This excellent travel information package was put together by Baden Whitehead when he was working with the Australian Quadriplegic Association (AQA) in Victoria, Australia. For further information, contact AQA by phone at (03) 9489 0777, fax at (03) 9482 4371 or email at admin@aqavic.org.au.

Preparation:

1. Travelling when you have a disability requires preparation, assess your personal needs and understand what access and assistance you will require. If you do this your holiday will be a holiday.
2. Prepare and book well in advance as many accommodation places only have one room with facilities for people with disabilities.
3. Holidays can cost more because of the need for specialist facilities.
4. Equipment can create the need for extra luggage.

What Items to Take?
Wheelchair:

1. Electric: Charger adapter plug, sealed dry cell batteries, spare tube, puncture kit, phone number of your wheelchair manufacturer/agent.
2. Manual: Rear wheel axle, spare tube, tyre levers puncture repair kit, or non-puncture tyres.
3. General: Spare cushion, cushion cover, gel or Roho cushion, small pump.
4. Disability parking label.

Bathing:

1. Take a rubber shower hose and head with slip-on rubber tap fittings.
2. Roho or gel cushion can be used without covers in wet areas.
3. Use your own wheelchair if necessary... ensure you dry axles and inserts after shower.
4. Extra towels can be handy.
5. Beware of transferring onto plastic chairs in shower recesses (chair legs can buckle or break).
6. Beware of changeable water temperatures when showering.

Medications:

1. If going overseas, be sure to ask your Doctor to provide you with a letter and list of prescribed medications. Check for legality within other countries.
2. Ensure you have enough medications to last the time you will be away.
3. A personal emergency kit can be useful (e.g. betadine antiseptic, tape, vaseline and other assorted potions).

Bowel Care:

1. Suppositories/laxatives (always carry more than you think you will need).
2. Commode.
3. Blueys plastic (bowel care on bed).

Caution: When on holiday you may change your diet and this can affect bowel care.

Urine Care:

1. Bottle.
2. Pads.
3. Spare leg bag.
4. Night bags (handy to plug into leg bags to empty in planes, cars, etc.).
5. Waterproof bed sheet (motels can charge for mattress and electric blanket damage).
6. Urinary devices (always take extras).
7. Spare connector and tubing.
8. Hyperflexia card may be useful.

TIP: A few pairs of absorbent pants for times when you cannot change if your urinary appliance comes off (aircraft).

Optional Extras:

1. Mobile phone.
2. Bags that you can wheel - tow yourself. Your travelling companion can only carry so much... and is on holiday too!
3. Back pack that hangs on the back of your chair (beware, however, of people stealing things out of your bag... turn it back to front or use a combination lock or padlock to hold zips together).
4. A net for under your chair.
5. Extra towels.
6. Travel insurance (if you take out disability travel insurance read the fine print... your travelling companion may be required to take it out too).
7. Mirror to check your skin.

Accommodation is available in:

1. Hotels/Motels.
2. Romantic getaways/Bed and Breakfasts
3. Cabins/Camping grounds. Youth hostels.
4. Specialist accommodation houses.

Note:

1. When you make a phone call to an accommodation facility to establish accessibility and the proprietor responds, "Yes, we have had people in wheelchairs stay before" beware!! Ask specific questions... e.g. about stairs. Measure the width of your wheelchair and ask if all doors are wider. Is the shower enclosed and does it have a hand-held shower hose? Can you get a commode over the toilet? Develop your own specific check list. This may seem a hassle, but it can save many headaches... everybody has a different interpretation of the word 'accessible'!!!
2. If bathroom access is tight many places will take the bathroom door off.
3. If the shower is enclosed most bathrooms have a central drain. Plug your shower hose into the basin taps and shower in the body of the bathroom.

Modes of travelling:

1. Own vehicle. Always keep a survival pack in your vehicle (e.g. urinary devices, drainage bags, suppositories...) you never know when you may want to stay somewhere unexpectedly.
2. Hire car (with hand controls if you drive).
3. Campervans, caravan... wheelchair accessible (hire/buy).
4. Tours... Bus/4 Wheel Drive.
5. Boats... local cruises, houseboats, Murray river paddle steamers, Tasmanian ferry.
6. Ocean cruises.

