Traveling with a Wheelchair
Wheelchair TravelA father of a friend of mine participated in the Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988 as a Paraplegic Marathon Runner. I have only met him once, but know that he is incredible. Since an accident which left him unable to walk, he has not only participated in the Olympics, he has been a motivational speaker and an empowering person to know and meet for both people with disabilities and those without. For his career, he has traveled around the country and abroad to share his experiences and insights as a motivational speaker.
I thought of him today when I read this article about Matt Getze, an amazing traveler who set up a travel website specifically for the wheelchair bound.
Matt Getze got Polio in South Korea when he was a child and has been unable to walk since that time; however, since growing up in southern California, the 36-year-old has been traveling around the world to both European and Asian destinations on a shoe-string budget, which is something more difficult for those confined to wheelchairs to do. He claims that he usually pays between $10-15 for a hotel per night, but will sometimes treat himself to more expensive hotels.
Matt Getze created the web site, Wheeladventure.com, which provides travel information for those confined to wheel chairs. In addition to information about specific destinations, there are useful tips about how to get your wheel chair on the airplane, which kinds of bathrooms are the most accessible, and how to find the best deals. He includes destinations in Asia, Europe, and the Americas with specific information about hotels with wheel-chair access, which is not always available in places like Southeast Asia. Matt's travel stories are both inspiring and sometimes frustrating as he discusses the difficulties of traveling in a wheel chair.
Another resource for disabled travelers is SATH ( Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality). The site is definitely worth taking a look at if you are planning to travel with a wheelchair or a walker as it contains more travel tips and access information, as well as links to more resources for disabled passengers.
I also found this great video on Youtube, which is for first-time plane passengers who are traveling with a wheelchair. In the video, the traveler advises getting to the airport earlier than most passengers, being ready for a pat-down at the security gates, and remembering to pre-board before your flight. The video also gives information on how to rent a car once you reach your destination.
