Travel the Easy Way... Just Pack Your Bags and Go!

By Christine Norris

Some individuals with MS are skeptical of traveling due to their physical limitations. Others relish the independence and confidence that comes from the rewards of seeing a new part of the world. If you have always wanted to travel but are afraid of handling the logistics due to your disability, you may be surprised at some of the services available to help you on your journey. From all-inclusive resorts to group-guided tours, the world of travel has become savvy to the needs of the disabled. This article lists some great options for individuals with MS who are looking to take a vacation.

If you're afraid of traveling alone, don't worry. You'll find many others that feel the same way, and remember, going alone doesn't have to mean being alone. Group or escorted tours offer varying degrees of excitement and freedom for travelers of all ages and abilities. These group-organized activities give the single traveler ample opportunity to meet other people.

Cruise lines and all-inclusive resorts make the trip as smooth as possible for the disabled traveler. Meals, many activities, and entertainment are included in their cost. Best of all, since you sleep in the same cabin or room each night, you don't have to pack and unpack as you would when traveling from one hotel to another. This conserves energy for more pleasurable pastimes such as "people watching" on the Riviera or sampling wine and cheese at a village winery.

"You can also learn a lot. It's nice to have someone tell you what you're looking at - especially when it's your first time abroad," says Andrea Fox, a former travel agent who has traveled all over the world solo. "Tours are good for people who don't want to structure everything themselves. Tours make traveling alone easier, and you can always strike up a conversation with someone whenever you like."

Before deciding on a group tour to explore the ancient jewels along the Nile or an independent trip to take in the latest plays in London, think about what you want to get out of your vacation. Do you need to unwind? Would you like to meet people or be alone? Are you interested in a challenging adventure? Or do you crave a change of scenery?

To help you discover what you really want to get out of your vacation, it's best to contact a tour operator or travel agency that specializes in planning trips for people who are physically challenged. Staffed with trained professionals, these agencies can provide information, plan an itinerary, and ensure that you will have the accessibility you need to travel comfortably with your disability. If you prefer, with their guidance, you can plan your own trip. To follow are some of the top tour groups to contact. They have all been in business for over a decade and specialize in accessible travel.

The largest group cruise operator in the world for slow walkers, travelers with wheels©, their families, and friends, is Accessible Journeys. They also offer individuals with physical disabilities special group vacations, independent travel, and itinerary planning. What makes this service unique is its staff of professional companions, including registered nurses, therapists, and physicians, to make your trip experience more comfortable.

Accessible Journeys specializes in international travel. Trips planned for 2005-2006 include excursions to: New Zealand and Australia, Costa Rica, and Ireland; a South African safari; and luxury tours of Italy and England. The organization also offers its customers a vast array of disability resources regarding destinations, services, access, barrier-free travel, and traveler supplies. For more information on Accessible Journeys, visit www.disabilitytravel.com or call (800) 846-4537.

Flying Wheels Travel, based in Owatonna, Minnesota, has been arranging escorted group tours, accessible cruises, and customized itineraries for disabled travelers with able-bodied companions for more than 30 years. Founded in 1970 by Barbara Jacobson and her late husband, Judd Jacobson, who was a quadriplegic, Flying Wheels Travel specializes in international travel for the disabled. Jacobson recently received The Conde Nast Traveler award for her tireless efforts to improve accessibility for her disabled clients. She travels constantly to research accessibility and to find new opportunities for her clients to travel safely.

For example, Jacobson recently accompanied a person with MS on a new cruise ship that traveled along the Nile. The cruise ship featured four wheelchair-accessible cabins. She believes that the key to opening more of the world to individuals with disabilities, is to educate the suppliers. For more information on Flying Wheels Travel, visit www.flyingwheelstravel.com or call (507) 451-5005.

Contact Access Tours, based in Idaho, if you want to see the great American West. A service of Access Institute (a volunteer, nonprofit organization), Access Tours specializes in small, all-accessible tours. Since most tours only include 10 to 11 people, advance reservations are recommended. This year's tours include the Southwest Tour (to Tucson, Tombstone, Sedona, Kartchner Caverns, Spanish Mission, Mexico, Indian Ruins, and Biosphere 2); Canadian Rockies (including Glacier Park in Montana, Lake Louise, Banff, and Waterton Lakes National Park); Mount Rushmore National Park; Santa Fe, Mesa Verde, and Arches National Parks; and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

According to Clint Grosse, director for Access Institute, "I have always felt that travel is therapeutic and that we all need some R&R [rest and relaxation]. Our guests tell us all the time that their travels with us really provide these benefits. Some of those who have never traveled before with a disability, suddenly realize that if they can go all the way out west, they can do a lot more things at home.

