Cheryl and Bill Duke of Woodford, Virginia, enjoy traveling, as does their son Paul. But arranging a trip with Paul "was like planning Operation Desert Storm," says Cheryl. "We'd have to call ahead to find out the details about lodging, attractions and restaurants. Sometimes we'd spend more than $200 in phone calls."
And those fees came after the Dukes consulted travel agents and guidebooks. Why all the work? Paul uses a wheelchair and the Dukes needed to know whether attractions, restaurants, tour buses and hotels could accommodate Paul's needs.
"Often we'd arrive at a place and find out that accessibility was in the eyes of the beholder," says Cheryl. "We'd discover that the restaurant aisles were wide enough, but no one told us that we'd have to get the wheelchair up one step. When Paul was 12 and in a manual wheelchair, we could have dealt with that. But now, at 27, Paul is in a large, electric wheelchair that weighs almost 400 pounds. We can't lift that."
Such experiences transformed the Dukes into advocates for accessibility. They established the Opening Door, a nonprofit consultancy and clearinghouse on travel information for persons with disabilities.
"For parents traveling with children with disabilities," says Bill, "the key is information, information, information. They need to know that everything will meet their needs."
Not knowing makes many families hesitant to travel. Will DeRuve, editor and publisher of ACCESS TO TRAVEL magazine, says, "We get lots of calls from parents. The major syndrome is fear of the unknown. Parents want to feel secure, to know their child will be safe." ACCESS TO TRAVEL is published quarterly; for more information write P.O. Box 43, Del Mar, New York, 12054.
Obtaining the right information is crucial. "I was like a bull terrier," says Cheryl, "until I had all the specifics. I didn't just ask if the bedroom door could fit a wheelchair. But I need to know if the bed is on a platform that closes off the space under the bed. Or if there's a box frame so you get the wheelchair closer to the bed."
Traveling with a disabled child requires more than the usual amount of preparation. But the pleasures are worth it. "Do not limit your child's world," says Bill Duke. "Let your child experience all the world has to offer. Just because your child has a disability doesn't mean they have to limit what they can do."
ACCESS TO TRAVEL receives scores of positive letters about its travel coverage. "When parents show their kids people skiing or going down the Colorado River, their eyes light up," says Will DeRuve. "Parents say, 'I didn't think we could do stuff like this. But now I know there is a world of travel for us.'"
While it is true that many places still need to provide more comprehensive access information (and better access), it is also true that it has never been easier for families with children--or parents--with disabilities to find the vital travel information they need. Now, many states incorporate some basic facts about accessibility into their tourist guides. North Carolina and New Mexico also offer separate guides that detail access.
More and more lodgings, attractions and restaurants are coming into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which became law in 1992. In addition, magazines, volunteer networks, clearinghouses and organizations provide detailed information. Many have Internet sites and worldwide bulletin boards. Some travel agencies specialize in arranging individual itineraries as well as group tours that meet the needs of people with disabilities. Some ski resorts teach skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing for people with disabilities and several outfitters and organizations lead rafting trips, scuba diving vacations, dog sledding and other adventure travel trips for people of all abilities. Before you go, find out as much as possible about resources that can help while you're on vacation.
Candyce H. Stapen is the author of the four-volume Great Family Vacations series: GREAT FAMILY VACATIONS: NORTHEAST REGION: 25 COMPLETE FUN-FILLED VACATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY, SOUTH REGION, MIDWEST AND ROCKY MOUNTAINS REGION and WEST REGION.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.
