Hans Christian Andersen Said, “To travel is to live.” I say, “To travel is to learn.”
My intense love of travel started when I went to Norway as a 16-year-old exchange student in the summer of 1984, and that passion has only grown stronger over time.
As much as I love to travel, I am not necessarily in love with the act of traveling itself. Whether it’s by plane, train, or automobile, traveling takes time, tolerance, and temperance. Time to get from one point to the next. Tolerance to handle unforeseeable and unpredictable events. And temperance to remain calm when facing the unknown.
For those of us with limb loss or other physical challenges, the act of traveling is that much more “adventurous” because of our use of prosthetic limbs and other mobility devices. Having lived with limb loss for the last 39 years, I have learned that using a prosthetic leg in my globetrotting means that I must do a bit of extra planning before setting off on my journeys.
So, with an eternally grateful heart and a passport containing stamps from Stockholm to Shanghai (with a few stops in between), I share with you what my millions of miles of roaming have taught me.
Pack those things that you cannot buy at a 24-hour pharmacy.
When I travel anywhere in the United States or abroad, I imagine that I am going to a deserted island where there are no stores and I do not speak the language. Then I think about every aspect of using my prosthetic leg, from donning it, to walking with it, to charging its battery.
For those things, I think about everything I might need and then apply the “Can I buy it at a pharmacy?” test. Can I buy the charging cable, stump socks, and silicon pads I need for my prosthesis at a reasonably stocked chain pharmacy? If there’s anything that I cannot easily get outside of an orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) clinic, I pack extras of it in my “prosthetic first-aid kit.”
Photograph by Leslie Pitt Schneider.
Because I have been stuck in a hotel room with lost luggage and a dead battery for my prosthetic knee, my carry-on bag now holds my prosthetic first-aid kit, which, among other items, always contains a charging cable, extra stump socks, and duct tape. This way, I will be able to use my prosthetic leg to get to a store or an O&P clinic to buy anything else I need if my luggage goes missing again.
Plan extra time when going through checkpoints.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has checkpoints at all U.S. airports. Know what to expect at them, in general, by reading TSA’s website at www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/travelers-disabilities-and-medical-conditions. For security reasons, different airports have different screening procedures for people who wear prosthetic limbs, and their websites do not disclose their specific approach. However, you can call TSA toll-free at 855.787.2227 and ask the TSA Cares staff questions about screening, policies, and what else you should expect at checkpoints.
Fortunately, most domestic airports have TSA staff who have undergone special training in meeting the needs of travelers with disabilities. They are great resources for questions or concerns before, during, or after your screening experience.
Also, if you have issues that you do not have the time or patience to discuss at the checkpoint, you can call TSA or visit its website to inform the agency of your concerns after the fact. If you do so, it’s important to remember the checkpoint number, your travel date, and the names of TSA staff you encountered, if possible. I have found TSA staff accommodating and ready to resolve problems, but they need certain facts to research the issue.
Although the TSA is a U.S. agency, all other countries also require similar security screening at airports and a few train stations. You will usually approach a screening line, walk through a metal detector, and then get patted down if you set off the alarm. Please note that in most other countries, there is no requirement for a gender-specific pat-down unless you ask for it. So if you do not want to be patted down by someone of the opposite sex, be sure to ask for a gender-specific pat-down. All countries tend to take a clinical approach to screening, and I have never felt inappropriately touched during the thousands of screenings I have undergone.
Photograph by Leslie Pitt Schneider.
Because my prosthetic leg always sets off the metal detector alarm, I preemptively inform the agent that I have a prosthetic leg while simultaneously pointing at it. This does not preclude me from a pat-down, but it always makes the process much easier for me.
Request a handicap-accessible room.
We all want to enjoy our time away from home, and one way to do that is to stay in a place that is as home-like as possible. For example, if you use a shower chair at home or have a modified home, request a handicap-accessible room. All U.S. and most international hotels have handicap-accessible rooms available at no additional cost to guests.
The rooms are usually on a lower level and closer to elevators and stairwells. Most also come equipped with wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers and have accessible showers/tubs with shower chairs, handrails, and nonslip floors.
Again, to plan ahead, you can visit the website of a specific hotel (e.g., Aloft Phoenix) or a hotel chain (e.g., Aloft Hotels) to learn more about its handicap-accessible rooms, view photos, and read other travelers’ comments. In the event the hotel you are planning to stay at is smaller and doesn’t have a website, or you cannot locate the information about handicap-accessible accommodations on the site, call the hotel directly to inquire. It’s always a good idea to make your request for a handicap-accessible room when booking your reservation, as the number of these rooms is limited and may be sold out in peak seasons or during conferences.
Bring your handicap-parking placard.
If you are driving to your destination or plan to rent a car, anticipate that you’ll be dealing with the same driving and parking issues you face at home. If you use a handicap-parking placard at home, bring it with you when you travel.
Please note that most states, cities, and municipalities have their own parking rules and regulations. Thus, if you’re planning to drive to New York City and park at one of its city meters, call ahead to ensure that your state-issued handicap-parking placard can be used in the Big Apple. Sadly, those using noncompliant handicap-parking placards are not immune to traffic tickets and fines.
For those who use cars specially adapted with handbrakes at home, take comfort in knowing that most domestic and international car rental agencies can accommodate your needs, although some are better than others. Always check ahead with your destination-specific car rental facility when you reserve your rental car to ensure that it can properly accommodate you. It’s one thing to reserve a car online, but it’s another to be certain that your specially requested car is available at the rental facility.
Research local O&P offices and write down their phone numbers.
I don’t know if it’s just Murphy’s Law, but, invariably, I have needed a prosthetist whenever I have not done my homework by planning ahead.
When I’m traveling domestically, knowing that I can call my prosthetist, who can refer me to a local prosthetist if I have a prosthetic emergency, brings peace of mind. When I’m traveling overseas, however, things are often a little different since I might be dealing with a foreign language and a country that has no O&P professional organizations.
Because most of the big-name prosthetic companies (e.g., Ottobock, Össur, and Endolite) are international, their websites are the first places I have looked when I needed to find a local prosthetist. Regardless of what country you are in, these companies’ websites are global and are in English and other common languages. More importantly, most of them also have patient care facilities outside of the United States.
So, even if you don’t wear a certain manufacturer’s product, its patient care facilities are a great first step in getting you to someone who can address your needs or refer you to someone who can.
Pack an open mind and a sense of adventure.
Regardless of where you go or what prosthetic or other mobility accoutrements you need to take with you, always take an open mind and a sense of adventure, and be prepared to enjoy your journey to its fullest.
Life is about living and “to travel is to live.” With that, I bid you bon voyage!
