Car Travel for People With Physical Disabilities

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Embark on day and weekend trips at first to prepare for longer drives.¹ You’ll find out about potential travel issues with fewer downsides than if you jumped right into a huge trip. Of course, you can still plan a big journey; just experiment with a few shorter trips before embarking on the big one, whether you are a passenger or a driver.

Before you take off, sit in different car seats to see if a certain spot is especially comfortable or uncomfortable for you. You might find out how long you can sit comfortably in the front seat, or how long you can sit without being in pain.

Many folks, particularly those with nausea and vestibular disabilities, prefer the front seat since it is roomier and more adjustable. Plus, in an accident, you may be more likely to slam forward when sitting in the back.

1. Learn to drive with your physical disability. If you developed a physical disability after learning to drive, you might need to adjust the way you operate your vehicle. A driver rehab specialist can help. Find an instructor near you on the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists website.²
2. Don’t forget to take your medications. Set prescription timer caps or phone reminders and try to keep similar schedules for meals, rest, and other parts of your routine.
3. Don’t worry that you are slowing others down. Don’t put your health at risk to please others. Only travel with companions who understand your needs, whether they are a family member or a friend. Breaking up your group into multiple vehicles can also address these concerns.
4. Don’t rush. Schedule plenty of time for breaks and recovery, both during the trip and after. Ensure that sleeping conditions for each night are as comfortable as possible. If you need to, plan to stay in a hotel for a few more hours, or a whole day instead of driving for long stretches.
5. Don’t run out of or forget supplies. Pack prescriptions, extra supplies, and spare parts for equipment, such as a backup wheelchair for wheelchair users. Have any doctors’ contact information ready. Create a packing checklist to make sure that you don’t leave any necessary items at home.
6. Manage pain during and after travel. Use accessories such as neck or seat cushions. Your doctor may have specific solutions based on your conditions.
7. Prepare for a medical emergency. Wear a medical ID bracelet, keep a printed list of medical information and medications handy, and create a similar list on your phone.
8. Know what you’ll do if your caregiver experiences fatigue. Plan ahead for several people to help your caregiver, or bring a professional caregiver/home health aide on the trip.
9. Avoid damage to wheelchairs and walkers. Secure your gear, whether it’s in the trunk or the cabin of the car. It’s easy for wheelchairs, walkers, and other equipment to jolt forward during a sudden stop and either hurt you, get damaged, or both.
10. Use modified vehicles. If you rent a vehicle, look for one with features like higher seats for easier entry and exit, plenty of legroom between the seat and the door frame, reclining seats, electric, heated/cooled seats, keyless entry, hands-free liftgate, parking assistance tech, abundant and accessible cargo space (to store equipment and other supplies for the trip), hands-free navigation/GPS, grab bars, and Bluetooth.

Route planning makes for smoother trips. For instance, route planning could help identify frequently congested areas that might prove stressful, as well as good spots for rests or meals.

1. Build extra time into your itinerary. Don’t push 12-hour travel days when eight hours is better for your health.
2. Map the route to minimize stressors. Suppose traffic jams cause you stress, which then worsens your symptoms. You could plan a route that avoids major highways, even if the trip takes longer. The extra time is worth your health and peace of mind.
3. Plan breaks around interesting sites or good picnic spots. Find multiple break spots ahead of time in case your first choice is closed.
4. Travel when the weather is good, if possible.
5. Scout wheelchair-accessible bathrooms ahead of time. State-run rest areas, as well as big chain stores like Starbucks, will typically have ADA-compliant facilities. Use a mobile app such as Flush to find accessible public restrooms along your route.⁵
6. Consider taking stops about every two hours. 
7. Consider bringing a travel companion. 
8. Pick a destination that has high accessibility standards. U.S. national parks are highly accessible, and individuals with permanent disabilities may qualify for free lifetime passes. Additionally, major theme parks like Disney World and cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Celebrity Cruises tend to be very accomodating for people of all abilities.

About two weeks before your trip, note the supplies you use every day and how much of each you use. Unless you’re an experienced traveler with a good grasp on what to pack, bring double the amount of essential supplies you need, just to be safe. Consider the following supplies:

People with disabilities are at higher risk of being victims of violent crimes.⁶ It goes without saying that car travel, especially for solo travelers with disabilities, can pose unique safety risks. It’s good to be prepared if your vehicle breaks down or if you feel unsafe at a rest stop.

As always, follow basic pre-trip steps such as taking your car in for a tuneup, oil change, or tire rotation, and telling people where you are traveling and when. Here are a few more tips for travel safety:

1. Trust your gut if you’re in a situation that makes you uncomfortable.
2. Look into self-defense classes. Your community or local hospitals may offer some, either for people with your disability or adaptable classes. Organizations such as the Adaptive Martial Arts Association⁷, Move United⁸, and the Shepherd Center offer self-defense instruction.⁹
3. Think about bringing legal weapons you’re comfortable using. For instance, keys, pepper spray, or kubatons (self-defense keychain weapons) may work well. Pepper spray is generally legal throughout the United States for adults 18 and older, although some states restrict how much you can have.
4. If you’re comfortable, share your location with trusted contacts on your smartphone so they know where you are during your trip.

Service or emotional support animals are necessary for many car trips. As always, start with taking them on smaller travels and work your way up from there (particularly if the animals are not used to vehicles). Keep your animals secured in the vehicle, and pack their food, water bowl, treats, grooming supplies, and their bed or crate.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), car rental agencies are not allowed to charge pet deposit fees when you rent a car for travel with an official service animal. If the animal causes damage to the vehicle, though, the company can charge you. In contrast, rental agencies are allowed to charge deposit fees for emotional support animals, which do not count as official service animals according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals are trained to complete specific tasks or duties, and emotional support animals are not.¹⁰

Traveling with a physical disability is doable in many situations, especially with patience, flexibility, and persistence. It may be that a trip of one or two days is all you can realistically manage, and that is perfectly fine. The quality, not the quantity, of your car trips is what really matters.