Utah’s Travel Guide for People With Disabilities

Traveling with a disability has come a long way. Awareness of the needs of the disability community has risen tremendously and there are a growing number of travel agencies specializing in disability services. Easter Seals of America estimates approximately 50 million Americans have disabilities. Not only are physical accessibility features of transport and destinations important for those with disabilities, but understanding from staff is vital in making a travel experience smoother and more enjoyable.

Why Come to Utah?

 Over 24 Million travel each year to Utah ‘s 5 National Parks, 14 ski areas and scenic byways

 Salt Lake City was host to the 2002 Winter Olympics

 Utah is home to 43 State Parks

 Utah is home to 6 National Forests: Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-LaSal, Uinta, and Wasatch-Cache

 Utah is home to 7 National Monuments

 Over 900 movies were filmed here in Utah Top Accessible Are We There Yet? Places in Utah 1. State Capitol Building Traveling Well With a Disability Salt Lake City 2. Temple Square By Anne Hampson Boatwright Salt Lake City 3. Discovery Children’s Georgia DD Council Museum Salt Lake City 4. Hill Aerospace Museum The Americans With Disabilities Act the fluorescent or neon airport lights Clearfield ( ADA) of 1990 states that persons feel extremely harsh and chaotic? Do 5. Bear River Bird Refuge with disabilities will receive equal unfamiliar foods or food brands Brigham City treatment under the law and not be cause anxiety? Do crowds of people 6. Capitol Reef National Park discriminated against. While there or multiple noises, and intercom 7. Farmington Bay Waterfowl are compliance standards to meet messages overwhelm? These Management Area Farmington general needs, the diversity of potential problems can be headed off disabilities is wide, so it’s paramount at the pass with a little forethought 8. East Canyon State Park Morgan that each individual or their parent or and planning. 9. Dinosaur National caregiver know their condition and 2) Know what is calming. Rosner Monument Vernal specific needs. Most experts agree works with many children on the 10. Canyonlands National Park that the overarching rule of thumb autism spectrum and notes that they 11. Palisade State Park Manti for traveling with a disability is are visual learners, not auditory, preparation. Speech therapist Mickey which is why verbal reasoning won’t 12. Hogle Zoo Salt Lake City

Rosner, a nearly 30-year employee of work to assuage anxiety or agitation. 13. Red Butte Garden Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta who Using social stories – a written or Salt Lake City works with low verbal and nonverbal visual guide illustrating a process, 14.Natural History Museum children, says, “Don’t wing it! There social interaction, behavior or Salt Lake City are too many variables in traveling to situation– several times before a trip leave it to chance. With the vast can prevent the traveler from being array of local organizations and blindsided by procedures. Internet resources, one has many 3) Have a Plan B … and then a Plan options to get educated and C. Jan Marie Love, a licensed Delicate Arch empowered for traveling and actually professional counselor specializing in having a good time.” The following play therapy with Easter Seals of tips and resources empower North Georgia child centers, says, travelers with developmental “It’s critical to have several backup disabilities: ideas for a sudden behavior change,” Hill Aerospace Museum 1) Know the triggers. Sounds, smells, she advises. Working with the types of movement, transitions, any person’s therapist will be useful in sensory input having a negative brainstorming a plan and it’s effect on the person with a disability important to remember that each is one to be aware of and anticipate diagnosis is completely individualistic Hogle Zoo in a travel context. Does a certain and so is the management plan. odor trigger migraines or pain? Do 2 Famous People 4) If possible, choose the ideal and seasoned traveler with a From Utah time of dayfor the main or most neuromuscular disability, suggests Karl Malone & John difficult part of the journey. keeping it to one page and Stockton Former NBA players 5) If possible, do a dry run. If the recommends laminating or Butch Cassidy destination is local, drive to it and encasing them in a plastic covering. The document should Train and Bank Robber show it to the traveler before the Mario Capechi include device specifications such actual vacation or event date. Nobel prize winner as dimensions, weight, its Brigham Young 6) Have a doctor’s note and capabilities like “tilt and recline,” number with clear diagnoses and Founder of Utah. and how to properly fold and James Woods necessary medications ready and store it to ensure proper Actor available. For those with handling, avoid unnecessary Steve Holcomb “invisible” disabilities not damage, and how to repair Olympic Bobsled obvious to travel staff and breakages. Athlete passengers without disabilities, Loretta Young 3) Bring spare parts and tools. some reactionary behavior may be Actress perceived as a bad attitude or Alford, who has gotten her The Osmonds severe immaturity, when in preparation down to a science, Famous Band reality they’re related to the says wheelchairs can take some neurological disorder and need to real abuse while traveling. If you be understood as such. don’t have a companion who DisabilityTravel.com suggests the knows how to take the chair apart doctor’s endorsement be on and repair it, the letterhead, lending credibility to instructions should help with this. Karl Malone John Stockton the situation. 4) Allow extra time. Travel For Mobility-Related snafus can of course happen with Disabilities anyone, but it’s more complicated when a mobility 1) Call ahead to all destinations to device is involved. Allow for Loretta Young James Woods inform the business or extra time to make sure devices organization of your needs. and other assistive measures are Informing the booking staff of the dealt with patiently. Beyond these disability and accompanying needs basics, there are specific will start the process of arranging considerations for certain types of appropriate accommodations. travel. Butch Cassidy Mario Capechi 2) Make several hard copies of the wheelchair or mobility device information. Dawn Alford, public policy director of the Brigham Young The Osmonds Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD)

