How to Prepare for an Accessible Road Trip

Sometimes daily life throws so many obstacles at us, we just have to get away for a few days to recharge. And we all know how stressful flying as a wheelchair user can be due to the damages that our wheelchairs are subjected to, while being loaded and unloaded underneath the plane. One of the best ways that I have found to relax and unwind is by taking a wheelchair accessible road trip. 

Road trips can be an easy way for people who use wheelchairs to pack any equipment that they may need into the vehicle and be on their way to see new sights in no time. Most importantly, road tripping can connect you to the sights, smells, and you’ll truly be immersed into the destination. Here are some ways that I like to prepare for a wheelchair accessible road trip –

How to Prepare for a Wheelchair Accessible Road Trip

I first start with making sure that my BraunAbility Toyota Sienna Hybrid wheelchair van has been properly serviced. Being a power wheelchair user, I can’t just jump into anyone’s car and leave the house, as my chair can’t fold up and stow away in the back. Therefore, my van with its BraunAbility conversion with a fold-out ramp is very important. I must remain in my chair throughout the journey, so I want to make sure that my ramp is clean and properly working, and that my van is up to date on the oil change and all fluids are filled up. I also roll around the van and check the tires. I certainly don’t want to see any bald spots on the tires, and I want to make sure that they all have the proper amount of air in them. If you are in doubt of how much air that they should have, look closely at your tire. Printed on it will be the number of PSI, or pounds per square inch. This will give you an exact amount that your tire gauge should be reading when attached to the valve stem. Regular, preventative maintenance on any accessible van is extremely important, especially when you’re a frequent road tripper. Once I see that my vehicle is ready to roll, then so am I! 

Next, I always want to fill up my vehicle with gas before leaving out on a road trip. This sounds like something simple, but as a wheelchair user, I certainly don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road, out of gas, and no space beside the van to even unload to go rolling away for help. Also, I can’t even imagine trying to roll back from the station with a gas can in my lap, dodging traffic, as this by no means would be safe. Therefore, filling up before I even begin my journey and keeping an eye on the fuel hand throughout the wheelchair accessible road trip, is very important. 

Okay, so the van is serviced, full of gas, and now you are raring to go on your wheelchair accessible road trip. It’s now time to map out your route. When deciding where to go, I like to first decide what all I want to see. Whether it’s a national park, a zoo, or exploring some downtown areas, what is important to make my trip the best that it can be? I then look online to see what hotels in the area have accessibility information online. When I see that the hotel has found it important enough to advertise their accessible rooms or discuss accessibility features on their website, I know that they also respect and welcome me as a person using a wheelchair. I then call them to book directly. This gives me peace of mind in knowing that any questions that I have about the hotel have been answered, and I have booked the room that best meets my needs. 

I also find it very important to look at finding accessible restrooms along my route. More often than not, I can usually find a Starbucks nearby and inside these, they usually have all gender companion care restrooms. This allows my caregiver and I to easily fit inside and not have to worry about her being inside the men’s room, or me being inside the ladies’ room as I am normally traveling with the opposite sex and need assistance when toileting. It’s a win/win situation, as you can then grab a tasty latte before loading back up! In most instances, you can also find accessible, and companion care restrooms, at the rest areas along the large thoroughfare highways. This can be a relaxing place to both use the toilet and grab a few brochures to see what else you may want to do in the area. 

When packing your bags, you will want to make sure to take along extra medical supplies. It’s best to be prepared for whatever may come up, and I always throw in my bag such items as Pepto Bismol, gas relief pills, Rolaids, muscle rub, and a cough and cold medication. Even though you may be feeling your best on the day of the departure, you never know what may come up later down the road and you don’t want to spend your time shopping for supplies when you could be out sightseeing. Besides medication, I also take along zip ties, duct tape, and a roll of Velcro. These items can certainly come in handy for a quick-fix repair if your wheelchair gets damaged throughout your journey. You should also pack a cooler for the car with plenty of bottles of water and throw some tasty snacks in there as well. By packing healthy snacks such as nuts, apples, bananas, or crackers this will help the driver to stay awake as these give natural energy, and they are delicious too! 

Now let the journey begin! You are road trip ready, so buckle your wheelchair down, put on that seatbelt, and get that vehicle in the wind. There are so many amazing destinations that road trips allow you to see more of than just flying over the top and looking down at the clouds. So, roll down those windows, open that sunroof, and let your hair blow in the wind. You deserve to get out there and enjoy everything that the open road has to offer.  

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