Purchasing a wheelchair-accessible van is an investment. These modified vans do not come cheap. Accessible-van dealers offer vehicles with ramps or lifts for wheelchair access and other modifications--including hand brakes, turning knobs and rotating front seats. Check with Medicaid, non-profit organizations, disability groups and other resources for funding assistance.
Larger cities--including Atlanta, New York and Chicago---offer metro systems through crowded downtown areas that are fully handicapped-accessible. Metro transportation rates are cheap and reduced rates are offered for disabled riders.
Persons with disabilities who travel by air should check in at the departure gate at least an hour early to discuss any needs with the airline agent---such as the need for an aisle chair to board the plane. If traveling with a motorized chair, it is safest to remove the joystick and foot rests and carry them on the plane with you. Traveling by plane with a wheelchair is always a risk. If you find on arrival that your chair is damaged, immediately draw up the paperwork to get it fixed or replaced by the airline.
Call ahead of time to various taxi companies in the city you are visiting to find one that has a taxi with a lift or ramp for wheelchair users. It may be difficult to find in some towns and easier to find in larger cities.
Many larger cities provide public bus transportation that offers a lift for wheelchair users. It may be necessary to call ahead to confirm that the bus route you plan on taking has a lift. The quality of bus service differs from city to city. All of Atlanta's 120 MARTA bus routes are equipped with lifts, and persons with disabilities are given priority seating toward the front of the bus.
If flying, check the airport website for a shuttle that provides transportation from the airport to your hotel or other destination, such as the Atlanta Link from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Accessible shuttles are available by reservation. Some cities--such as New York--offer paratransit mini-buses with shared transportation anywhere within a specific service area for persons with disabilities.
It is extremely difficult to find rental car companies offering vehicles that accommodate wheelchairs. Some offer modified cars with hand controls, but most do not have ramps. The few rental vehicles that do are quite expensive. Explore other options before trying to find an accessible rental vehicle.
Keep the business card or contact information for accessible transportation services from the various cities to which you have traveled on file, in case you revisit the city.