3 motor coach companies in the Road and Rail Trip Road Trips Resources United States are required by law to Most families with people with provide accessible transportation to Greyhound Bus disabilities are much more familiar individuals with disabilities. This https:// with issues involved in driving as it’s includes providing assistance to www.greyhound.com/en/ done nearly every day. There are help-and-info/travel-info/ those with vision loss, hearing loss, many wonderful places to visit in customers-with-disabilities walking difficulties, those needing a Utah that are equipped to handle Rail breathing apparatus, those who use visitors with disabilities, from state https://www.amtrak.com/ a wheelchair, electric scooter or parks and historic sites to tourist accessible-travel-services other mobility aids, and passengers attractions. Go to https:// National and State with service animals. Independent www.visitutah.com/plan-your-trip/ Parks operators however are more accessible-utah to learn about what https://www.nps.gov/ selective in the disability services aboutus/ Utah has accessible for people with they provide. There is priority accessibilityforvisitors.htm disabilities. Here are ideas to make seating at the front, help getting on https://www.nps.gov/ traveling by car easier: and off the bus, storage for mobility findapark/index.htm 1) Purchase seat belt buckle covers aids and taking a wheelchair on the Camping and use the child door locks to keep bus. children with disabilities safely in http://koa.com/find-a-koa/ place without distracting the driver. Call the KOA campground to find out about ADA sites in the 2) Have a no-mess activity to help KOA campground you visit in pass the time, or anxiety aid like a the United States. fidget ball. http:// utahstate- parks.reserveamerica.com/ or 3) Create a visual aid to represent call 1.800.322.3770 to reserve how many hours you’ve traveled an accessible campsite in Utah. and how many are left. Use a timer Ride UTA Paratransit so the person can count down the Utah hours or minutes until the next stop 801-287-2263 or activity. This minimizes the https://www.rideuta.com/ perceived endless, limitless space Rider-Info/Accessibility/ they’re in and allows them to chart Ride UTA Bus, Rail and progress and move through Frontrunner for People transitions. with Disabilities Utah 4) For bus travel, notify the bus line https://www.rideuta.com/ Rider-Info/Accessibility/ in advance (at least 48 hours.) Most Riders-With-Disabilities of the major carriers have provisions for people with disabilities, though there are limits with certain accommodations. All

4 Air Travel with extra copies for multiple Airline Resources personnel on outbound and return Much has changed over the dec- http://www.delta.com/ flights of wheelchair specs and content/www/en_US/ ades to make air travel workable handling instructions, personal traveling-with-us/special- for people with disabilities. Alford, contact information, flight travel-needs/disabilities.html who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, information in case flight https://www.alaskaair.com/ learned through trial and error how attendants have questions after the content/travel -info/accessible- to make traveling more efficient services/overview.aspx traveler is already seated on the and less stressful. For people with plane. Not all baggage handlers are https://www.united.com/ developmental disabilities, aware how heavy some equipment web/en-US/content/travel/ preparation is a must to help the specialneeds/disabilities/ is, and the procedure for storage is traveler have more predictability. default.aspx not always intuitive either so “People don’t realize how much https:// instructions are necessary. www.southwest.com/html/ extra planning is involved,” Alford customer-service/unique- 3) Bring bubble wrap and duct says. “Because I’ve had many travel-needs/customers-with- experiences, both good and bad, tape to cover fragile parts of the disabilities-pol.html I’ve learned what to do to make equipment (like joy stick and Salt Lake City International things go more smoothly, and I switches). If the traveler requests, Airport Accessibility want to share them with readers to he can take his wheelchair up to https://www.slcairport.com/ help them feel empowered. It the gate and, assuming early customer-assistance/ accessibility/ makes a world of difference to be arrival, explain his process for proactive.” The following tips are ensuring protected equipment compiled from her suggestions as parts. well as from online sources: 4) Request the crew forward For People with Disabilities wheelchair handling instructions to the Aircraft Load Agent (ALA) crew Who Use Wheelchairs at the destination city. They can 1) Book flights well in advance and send it from the departing office to fill out forms on airline websites. arrival city personnel. The Society for Accessible Travel 5 Ask the pilot to radio ahead to and Hospitality (SATH) suggests the arrival city to request the ALA travelers seek the airline’s crew manager assign someone to customer service, the hotel meet them in their plane seat. This concierge or front desk and tour adds an extra layer of security. guides to explain the situation. Ask Alford says the captain has a lot of for needed accommodations, such influence – when he radios, it as preferred airline seating usually happens! Foster that (bulkhead or aisle) individualized relationship by introducing yourself lodging (quiet or adjoining rooms) the captain upon boarding, make and specific dietary requests (i.e., your case, and explain the value of food allergies). the chair to strengthen the urgency 2) Create a one-sheet document of the situation.

