Adventure is the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program. This week we’re featuring books in our collection about travel. But we don’t want you just to read about adventure. Consequently, we’ve included links to resources with accessibility information for disabled travelers. We want everyone to be able to travel as easily and comfortably as possible. So, if you’ve been putting off that bucket list trip due to the travails of traveling with a disability, put it off no longer. And for those who prefer to experience travel through a good book, we have an armchair traveler section at the end.
Remember: Adventure begins at your library!
Know your Rights
U.S. Department of Transportation: Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights
- The Right to Be Treated with Dignity and Respect.
- The Right to Receive Information About Services and Aircraft Capabilities and Limitations.
- he Right to Receive Information in an Accessible Format.
- The Right to Accessible Airport Facilities.
- The Right to Assistance at Airports.
- The Right to Assistance on the Aircraft.
- The Right to Travel with an Assistive Device or Service Animal.
- The Right to Receive Seating Accommodations.
- The Right to Accessible Aircraft Features.
- The Right to Resolution of a Disability-Related Issue.
Know your Resources
Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality: is a non-profit organization that advocates and creates resources and opportunities for disabled travelers. Among their resources includes tips for travelers of all disabilities, a compilation of rights that disabled travelers should know, and lists of accessible activities in many cities. Some of their most valuable articles include:
- How to travel with a speech impairment
- How to travel with a sight impairment or blindness
- How to travel with a hearing impairment or deafness
- Autism and airport travel safety tips
- How to travel with an older adult
- Avis Rent A Car Launches “Avis Access” for Travelers with Disabilities
- Toll-Free Hotline for Air Travelers with Disabilities
CDC: Traveling with a disability
ETIAS: Step by Step Traveling with a Disability in Europe
European Network for Accessible Tourism
International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers
Mobility International U. S. A.
National Council on Aging: Mobility Friendly Travel Guide
U.S. Department of State: International Travelers with Special Considerations and Smart Traveler Enrollment Program
U.S. Department of Transportation: General Travel Tips for Persons with Disabilities Toll free hotline: 800-778-4838
Accessible Travel DIY
Accessibility apps
| Aira: Visual Interpreter Service app for iOS and Android. Uses trained professionals. |
| Be My Eyes: Visual Interpreter Service free app for iOS and Android. Uses volunteers. |
| iAccess Life: Navigate accessible routes and locations. |
| Google Maps: Includes an “Accessible Places” feature, which labels accessible entrances, seating, restrooms, and parking. |
Specialized Car Rental Agencies
Specialty Travel Agencies
| Easy Access Travel: https://easyaccesstravel.com/ |
| Tapooz Travel: https://www.tapooztravel.com/ |
| Travel for All: https://travel-for-all.com/ |
| Wheel the World: https://wheeltheworld.com |
Traveling by Bus, Train, or Airplane
| Amtrak: Accessible Travel Services |
| Greyhound: Customers with Disabilities Travel Assistance |
| Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program: This program assists individuals with hidden disabilities navigate in airports. |
| TSA: TSA Cares-Disabilities and Medical Conditions |
| U. S. Airport Sensory Rooms: Sensory rooms enhance the airport experience for travelers with autism and special needs by providing soft lighting and other features to reduce anxiety before a flight. |
Travel How to Books
| ACCESS ANYTHING: I CAN DO THAT! ADVENTURING WITH DISABILITIES by Andrea Jehn Kennedy (DB 69444) |
| AIR TRAVEL FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS by Cory Lee (DB 115733) |
| TWENTY-TWO ACCESSIBLE ROAD TRIPS: DRIVING VACATIONS FOR WHEELERS AND SLOW WALKERS by Candy Harrington (DB 75991) |
Armchair Travel Books
| I DIDN’T HEAR THE DRAGON ROAR by Frances M. Parsons (DB 28448, BR 07658) |
| I’LL PUSH YOU: A JOURNEY OF 500 MILES, TWO BEST FRIENDS, AND ONE WHEELCHAIR by Patrick Gray (DB 89784) |
| MILO’S EYES: HOW A BLIND EQUESTRIAN AND HER “SEEING EYE HORSE” RESCUED EACH OTHER by Lissa Bachner (DB 110604, BR 24622) |
| SENSE OF THE WORLD: HOW A BLIND MAN BECAME HISTORY’S GREATEST TRAVELER by Jason Roberts (DB 62703, BR 16660) |
| SEVEN-TENTHS: LOVE, PIRACY, AND SCIENCE AT SEA by David Fisichella (DB 71749, BR 19090) |
| SITES UNSEEN: TRAVELING THE WORLD WITHOUT SIGHT by Wendy S. David (DB 73854) |
| TRAVELS IN A BLUE CHAIR: ALASKA TO ZAMBIA, USHUAIA TO ULURU; A SERIES OF SHORT STORIES by Walt Balenovich (DB 67926) |
| UNHEARD: A MEMOIR OF DEAFNESS AND AFRICA by Josh Swiller (DB 67060) |
| UNSEEN TRAIL: THE STORY OF A BLIND HIKER’S JOURNEY ON THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL by Michael O. Hanson (DBC 02612) |
| YEAR OF SUNDAYS: TAKING THE PLUNGE (AND OUR CAT) TO EXPLORE EUROPE by Edward D. Webster (DB 64156, BR 15594) |