Disabled Travelers Find Help on the Go

By Victor Block

Betty Gordon and her husband, Don, were looking forward to a wide range of leisure activities and sightseeing opportunities as they checked into their vacation hotel. When they departed several days later, they had enjoyed everything on their wish list.

They had taken dips in the property's swimming pool and checked out an oceanfront beach and the brown pelicans that nest there. They took a horse-drawn sightseeing carriage ride along the city's cobblestone streets through its historic neighborhoods. They visited what's described as the largest inclusive playground in the world, which was designed to be welcoming to children with a variety of disabilities.

That facility was of particular interest to Betty, who has been confined to a wheelchair for many years. Despite that challenge, she has been able to travel and participate in activities that in the past would have been beyond her capabilities. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four adults (28.7%) in the United States has some type of disability. These include challenges relating to mobility, hearing loss, cognition and other conditions.

In recent years, government-mandated alterations to facilities, improvements provided by companies seeking to attract these customers and other changes have opened this country and the world to exploration by people who in the past could not avail themselves of that opportunity.

The Gordons benefitted from some of these changes, but their experience only scratched the surface of travel possibilities that await those who seek them out. From basics such as wheelchair ramps and push-button door-openers to some surprising facilities and services, the range of assistance available to people with disabilities who seek to travel is broad and growing.

The Marriott, Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels are among chains that share a reputation for offering wheelchair-accessible rooms and other disabled-friendly facilities. Many individual properties also fit into that category.

The Otesaga Resort Hotel, a top-flight retreat in Cooperstown, New York, has ADA-compliant guess rooms with roll-in showers, roll-under sinks, low-placed light switches and other features. Ramp slopes to common areas and a pool lift are among the amenities.

Those seeking to challenge Lady Luck in Las Vegas also find a friendly environment. Las Vegas Boulevard, the "strip" where most of the hotels, attractions and activities are located, is accessible with wide, smooth sidewalks in most stretches. Among welcoming hotels is the world-famous Bellagio, located mid-strip, which offers three types of accessible rooms, has a swimming pool with a lift and -- like many hotels here -- its own casino.

Other cities also reach out to those seeking a disabled-supportive environment. The Gordons found much to like about Charleston, South Carolina. For starters, it has been named several times by Conde Nast Traveler as the No. 1 Small U.S. City. The terrain is flat, and its historic area is compressed and welcoming to pedestrians. That makes it ideal for a walking or wheelchair tour. For those who prefer to ride, free wheelchair-accessible shuttle buses loop around the city.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the adjoining 60-mile stretch of ocean coastline offer a something-for-everyone choice of seashore settings. Its tourism office has adopted a Sensory Friendly Pledge to create a welcoming, inclusive beach experience for everyone. Trained personnel are available at attractions and restaurants to support visitors who might require assistance, and the city's airport has a program that allows travelers with a disability to alert personnel that they may require assistance.

Amtrak has a menu of options for disabled travelers, beginning with wheelchair lifts and other boarding assistance. Most stations in major cities and many others are accessible. A horizontal bar, which is detectable by someone using a cane, alerts people that they are approaching the ticket counter. Passengers with mobility impairments can be pre-boarded. If meals are offered during the trip, they can be brought to a person's room or seat.

Those aboard a cruise ship who require individual help also have options. For example, every vessel in the American Cruise Lines fleet has accessible staterooms with wide doors and bathrooms large enough to accommodate a wheelchair along with grab rails, a shower bench and other conveniences. Most have an elevator that reaches every stateroom deck. Guests can complete an accessibility questionnaire before they embark to express their needs. American Cruise Lines' small ships navigate U.S. waterways and coastlines on more than 50 itineraries.

It's wise to check in advance about available facilities and services where you will be traveling and staying. Because only a fraction of hotel rooms are designed for guests with disabilities, make your reservations well ahead of when you will begin your trip.

Check the hotel's website or call to discuss its accessibility features. Make sure that what it has available will meet your specific needs. When you arrive, inspect the room before you unpack. Does it contain everything you require? Is it large enough to maneuver in comfortably? Another good idea is to look at the accessiblego.com website, which offers help for disabled travelers when they are ready to book their arrangements.

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WHEN YOU GO

www.otesaga.com

www.visitlasvegas.com

www.charlestoncvb.com

www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

www.amtrak.com

www.americancruiselines.com

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Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.