For many people, traveling with a disability brings with it a wide set of additional costs that a non-disabled person would never even consider. We thought it might be interesting to ask about these extra costs and ask you, the audience, what it costs for you to travel as a disabled person.
Tell us which costs are directly and indirectly associated with being disabled. Also, if you would be so kind, tell us where you’re from.
Let’s start a conversation!
Josh Grisdale7 Comments-
I’m from CA.
At home, the state pays for my in-home personal care assistant (PCA). When I travel, the PCA can’t travel with me. So, I have to pay for a PCA ‘out of pocket’ just to help me for two hours each day.
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Traveling with someone for personal care really adds to the price. I cannot go without them. A hotel room can be shared, and I’d need one anyway, but the airfare is the biggest unavoidable cost.
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@joshgrisdale I agree Josh I unfortunately need 2 Support Workers when I travel so if I’m flying somewhere it means 3 air fares (not just for me but also for my Support Workers) I’m able to afford to fly Business Class so it means I need to book 2 Business Class fares and 1 Economy Class fare. My Support Workers won’t share a room with me neither will they share with each other (although they come from the same company) so it means I have LOTS of extra expenses
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@Patty despite that, glad you are able to still make it happen!
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I am from Switzerland. Since being dependent we often have to book a bigger car to fit in the wheelchair.
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I am a lifelong traveler, first using crutches and then a wheelchair for almost 25 years. I have used Travel Agents and done all thr research myself to plan international trips. I usually seek personal guides. For the trip I am leaving on in two weeks I was going to use a specially Travel agent but declined to do so when I saw what several charged for similar group trips. It was about three times what a non disabled person would pay a regular Travel agent. This is true whether I needed a real modified trip and had health concerns or not. I’m lucky that the only things I need are an accessible hotel room and a way around stairs. I realize that it takes some knowledge and time to find accessible things but there is enough information available now that Travel without the need for an assistant should not cost three times what it cost for an able-bodied person to go to thr same places.
If I can plan a trip by what is on the internet, a professional agent should have the ability to do so rrepeatedly for different clients going the same places. They don’t have to reinvent the wheel each time they plan a trip and charge like each trip to a city or place is the first one.
Perhaps someone else with complex needs would l
Require more research but for basic accessibility to a modern city or country it shouldn’t cost so much more unless you demand 5 star hotels.
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They won’t share a room???? As a PCA and respite worker, I travel with people on their own and families. I always work with a family or person to figure out what their needs are. I realize I can’t work anywhere else, if I’m not in my own city. However, I try to make it easy for everyone. J went to Paris with a family. They only wanted me to work 6p-6a. Basically I fed their two girls, (one fed herself, the other g-tube) and we all went to bed. I’m that case, I paid my own airfare, any meals on my own were mine and they covered everything else. The apt, meals if we were together and transportation if we were together.
I believe companies rip people off, because they know you need the assistance.
