Traveling abroad with disabilities: Here’s a post-pandemic guide

Written by Christopher Elliott for USA Today, April 1, 2022

Traveling abroad with a disability was a challenge before COVID-19. But during the pandemic, things got even harder.

Jo Meleca-Voigt, a retired school teacher from Rochester, New York, remembers her recent flight to Aruba for her cousin’s wedding.

“It was painfully apparent that the airport was understaffed,” she remembers. “Airport employees had either forgotten their training regarding travelers with disabilities, or were new and untrained.”

Meleca-Voigt says she felt “invisible” as the overworked airline employees failed to offload her wheelchair for her connecting flight and then repeatedly dismissed her concerns.

More than 25 million Americans have a disability that limits their travel, according to the Department of Transportation. That’s just over 8% of the population. Most disabled travelers can get around with a cane or a wheelchair, but 3.6 million Americans say they don’t travel at all because of their condition.

The challenges can be even greater when you’re traveling overseas. Not only is it a longer trip, but there are also language and culture barriers to overcome – plus, the time difference that can drain your energy. If you understand the rules of traveling with a disability – especially the mask requirements – and can plan your trip sooner, you can avoid most trouble, experts say.

 

Know the rules before you travel overseas

Meleca-Voigt took matters into her hands when she couldn’t access her wheelchair at the airport. She sent a series of tweets to her airline, documenting its missteps and warning that it violated Department of Transportation rules.

“Read up on Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations regarding disability and wheelchair travel,” she says. “Bring a copy with you if necessary.”

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