"Many of our guests have MS, and we plan our tours according to their needs," notes Clint. "For instance, with heat regulation often being a problem for individuals with MS, we set our tour dates in warm weather, but try to avoid hot weather. We also don't usually start our day until after 9:00 in the morning, and typically don't continue past late afternoon, in an effort to minimize fatigue." For more information, please visit www.accesstours.org or call (800) 929-4811.

Airport Alert

The Transportation Security Admin-istration (TSA), part of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for protecting the nation's transit system, recently posted updated guidelines for air travelers. These include guidelines for those with disabilities regarding security screening procedures.

This information describes the rights of passengers with disabilities and necessary screening procedures. The update also includes guidance concerning different types of disabilities and assistive devices. These tips are posted on the TSA website at www.tsa.gov. TSA may also be reached by calling (866) 289-9673.

If you prefer a vacation where you can explore the great outdoors with experienced guides, contact Wilderness Inquiry Outdoor Adventures. This nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis runs accessible canoe, kayak, raft, hiking, and dogsled adventures all over North America. Recent trips have included a five-day canoe trip through northern Minnesota's million-acre Boundary Waters canoe area, a family friendly adventure to the Black Hills of South Dakota, a five-day trip by horseback through Colorado's High Country, and a 10-day sea kayak trip to Costa Rica. For more information on Wilderness Inquiry Outdoor Adventures, please visit www.wildernessinquiry.org or call (800) 728-0719.

All of the services mentioned give individuals with physical challenges some great options for travel. Whether going west to ride a raft down Snake River or traveling half-way across the world to sit atop the Great Wall of China, these services can help you to plan an unforgettable trip. Through the assistance of guides, accessible transportation, and medical professionals, as well as having other travelers along, you'll ensure that your vacation is safe, enjoyable, and fun!

Editor's note: the agencies mentioned have been helping individuals with disabilities for many years to see the world in the safest and most enjoyable ways possible. Please note, however, that MSAA is not affiliated with these agencies and is not responsible for any issues that may arise. Anyone interested in using these services for their travel plans should take the usual precautions (both financial and personal) as they would when hiring any outside travel agency. Additionally, individuals with a medical condition (such as MS) who are planning to travel should check with their physician in advance to be sure that all activities are approved and do not present any dangers to one's health or wellbeing.

About the Author

A former editor of The Motivator, Christine Norris is now a freelance writer specializing in health and wellness issues.

Helpful Resources

Smitner, P., Access for Disabled Americans - A Guide for The Wheelchair Traveler, Disabled Travel Series, 1996.

Steves, R., Easy Access Europe 2004: A Guide for Travelers with Limited Mobility, Avalon Travel Publishing, 2004.

Walsh, A., The Real Guide: True Stories by and for People with Disabilities, Prentice Hall, 1994.

Schwarz, S.P., 300 Tips for Making Life with Multiple Sclerosis Easier, Demos Medical Publishing Inc., 1999.

Roth, W., Easy Access to National Parks, Random House, 1992.

Please note: some of these books may be ordered through www.amazon.com or Barnes & Noble at www.bn.com Barnes & Noble may also be reached by calling (800) 843-2665.

Travelin' Talk is an internet network of disabled people in thousands of locations worldwide that share accessible information on travel. To join for $19.95, visit www.travelintalk.net

Leaving Behind a Book and a Legacy

Despite being diagnosed with MS and breast cancer, former emergency physician Kate Christie Zee, MD, PhD (pictured on page 27) had a remarkable zest for life, adventure, and travel - going on to write a book about her experiences. Titled Disappearing Windmills: A Waist-High View of the World's Hot Spots, this writing gives an exciting account of her journeys around the world.

Having traveled to 47 countries, Kate visited 21 of them while in a wheelchair, including China, India, Nepal, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brazil, and Tanzania. Intertwined with her international adventure stories are discussions of social issues that face all of us who go through a major change in life, whether it be adapting to a disability, growing older, losing a spouse, or moving to a strange city.

Sadly, Kate passed away in 1999 following a two-year battle with bladder cancer. Prior to her death, Kate established a scholarship fund to provide free travel opportunities to disabled travelers who are unable to afford the cost of travel. The proceeds from her book sales as well as outside donations fund this scholarship. For more information on her book or the scholarship, please go to www.disabilitytravel.com/windmills.htm or call Accessible Journeys at (800) 846-4537.

Back