Accessible Travel For Travelers With Disabilities


Although the travel industry has a long way to go to improve their services to travelers with disabilities, helping your clients research and plan can make their vacation as stress-free as possible. Here is some useful information about accessibility options when helping your clients plan their vacation.

Cruising

All cruise ships that sail in U.S. waters must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), meaning they must offer equal access for people who travel on cruise ships. Even cruise ships that are foreign-flagged, meaning they don’t originate from the U.S., must be ADA-compliant if they sail through U.S. waters. Many cruise lines have accessible staterooms on their ships, meaning the dimensions and amenities in the rooms are specially designed to accommodate passengers with limited or no mobility, who are deaf or hard of hearing, or blind or have a vision impairment. Additionally, most cruise lines have braille signage and elevator buttons and offer familiarization tours of the vessels if requested.

It's important to note that while many cruise lines welcome service dogs onboard, most will not allow companion animals, emotional support animals or therapy animals. Your clients will need to bring documentation of their service dog's vaccination records. 

Air Travel 

When booking airfare for your client, it's important to understand their needs before booking. You can call the airline to see if they are able to accommodate your client, and be sure to give the client plenty of time between flights and layovers to have enough time to comfortably make it to their next gate. 

Be aware of, and provide, the TSA’s rules for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions to your clients as well. You can request assistance from TSA through the TSA Cares program online, or call (855) 787-2227 if your client's flight is within 72 hours. This program provides assistance to travelers with disabilities at airports. See also the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Disability Resource Center. For clients with sensory issues, you can look into the airport to see if they have "sensory rooms." These are places for people to take refuge from sensory overload and decompress from the stressful atmosphere at the airport. 

Ground Transportation

When adding airport transfers, look for options that say “limited mobility,” or “wheelchair accessible,” depending on the option your client needs. You will want to review the dimensions of the client’s wheelchair or mobility aid and weight to determine if the transfer will work for them or not. Be sure to communicate with your client to determine their needs.  

Accommodations 

Contact the resort ahead of time to ask about availability of accessible room options. Some resorts have a limited amount of wheelchair accessible rooms, so book in advance to ensure your client receives the room option they require. If the hotel/resort is in the US, ask if the rooms meet the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements. If yes, ask what specific modifications have been made to the room. 

How to plan your client's trip


Ask the right questions
Don't be afraid to ask your clients what they need. This can be as simple as asking, "Is there anything I can help you with that will make this trip more comfortable or accessible?" Or, "Are there any requirements or needs you have that are non-negotiable?" It's important you do not make assumptions about your client’s preferences or what they may be comfortable doing based on your understanding of their disability or limitations. Everyone's needs and preferences are different. 

Choose the right vendors
Xstream partners with dozens of vendors that offer accessible options for travelers with disabilities. Here are some options: 

  • Sandals: provides all-inclusive luxury Caribbean vacations for everyone, including people with disabilities. They offer accessible rooms options, wheelchair accessible ramps and wider clearance on doorways, bathroom rails, lowered light switches and faucets, bathroom benches and more. They also have an experienced staff member on hand to ensure your clients' needs will be met.  

  • Beaches: Beaches offers a special certification course in becoming a certified autism travel professional. This course will increase your clientele by gaining knowledge and access to a brand-new customer base with comprehensive training in autism-related travel. More information about their CATP course is here. They also have Autism-friendly kid camps to offer families with children with autism and other special needs specialized service, engaging activities and custom dining options so that all families may enjoy a memorable, award-winning Beaches Luxury Included experience. Learn more here. 

  • Scootaround: The nation's leading personal transportation solutions company, offering rental, sales, and repair services for scooters, wheelchairs, powerchairs, and rollators at over 2,500 locations worldwide. Check them out on your Vendor List for instructions on how to book. They also offer travel mobility guides with great information on how to help your client's trip be more accessible.  

  • Disney Parks and Disney World Resorts: have an unwavering commitment to providing a welcoming, inclusive environment and accessible experiences for their Guests. This includes options for people with cognitive, hearing, light sensitivity and mobility disabilities. They offer many options to these guests including mobility aids and conveyance vehicle rentals, restroom and companion restrooms, a welcoming policy for service animals, services and devices for guests with visual disabilities, guides, health care services provided by AdventHealth, and much more.
     
    As part of this commitment, Disability Access Service (DAS) is a program offered at Walt Disney World theme parks to assist Guests who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability. They also have a department dedicated to assisting guests with disabilities and can be contacted at Disability Services at (407) 560-2547 or email     disability.services@disneyparks.com.  

