Travelers with Disabilities--The Czechs have made little effort to accommodate the needs of those with disabilities. There are few elevators or ramps for wheelchairs, and few beeping crosswalks for the visually impaired. TTD phones for the hearing-impaired are rare.
In the cobblestone streets of downtown Prague, wheelchairs are almost unknown. Only a few hotels (like the Renaissance and the Palace) offer barrier-free accommodations, and most stores, public transport, theaters, and restaurants are inaccessible to wheelchairs. The following metro stations in the city center are accessible: Florenc, Hlavní nádrazí, Pankrác, Roztyly, Chodov, Karlovo námestí, Skalka, and Nádrazí Holesovice.
For the most part, attractions don't offer discounts to people with disabilities. There are exceptions, however, so always ask before paying full price.
Many travel agencies offer customized tours and itineraries for travelers with disabilities. Flying Wheels Travel (tel. 507/451-5005; www.flyingwheelstravel.com) offers escorted tours and cruises that emphasize sports and private tours in minivans with lifts. Access-Able Travel Source (tel. 303/232-2979; www.access-able.com) offers extensive access information and advice for traveling around the world with disabilities. Accessible Journeys (tel. 800/846-4537 or 610/521-0339; www.disabilitytravel.com) caters specifically to slow walkers and wheelchair travelers and their families and friends
Organizations that offer assistance to disabled travelers include MossRehab (www.mossresourcenet.org), which provides a library of accessible-travel resources online; the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (tel. 800/232-5463; www.afb.org), a referral resource for the blind or visually impaired that includes information on traveling with Seeing Eye dogs; and SATH (Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality) (tel. 212/447-7284; www.sath.org; annual membership fees: $45 adults, $30 seniors and students), which offers a wealth of travel resources for all types of disabilities and informed recommendations on destinations, access guides, travel agents, tour operators, vehicle rentals, and companion services. AirAmbulanceCard.com is now partnered with SATH and allows you to preselect top-notch hospitals in case of an emergency for $195 a year ($295 per family), among other benefits.
For more information specifically targeted to travelers with disabilities, the community website iCan (www.icanonline.net/channels/travel) has destination guides and several regular columns on accessible travel. Also check out the quarterly magazine Emerging Horizons (www.emerginghorizons.com; $14.95 per year, $19.95 outside the U.S.); and Open World magazine, published by SATH (subscription: $13 per year, $21 outside the U.S.).
