To find out more about the Motability Scheme Telephone: 0845 456 4566.

Travel by sea

An increasing number of ferries have incorporated special facilities for disabled people so check which offers the best facilities. (Not all the vessels in a fleet will have the same facilities). Tourism For All keeps details of what is currently available.

Cruises can be especially attractive to older and disabled people, and most shipping lines offering cruises or fly cruises are used to carrying disabled passengers.

When booking a crossing for a disabled passenger, ensure the company knows the nature of the disability and the sort of help needed during the journey. Most UK ports have good facilities; outside the UK, however, this can vary. Bear in mind the following problems:

A cruise may not be feasible for someone who cannot walk at all and is unaccompanied.
Shore excursions may not be possible, especially if tendering is involved and passengers have to board launches.
Coaches on shore excursions are unlikely to have any special facility for a disabled person.
Bad weather can be distressing for everyone, but especially so for someone not too steady on their feet or a wheelchair user.
At ports with rail connections, some train services go right alongside the ship, and at some ports in both the UK and Continental Europe accessible minibuses are available to transfer passengers direct to the quayside.

Travelling by sea

Travel by rail

National Rail need advance warning if you need any assistance from staff - ideally more than 24 hours' notice. This is particularly important if your journey includes getting on or off a train at an unmanned station.

Staff cannot lift disabled passengers or heavy items like mobility scooters. When booking your journey, give as much detail as possible about your needs. For services that offer seat reservations, the local contact person can reserve a seat or wheelchair space for you without charge.

All intercity train services are wheelchair accessible. Access to the train is provided by a ramp kept at the station. Wheelchair accessible sleeper cabins are available on overnight trains between London and Scotland but not on those between London and West of England. To arrange a train journey in the UK, contact National Rail Enquiries. Telephone: 0845 7484 950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.

The 'Disabled Person's Railcard' gives discounts to holders and is available to people with a variety of disabilities. Pick up a leaflet at stations, travel centres and post offices, or apply online. Blind or partially sighted travellers who do not have a Disabled Person's Railcard are entitled to discounts on standard and season tickets. One companion who will be entitled to the same discounts may accompany them. Guide dogs accompanying blind people are always conveyed free of charge.

The Disability Discrimination Act stipulates that all trains, trams and tube trains brought into use after 31 December 1998 should be accessible to disabled people and allow them to travel in safety and reasonable comfort. Access to most underground stations is via numerous steps. The system can become extremely crowded at peak times and, therefore, difficult for those with mobility problems. Jubilee Line trains are wheelchair accessible from all the new stations between Westminster and Stratford – stations can be reached via lift.

You are advised to check the operation of lifts by calling +44 (020) 7308 2800 (during office hours) or +44 (020) 7222 1234 (evenings and weekends). Visit Transport for London before you travel.

Accomodation

The nature and degree of your disability will dictate the type of accommodation you require. The points below summarize what is important and are particularly relevant to wheelchair users. However, when booking, consider the facilities you need for maximum comfort, request these facilities and ask for confirmation in writing that they are available. At Tourism For All you will be able to order a brochure which lists all approved hotels with disabled facilities.

For wheelchair access, entrance or side doors need to be ramped or level with a minimum width of 80cm (32in). Interior doors need to be at least this width with no steps leading into public rooms (restaurant, lounge, bar, toilets, etc). There are many disabled people who do not use wheelchairs but are unable to use steps or stairs, so require ground-floor bedrooms. If ground-floor bedrooms are not available, there should be a lift large enough to take a wheelchair (i.e. at least 140cm (55in) deep by 1100cm (43in) wide). (Ask whether there are any steps in the corridor between the lift doors and the bedroom). Bedrooms should have a sufficient turning space for a wheelchair (i.e. 140cm (55in) by 140cm (55in) and free width of at least 80cm (32in) to one side of the bed. Bathrooms also need enough space and a hand rail by the bath.

Travel Insurance

As well as the 'usual' types of cover, for example, flight delays and theft of belongings, there are other things to check when choosing an insurance policy. These include:

cover for any medical costs that arise from your impairment - as many policies do not cover claims arising from 'pre-existing medical conditions'.
cover if an airline is unable to carry you for any reason, for example, a change of plane type to one that is not accessible.
It is advisable to take out travel insurance even if you are travelling within the UK. This is especially important if you are taking special equipment such as wheelchairs or if you’re likely to need medical attention, which may cut short your holiday.
It's important to declare your disability or illness when arranging insurance, even though standard travel insurance doesn't cover any illness or health problem that existed or was diagnosed before your holiday began.
The insurance company may ask for specific details, or your doctor may need to complete a form stating that you are fit to travel. You may be asked to sign a form stating that you are not awaiting treatment, for example.

For a guide to finding the right insurance for your disability please click here.

Health Abroad

When travelling to a European country, make sure that you have a European Health Insurance Card. It covers medical costs in most countries in Europe, (although it is not a substitute for travel insurance). It has replaced the E111 form and is normally valid for 3-5 years. If you become ill while abroad, the EHIC gives access to state-provided medical treatment in the country you are visiting. The card also covers any treatment you need for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness, and routine maternity care. The European Health Insurance Card is free, and you can apply online, or find out how to apply by phone or at the post office.