Most disabilities shouldn't stop anyone from traveling. There are more options and resources out there than ever before. Facilities in Paris for travelers with disabilities are certainly better than you'll find in most cities. Nearly all modern hotels in France now have rooms designed especially for persons with disabilities. Older hotels, unless renovated, may not provide important features such as elevators, special toilet facilities, or ramps for wheelchair accessibility. Depending on your needs, it's best to contact each hotel directly and make your needs known before you arrive.
Most high-speed trains in France can deal with wheelchairs, and guide dogs ride free. Older trains have compartments for wheelchair boarding. On the Paris Métro, persons with disabilities can sit in wider seats. Some stations don't have escalators or elevators, however, and this may present problems.
The Association des Paralysés de France, 17 bd. Auguste-Blanqui, 75013 Paris (tel. 01-40-78-69-66; www.apf.asso.fr), is an organization that provides documentation, moral support, and travel ideas for individuals who use wheelchairs.
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); Access-Able Travel Source (tel. 303/232-2979; www.access-able.com); and Accessible Journeys (tel. 800/846-4537 or 610/521-0339; www.disabilitytravel.com).
Organizations that offer assistance to travelers with disabilities 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 topnotch hospitals in case of an emergency.
Check out the quarterly magazine Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.com) and Open World magazine, published by SATH. Dated, though still useful, Access in Paris: A Guide for Those Who Have Problems Getting Around, by Gordon Couch and Ben Roberts (Cpg, Inc., 1994), is available in paperback online. It has reviews of wheelchair- and crutch-dependent accessible hotels, restaurants, attractions, and modes of transportation, and it was researched by travelers with and without disabilities.
