Where do you see yourself traveling in 2018? Fiji, London, Latin America? Traveling provides a very unique opportunity that few other experiences can offer. Many times, traveling can be the very thing that ignites the spark back into the the lives of individuals. From the most relaxing to the most adventurous of travels, creating lifelong and life changing memories should not be considered any less possible for those living with paralysis.

The opportunity to travel and experience new cultures around the globe does not disappear with the diagnosis of paralysis, so what is it that stops us? Technological breakthroughs and advancements in regard to wheelchair accessibility and assistance are constantly improving, making this aspect of traveling easier. There are elevators in both the Eiffel Tower in Paris, The Coliseum in Rome and wheelchair advancements eliminating the barriers of travel through snow and sand. Not to mention cruise lines, which are incredibly accommodating and have complete wheelchair access throughout the ship. So really, what is stopping us?

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

For many individuals, the thought of traveling out of the country may appear to be complicated and maybe not as accommodating as one would hope. Although it is true that traveling many times does require some level of flexibility, there are many people willing and available to help make the trip as smooth as possible. This is not to say that along the trip, one will not encounter a few challenges, but this is the case with every traveler. This is part of what makes each travel experience unique and personal!

With that being said, there are resources that can be of assistance to those looking to book their dream trip.

We made a Wheelchair Travel Resource Guide to help you with the ins-and-outs of wheelchair travel. If you haven’t seen it yet, sign up here: https://livingspinal.com/sign-up-for-our-wheelcha...

Otherwise, make sure to inform your airline provider in advance of any accommodations that may be needed. This will allow them to prepare how they assist you throughout the flight. Although it is not mandatory that you inform them of this, it will be to the benefit of both parties if you do choose to disclose this information. Reaching out to some of the locations or activities of interest for information on facilities and their ability to accommodate will also contribute immensely to the smoothness of your travel.

The advancements in wheelchair technology and acquiring the appropriate tools for your specific travel will make all the difference as well. We recommend taking products that will help with stability, like the FreeWheel. The FreeWheel is lightweight and snaps on and off in seconds, creating major stability by turning your wheelchair into a 3-wheeler.

We also recommend power assists. Power assists help each push go farther, so you can save your energy and your shoulders when you are out exploring all day. Simplify your travel experiences with the range of power assists available, each which cater to individual needs and desires. We encourage you to check out LivingSpinal.com to see which Power Assist products have the potential to help with your individual travel goals.

The video below follows the journey of Jake Hytken who travels throughout Chile. Hytken traveled with the FreeWheel and the SmartDrive, both on this chair at the same time. Check out the Freewheel and SmartDrive!

Start looking into these opportunities today and let Living Spinal help provide the products to make your 2018 travel dreams possible!

1. https://www.christopherreeve.org/living-with-paralysis/home-travel/traveling-with-your-wheelchair

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-pUH1KVfZg

Traveling by plane is one of the safest methods of travel but crowded airports, long waits at security checkpoints and baggage restrictions can make flying a nightmare when you have a disability. Check out this fully accessible guide to help navigate tips and tricks to make flying with a disability an easier, more enjoyable process.

Here is the link to the guide:

https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/fully-accessible-guide-flying-people-disabilities/