Anyone who has survived a spinal cord injury understands life will never be the same. It will affect your daily activities and how you interact with people, places, and things. But with proper guidance and help from professional caregivers, even those who have experienced severe types of SCI are capable of returning to some level of normalcy.

One part of post-SCI life often overlooked is travel.

Whether for business, pleasure, or medical reasons, travel is one of life’s great endeavors, and there’s no reason it can’t continue to be, even for those with a spinal cord injury. It’s important to remember, however, certain things you used to take for granted with regards to travel now must be carefully considered and planned for.

The tips and advice here may seem rather obvious but making them part of your normal travel routine will go a long way toward a successful trip and more enjoyable travel.

Traveling by Air

Airlines and airports present their own unique challenges for people with an SCI. The good news is that most airlines and airports have established practices and protocol for assisting those who travel with a spinal cord injury. Nevertheless, when making a reservation or speaking with a travel agent, it’s important to make clear the following things:

·       Inform them of your disability

·       Inform them if you are bringing a wheelchair and if it is manual or powered

·       If powered wheelchair, inform them of the type of batteries

·       Inform them if you have a service dog

·       Make sure they know where in the plane you prefer to sit

·       Inform them of whether or not you will need assistance getting on or off the plane with an aisle chair (wheelchair designed to airplane specifications)

Reserving and Staying in Hotels

Similar to airline travel, your hotel stays will be more successful if, at the time of making reservations, you are clear about your condition, your needs, and the hotel services and accommodations necessary to meet them. When making reservations, be sure to do the following:

·       Inform them of your disability

·       Inform them if you are using a wheelchair and whether it is powered or manual

·       Inform them of your specific bathroom needs (eg, Do you need a roll-in shower? A shower chair?)

·       Make sure to ask them about accessible transportation to and from hotel

·       Confirm with them the condition and location of ramps and lifts

Traveling by Rail

While rail travel is not quite as popular as it used to be, many people with an SCI prefer it as a means of travel, whether taking cross-country trips or everyday trips in and around urban centers. Successful rail travel for people living with an SCI begins with asking questions and sharing information with transportation and reservations agents:

·       Inform them of your specific disability

·       Inform them if you will be taking a wheelchair and whether it is manual or powered

·       If powered, inform them what type of battery it runs on

·       Inform them if you have and will bring a service dog

·       Inform them where you prefer to sit

·       If travelling in overnight car, learn if their rooms are wheelchair friendly

Planning Ahead is Everything

Whether traveling by air, train, or car, if there’s one general rule of thumb that can be applied to all travel with a spinal cord injury, it would be to do your due diligence on all aspects of your trip and plan ahead. Not only will this ease anxieties normally associated with any travel, it helps prevent unwanted surprises while in transit. The following are just a few of the things you may want to consider:

·       With all reservations and transportation, call ahead. Do not take anyone’s word for it that a destination is wheelchair accessible – confirm it yourself

·       Learn if and where there are any curbs, ramps, and elevators to assist you

·       Learn if there are wheelchair repair shops in your area of travel – or be prepared to travel with a backup chair and/or spare parts/batteries

·       Consider purchasing travel insurance in case connections don’t connect or claims of accessibility are inaccurate

·       If traveling outside the U.S. with equipment that needs electrical charging, make sure the electrical current requirements of your travel destination match that of your equipment and/or be prepared to bring a converter or have one supplied

·       If you take medications, check with your doctor to make sure you have enough needed for the length of your trip

·       Always plan out a rough itinerary at the very least