Flying Within Australia:

1. At small regional airstrips you may be forklifted on and off the plane. You may then be carried to your allocated seat.
2. At large city terminals you use your own wheelchair until boarding the plane (electric wheelchairs are checked in with baggage... sealed dry cell batteries only). You are then transferred into an aisle chair and ushered to your seat on the plane. Some planes have moveable armrests to allow for simpler transferring... check when you get your seat allocation.
3. You are usually the first to be loaded into the plane and the last to disembark.

Flying Overseas:

1. Airlines may require medical certificates and, depending on distance, you may be required to use a catheter or other urinary device as toilet access on most planes is impossible for people who use wheelchairs for mobility.
2. It pays to know the airline's policy re. transporting people with disabilities. Some may require you to travel with another person, for example.
3. If using an electric wheelchair, other countries use different power levels and plug outlets (e.g. America uses 110v AC), so you will need to assess your wheelchair charger requirements.

Flying Hints:

1. Give yourself at least an extra half hour for checking in and getting aboard.
2. Last thing you do before boarding the plane is empty your drainage bag.
3. Night drainage bags are handy to drain leg bags, etc.
4. If you use urodome drainage wearing absorbent pants could be an additional protection.
5. Take your cushion on the plane as cabin luggage... you may wish to sit on it.
6. If you do not have good balance, you can ask the hostess for a harness that will assist you to stay upright when landing.
7. Try to have all items you may need while flying in one small bag (put spare axles in main luggage).
8. Let some air out of your wheelchair tyres and Roho cushions (the air expands when the plane gains altitude).
9. Put a label with your address on all removeable pieces of your equipment.
10. Do not drink too much alcohol.

General Travel Tips:

1. Research your route. Local knowledge is invaluable (if going overseas or interstate travel information may be obtained on the Internet or through disability organisations).
2. National and State Parks in Australia may allow vehicle access or have accessible paths/facilities. Pre-arrange with rangers.
3. Tasmanian State Travel Agency has a good reputation.
4. Beds and seats are going to be different from those at home so take care against pressure sores.
5. Organise your trip well in advance.
6. Remember Murphy's Law... be prepared to think laterally.

Travel Resources Within Australia:

1. · The Wheelie's Handbook of Australia by Colin James. Published by Colin and available through this website (Go to Order Form Page). Other resources are listed in the Handbook.
2. NICAN provides a free information service Australia wide on accessible accommodation, tourist attractions and tour operators. You map your trip and they can send out a list of accessible accommodation options. NICAN also administers the Carer Concession Card. Card holders receive a 50% discount on their standard full economy and business class domestic travel, in addition to 50% off their carers fares (conditions apply). Please note that the Carer Concession Card does not apply to already discounted fares. Application forms available from NICAN at P.O. Box 407, Curtin, ACT 2605. Freecall: 1800 806 769.
3. Wheelchair Accessible tracks in the Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia... available from Grampians National Park Centre. Phone (03) 5356 4381.

ACCOMMODATION CHECK LIST.

When booking accommodation form a checklist that covers your needs...

Do you have access to the check in office... are there any steps... could I open the door?
Is there a curb/step between the car park and the room?
Is there a step into the room?
What number is the room... so you can park outside the room upon arrival (very handy if you are travelling by yourself)?

BED:
Height of bed (recommended 470mm)? Am I able to get a hoist under the bed?
Distance beside bed for transferring (800mm)?
Are the light switches accessible to the bed?
Bedside lamps often have push through switches that can be difficult to operate.
Electric blankets can burn your skin or have ridges that can leave pressure marks.

BATHROOM:
Is there room between the wall and toilet to fit a commode (150 - 200mm)?
Room to self transfer beside toilet (800mm)?
Height of hand rails in the shower and beside toilet (800 - 810mm)?
Are there any lips or dips into the shower recess?
Is there a hand held shower hose?
Is there a self-transfer fold down seat or shower seat with rubber non-slip feet?
(don't use plastic outdoor furniture as chair legs can buckle or break when transferring).
Has the hand basin got space underneath so you can get a wheelchair under it?
Is the toilet door hinged or sliding?
Is the mirror adjustable or low enough for a person in a wheelchair to use?

GENERAL:
Is the door width 800mm or wider? Are the door knobs round or lever type?
Will reception desk be manned to allow entry or can you have a key for an attendant to
gain access to your room?
Is the TV remote controlled?
Will the motel fit your waterproof blanket?
Is there knee space under the bench in the kitchen?

Thanks to Baden Whitehead.