How to Have an Accessible Vacation Experienceeditorial by youth team member, Grace Trumpower Summer is here! Summer gives us the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with friends and family, and, of course, go on vacations. But disruptions to routine can be difficult for some people with disabilities. So, what can we do to make our trips and activities fun and accessible? This article will explore how to do just that- have disability-friendly experiences throughout the season. Be Aware of Your Needs It is often said that people with disabilities are the true experts on their disability, not professionals or family members. This is true in advocacy settings, but it’s also important to remember day-to-day. As a youth with disabilities, you know your wants and needs. Use trip planning as an opportunity to be a self-advocate! Ask the people you are traveling with where you are going and what you will be doing. Think of how each new location or activity might affect you, and think of accommodations that can lessen the impact of your disability. For example, if you get stressed about changes in routine, try to create a social story or itinerary about what is going to happen on your trip to accommodate your need for structure. Sometimes, the people you are traveling with may doubt your needs or the impact of your disability. It is important to speak up for yourself and use your accommodations anyway. You may want to prepare a short script explaining your accommodations and why you need them. This may help them understand your needs. Remember, disability pride and self-advocacy never take a vacation! Make a List of Necessary Equipment People with disabilities often use adaptive equipment, which can’t be easily replaced if they forget it. You can buy a new stick of deodorant at a store pretty much anywhere, but if you leave your wheelchair charger at home, you probably won’t be able to find another one. You might have to go back and get it, which isn’t always possible. A good way to prevent this is to make a checklist. Think through what an average day looks like. Then make a list of everything you would use from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed. You can start with a list of everyday things, and then make a list of your adaptive equipment. You can print out a checklist and mark everything off with a pencil when you’ve put the item in your bag. Do not check off items that you are “going to get later” because that will increase your chances of forgetting. Only check something off if it’s been packed correctly. Some people use equipment like wheelchairs and communication devices part-time. If you are a part-time user, always take your equipment. It is better to have equipment and not need it, than to need equipment and not have it. If you have equipment that is single-use only, such as medicine, catheters, gloves, or incontinence supplies, always bring extra. Something could happen that causes you to use more of your supplies than expected or some of your equipment could get lost. Packing extra ensures that you will have everything you need, and it will reduce anxiety when preparing for your trip. Know Your Rights People with disabilities are protected from discrimination when traveling via plane by a law called the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The ACAA maintains that a disabled person must be allowed to travel without any advance notice, just like a person without a disability. However, they may require up to 48 hours advance notice for an accommodation that requires preparation time, such as the use of a respirator or the transportation of an electric wheelchair on a smaller flight. Airlines are also required to provide assistance with the other aspects of airline travel and must help people with disabilities board, deplane, and make connecting flights. Once on the plane, you may ask for minimal assistance, but you are not entitled to personal care. Keep this in mind when planning your trip, because you may need to bring someone to assist you. People with disabilities are allowed priority boarding and can board the plane before everyone else. Assistive devices are also given priority compared to other baggage, and they do not count against any limits for carry-ons. The ACAA requires newer planes to have accessible bathrooms and an onboard wheelchair allowing passengers with mobility disabilities to move around the aircraft, as long as there are more than 60 seats on the plane. If not, you can request an onboard wheelchair, but you must give the airline 48 hours advance notice. Most of the changes required by the ACAA were received positively. One, however, was not. The ACAA redefines Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) as pets. This means that people with ESAs must pay pet fees. People with service animals may fly without a pet fee, but they have to fill out a form that certifies that their animal is a task-trained service animal. Some people consider this an unfair burden on people with disabilities, and some think it helps to reduce the presence of untrained animals on planes. Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects your right to visit public places and requires that accommodations be made. For example, if you stay in a hotel, they are required to have an ADA accessible room that has things like bars in the bathroom, a visual doorbell for D/deaf/Hard of Hearing people, and a roll in shower. If you are visiting another country, be sure to research that country’s laws beforehand to ensure that you know your rights. It is also a good idea to research the attractions you are visiting and the places you are staying at to make sure they are accessible to you. There are travel agencies that cater to people with disabilities specifically that can help you plan an accessible adventure! Whatever you choose to do this summer and wherever you choose to go, the most important thing to do is have fun! For more information about the ACAA, click the link below. ACAA Fact Sheet For accessible travel ideas, follow disabled travel content creator Cory Lee Curb Free with Cory Lee | 
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