The wintertime can bring all sorts of wonderful opportunities and experiences for everyone, but it can also bring difficulties. For many, travel and transportation become harder when the temperatures drop, and this is especially true for individuals with disabilities. When sidewalks become icy and the weather becomes unpredictable, staying mobile and accessing the best forms of transportation for you require a lot more planning than usual. To help you keep up your mobility and stay active, connected, and safe through these cold months, here are a few essential travel tips for adults with disabilities to navigate winter traveling and transportation.
Do Your Research
Before you embark on your winter outings or travels, it is important to do your research on the best and most convenient options for you. If you know you are going on a trip, be sure to take the time to scope out all types of transportation you will need. Search for public transportation accessibility features, stay up to date 
with route changes or roach closures, and, if possible, consider booking in advance and notifying your drivers or companies of your accessibility needs. Winter travel is often a hassle for individuals with disabilities due to both weather restrictions and crowds, but finding out all you can beforehand and planning accordingly can relieve a huge amount of stress and allow you to enjoy the process.
Winterize Your Vehicles and Equipment
Winter weather can take a toll on both your road vehicles and your medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, walkers, and lifts—this is why it is extremely important to winterize both. When it comes to your equipment, prepping for snow is something you can actively do before it becomes necessary. If you are a wheelchair user, some of the best things you can do to stay mobile during winter weather are equipping your chair with winter tires, regularly cleaning and lubricating the mechanisms in your chair to ensure nothing rusts or breaks, and always carrying an extra battery with you if you use an electric wheelchair. You can also add non-slip and protective covers to all grips and exposed areas to make sure you maintain the best possible control even in uncertain winter conditions.
Plan Ahead for Air Travel
Are you planning to travel via plane this winter? Air travel can be stressful and uncertain for individuals with disabilities, but luckily there are a number of things you can do beforehand to help make it a smooth process. One of the most helpful things you can do before going on your trip is to contact the airline and/or airport in advance and let them know of your needs. Whether you need to request a wheelchair, book accessible seats, or request pre-boarding, this is a proactive step you can take to ensure your needs will be met without the stress of having to do it in person on the day of. Before you pass through airport security, be sure to have everything prepared—it is a good idea to research what kinds of things you will need to take out, as well as how any mobility aids or disability-specific equipment will be scanned so you know exactly what to expect.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Even with the best laid plans, emergencies and accidents can still happen, especially during these winter months. Though hoping you will not have to use them, it is important to have all of your emergency items on you when going out or traveling this season. To make it easy, try creating a specific bag with everything you may need in this case, from emergency medications to lists of emergency contacts and everything in between. This way, even if something occurs while you are out and you are not able to help yourself, someone will know exactly what to do. In addition to carrying an emergency pack, another thing you may want to do is save the numbers and information of paratransit services in your area. If for some reason your planned form of transit becomes inaccessible, paratransit, which is public transportation specifically designed to help individuals with disabilities who cannot use fixed-route transit, is a great option to help you on your way. Lastly, it is always a good idea to share your travel itinerary with a loved one so that if anything were to go wrong, you will have someone who can help either in person or from afar. Having a loved one know where you are and where you are meant to be can be a lifesaver in emergency situations.
Comfortable and accessible transportation can truly make a huge difference in your holiday experiences. While doing your research and finding the best options by yourself is very important, Delta Center is here to help you this season with medical equipment to give you that extra level of accessibility you need. We are proud to offer our Durable Medical Equipment program, which provides low-income adults with disabilities access to free, lightly-used medical equipment like mobility aids, safety rails, wheelchair cushions, and much more. This equipment can be essential in your travels this season, or if you plan on hosting a loved one with disabilities, it can help make your home a more loving and accessible place. For more information about our Durable Medical Equipment program, check out the information page here. And, while you’re at it, take a look at our extensive resources page for a variety of other accessibility resources that might make a difference for you this season.