Travelling with children is way more stressful than when going on holiday alone. Travelling with a disabled child can be even more challenging as there are other obstacles to overcome as well as all the expected difficulties children pose. With this in mind, here are some top tips to make travelling with your disabled child much easier and enjoyable for all on your holidays this year:
- Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is always recommended when you have a disabled person with your party as some places can make special provisions to ensure your visit is as easy for you as possible. The first thing to decide is the mode of transportation. If you are travelling by road, a wheelchair restraint can be your child’s best friend. This is because wheelchair restraint systems can be used to help secure the user safely and comfortably in the wheelchair without restricting their movement or hindering their comfort. These systems are designed to make it easier for those using wheelchairs and scooters to go on trips and excursions. Similarly, if you are travelling by train or air, then you can look for similar products.
Then comes the next part, that is, about exploring the destination. This applies to everything from arranging transportation from the airport to the hotel (in case of air travel) to heading to museums and attractions, as there should always be people on hand to assist you/aid your trip. This can prevent you from having to navigate sets of stairs or areas of uneven ground in some circumstances. If you have a child in a Lightweight Travel Wheelchair, or have difficulty walking, there may be routes and mobility aids for those using wheelchairs and scooters available to you during your visit. For example, some places may offer ramps or lifts to help people using wheelchairs or scooters enter the building more easily. Additionally, they may offer wider doorways or accessible door handles to help with maneuvering. These mobility aids may even be offered outside the building such as on public transport or in parks, to make it relatively easier for people with disabilities to access them.
- Don’t Rule Out Options
Although going some places with a disabled child will make your trip a little more challenging, don’t be put off going anywhere. Obviously, if a place is very uneven under foot or doesn’t have any disabled access then you may have to rule it out as an option, but the majority of places should be geared up for disabled visitors with special access and provisions on site. If you’re unsure about what facilities a destination has, call up in advance to check and see what they can do for you to make your visit more enjoyable.
- Organise Transport
Depending on the type of holiday that you’re going on, you’ll need to organise transport. Getting this organised in advance ensures that there’s no hiccups along the way, which is especially important when travelling with a disabled person in your party. If you’re travelling in the UK, why not hire your own car with disability access like the ones from Allied Mobility so that you know that getting from A to B won’t be an issue as you’ll have the right vehicle for all your adventures at your disposal.
Like going on any holiday, organisation and planning is key to success and prevents any unforeseen circumstances from spoiling your trip. By following this advice you’ll be able to enjoy a great family holiday together this year.