  • Vax: Please read this article by Andrea Sedlacek, editor of The Compass in Vax, about making family travel accessible for everyone. The article has invaluable insights on how to book air, transportation, obtain room amenities, and more when booking clients with accessibility needs. There are also hotel and resorts recommendations you can book through Vax to offer your clients. See Jenna Buege's, associate editor of The Compass in Vax, article on 7 top-notch wheelchair accessible resorts and hotels here.

  • Royal Caribbean: Royal Caribbean offers multiple options from accessible staterooms, accessible shore excursions, additional onboard and offboard assistance, options for guests with autism and developmental disabilities, visual and hearing disabilities, and welcomes service animals. They do require advance notice to accommodate some requests, so please submit a Guest Special Needs Form here. Please submit the Guest Special Needs Form at time of booking but no later than 30 days prior to sailing, except for sign language interpreting requests which must be submitted 60 days prior to sailing. This will allow them to make the necessary arrangements for your requested accommodations. To learn more, please click here. You can also call their Access Department at (866) 592-7225, or send an e-mail to special_needs@rccl.com. Their fax number is  (954) 628-9622. 

    Autism on the Seas “Staffed Cruises” are offered on select cruises. For a list of Autism on the Seas group cruises, click here. Please click the link for the RCCL Autism_Social_Story_Booklet.pdf. 

  • Carnival: Carnival has made substantial modifications to their ships, to help make them easier to navigate. The ships feature accessible elevators at each elevator bank, equipped with both tactile controls within reach of guests who use wheelchairs and audible signals for guests who are blind or have limited vision. Accessible routes are available throughout most areas of the ship and signs are posted to assist you in locating these pathways. Accessible tables are available in the dining venues of each ship. In addition to the main dining rooms, each ship offers a variety of accessible dining options within Lido Deck casual dining areas and other restaurant venues. 24-hour room service is also available for all guests. Pool lifts are only available on Carnival Horizon, Carnival Panorama, Carnival Radiance, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Vista, and Mardi Gras, all of which have a 300 pound weight limit. For each ship, diagrams of accessible routes, accessible staterooms, and accessible public restrooms are available here.

  • Norwegian: Norwegian Cruise Line is committed to providing inclusivity and access to world-class vacation experiences by continuously improving and applying the most updated accessibility standards to exceed guests’ expectations. Assistance is available for guests with mobility needs for on ship rentals, deaf or low hearing room options including visual-tactile alert systems and personal pagers, Braille / tactile signage as well as a vessel orientation tour for blind and low vision guests, and more. Service animals are allowed onboard and must be arranged through the Access Desk prior to the cruise. They also provide Accessibility Coordinators before travel and require a Guest Special Needs Request at least 90 days for interpreters and 45 days for all other requirements. Onboard, the Norwegian Cruise Line Access Officer will be the primary person managing all of your client's needs.

  • Amtrak: Amtrak Vacations is happy to provide accessible transportation to all of our customers. Accessible seating and accessible restrooms are available in at least one Coach car on all trains. Most Lounge cars and Café cars also have accessible seating. One accessible bedroom is available in each Sleeping car. In order to obtain accessible seating and facilities during your vacation, be sure to notify us prior to booking and make your reservations early since these rooms and seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

You are not limited to these vendors! Check with any vendor you plan to work with about their accessibility options.


During their trip 
If you booked a specific room category or mobility rental, make sure your client has a copy of all confirmations and vouchers. Be sure to provide your client with any contact information for accessibility departments or contacts that are available to assist them with their needs while at their destination.  

Additional Resources:

  • For people with autism and other IDDs, please look into The Arc Wings for Autism/Wings for all Program. The Arc’s Wings for Autism/Wings for All program gives families and aviation professionals the confidence to take to the skies with ease by providing an airport “rehearsal,” as well as a presentation on the aircraft features and in-flight safety protocols. Please check their site for webinars and resources. 
  • Emerging Horizons is a site that provides great travel news and information about accessibility for travelers.
  • Become a Special Needs Group (SNG) Certified Accessible Travel Advocate. The SNG Travel Advisor/Agent Certification program is FREE; the information and knowledge provided are priceless!
  • Become A Certified Autism Travel Professional through IBCCES to offer support and travel-related services to an individual on the autism spectrum as well as their family.
  • The Travel Institute offers training specifically for accommodating travelers needs.