5 TSA Resources 6) Consider applying to TSA For Intellectual, Cognitive and TSA offers a precheck card. (Transportation Security To get a TSA precheck card Other Developmental you will need to fill out an Administration) Precheck®, a Disabilities application on their website precheck screening program at https://www.tsa.gov/ requiring membership that allows 1) Participate in Wings for Autism precheck. The application Program. These free events are program fee is $85 dollars passengers an expedited screening Once after you fill out the if they qualify. This means being produced by The Arc, a national, application, you will be exempt from removing shoes, community based organization for asked to do a 10 minute laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light people with intellectual and background check . After the background check is developmental disabilities. They jackets during the screening complete you can enjoy process. Certain airlines participate. partner with an airline, local city and your card. Applications can be found on the sometimes a healthcare organization for disabilities to TSA website and membership TSA offers a disability involves a fee that is good for five create this experience. The notification card that tells years. program essentially is an airport security about your rehearsal, specially designed for disability and your medical 7) For problems, call the TSA Cares condition. individuals with autism spectrum hotline. A helpline that provides disorders, their families and aviation travelers with disabilities and those professionals to alleviate some of TSA has a helpline for with special conditions answers to people with disabilities that the stress experienced when questions about the security are traveling. The phone traveling by air. A simulated number is (855) 787-2227 screening process, TSA Cares is to be experience created in a safe and or you can e-mail TSA cares used before arrival at the airport. and the e-mail address is on structured learning environment It’s only available during the the website at tsa.gov/ with extra interaction from airline business hours listed on the travel/passenger support. staff acquaints the passengers with website. the process and help them To learn more about TSA 8) Know your rights! Review the Air acclimate to the stimulation before pre check visit there website Carrier Access Act. A free Disability actually taking a trip. Families at https://www.tsa.gov/ Hotline provided by the Department practice entering the airport, obtain precheck of Transportation (DOT) provides boarding passes, go through general information to consumers security and board a plane. The about the rights of air travelers with plane then taxis around the runway disabilities, respond to requests for so kids can feel the movement and printed consumer information, and hear the engine sounds. The first assists air travelers with Wings in Georgia was held in April time-sensitive, disability-related 2016 with another planned for next issues that need to be addressed in year. “real time.” 2) Check the airline’s disability page of their website for all disability services.

6 Tour Groups for People For Travelers with Any Kind of restrict the entrance of all animals. with Disabilities through Disability You should determine if any country out the United States you intend to visit is one of these by Trips R Us 1) Book flights well in advance. contacting consulates or the airlines. Framingham ,Massachusetts Notify travel and hospitality staff to help companies serve passengers 2) Rail: In the US and Canada you can http://www.tripsrus.org/ better, and give them peace of mind. ask the assistance of the rail Ventures Travel Make a call the day before to confirm company in boarding the train and Plymouth, Minnesota finding your seat. Give a reasonable plans or correct misinformation. http://www.venturestravel.org/ amount of time to ensure that there 2) Avoid connecting flights if is someone available. The same will Trips Inc. possible. Flying direct can save normally apply in Europe and other Eugene ,Oregon unnecessary time and hassle unless countries which operate modern rail https://www.tripsinc.com/ getting to airplane bathrooms is systems. Search Beyond Adventures impossible; then several flights might be a better option. 3) Bus: In North America, Greyhound Cameron Park ,California IndependentTraveler.com suggests Bus is the only company operating a http://www.searchbeyond.com nationwide city-to-city service and planning at least 90 minutes Hammer Travel they will give you every assistance in between flights, two hours if going Wayzata, Minnesota through customs or security. boarding, announcing your destination, and any other help you http://hammertravel.org/ For Travelers with Visual may need. Impairment or Blindness

1) Airline: If you book by phone or letter, always inform your travel Happy agent of your disability and if you will State Of Utah Resources be traveling with a guide dog so that Traveling People with Disabilities airport personnel and flight watching wildlife in Utah attendants can give you the service http://wildlife.utah.gov/ & watchable-wildlife-for- you need. Be sure that the disabled.html information is included in your flight Travel Center booking. This will ensure that the Welcome to www.accesstravelcenter.com/ airline is able to offer you the utah.html services you need such as Utah National Ability Center http://www.discovernac.org/ preboarding, a guided tour of the aircraft and large-type menus for Moab Utah Disabled Guide meals. On US domestic flights and in http://www.moab-utah.com/ rack/disabled.html Canada, guide dogs are accepted As a matter of course. However, if traveling abroad, some island states have strict anti-rabies laws which

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