Tips for Travelers with Disabilities

Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling. There are more options and resources out there than ever before. Many London hotels, museums, restaurants, and sightseeing attractions have wheelchair ramps. Persons with disabilities are often granted special discounts at attractions and, in some cases, nightclubs. These discounts are called "concessions" in Britain. It always pays to ask. Free information and advice are available from Holiday Care Service, The Hawkins Suite, Enham Place, Andover SP11 6JS (tel. 0845/124-9971; fax 0845/124-9972; www.holidaycare.org).

Bookstores in London often carry Access in London, a publication listing hotels, restaurants, sights, shops, and more for persons with disabilities. It costs £12 ($23).

The transport system, cinemas, and theaters are still extremely hard for the disabled to negotiate, but Transport for London does publish a leaflet called Access to the Underground, which gives details on elevators and ramps at individual Underground stations; call tel. 020/7222-5600 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk. And the London black cab (tel. 0845/108-3000; www.londonblackcab.com), is perfectly suited for those in wheelchairs; the roomy interiors have plenty of room for maneuvering.

London's most visible organization for information about access to theaters, cinemas, galleries, museums, and restaurants is Artsline, 54 Chalton St., London NW1 1HS (tel. 020/7388-2227; fax 020/7383-2653; www.artsline.org.uk). It offers free information about wheelchair access in general, easily wheelchair-accessible tourist attractions and cinemas, theaters with hearing aids, and sign language-interpreted tours and theater productions. Artsline will mail information to North America, but it's more helpful to contact them once you arrive in London; the line is staffed Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Organizations that offer a vast range of resources and assistance to disabled travelers include MossRehab (tel. 800/CALL-MOSS; www.mossresourcenet.org); the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB; tel. 800/232-5463; www.afb.org); and SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality; tel. 212/447-7284; www.sath.org). AirAmbulanceCard.com is now partnered with SATH and allows you to preselect top-notch hospitals in case of an emergency.

Access-Able Travel Source (tel. 303/232-2979; www.access-able.com) offers a comprehensive database on travel agents from around the world with experience in accessible travel, destination-specific access information, and links to such resources as service animals, equipment rentals, and access guides.

Many travel agencies offer customized tours and itineraries for travelers with disabilities. Among them are Flying Wheels Travel (tel. 507/451-5005; www.flyingwheelstravel.com); and Accessible Journeys (tel. 800/846-4537 or 610/521-0339; www.disabilitytravel.com).

Flying with Disability (www.flying-with-disability.org) is a comprehensive information source on airplane travel. Avis Rent a Car (tel. 888/879-4273) has an "Avis Access" program that offers services for customers with special travel needs. These include specially outfitted vehicles with swivel seats, spinner knobs, and hand controls; mobility scooter rentals; and accessible bus service. Be sure to reserve well in advance.

Also check out the quarterly magazine Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.com), available by subscription ($16.95 a year U.S.; $21.95 outside U.S).

The "Accessible Travel" link at Mobility-Advisor.com (www.mobility-advisor.com) offers a variety of travel resources to disabled persons.

British travelers should contact Holiday Care (tel. 0845/124-9971 in U.K. only; www.holidaycare.org.uk) to access a wide range of travel information and resources for disabled and elderly people.