Written By: Kristy Kargel
After flying to Seattle for a medical study related to my daughter’s diagnosis, we decided that traveling was something we really wanted to do as a family. Before we knew it, we were booking our next big trips which included both road and plane travel. I would like to share with you some tips that I hope will help you in your journeys with your own families!
Tip 1: First and foremost, lower your expectations of the outcome of the trip.
Tip 2: If you are traveling by plane make sure to reach out to the airline you are flying on to talk with one of their agents about your child’s needs. https://www.delta.com/us/en/accessible-travel-services/overview https://suncountry.com/help-center/special-services https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/contact-american/special-assistance.jsp
Tip 3: When traveling by plane, you are allotted an extra carryon that will hold all of your medications, medical equipment and even water if it is medically required for your child on the flight and/or destination.
Tip 4: TSA allows you to bring both pre-drawn medications and bottles of medications on the plane. If the medications are less than 3 oz, the TSA does not need to open, check, and test them. However, if the medications are fluids and over 3 oz, the TSA will need to open the bottles (even if new and sealed) to test them. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures
Tip 5: Contact TSA Cares at least two weeks before you travel to arrange for a TSA Agent to assist you through security with ease. Not all airports offer the same level of service, but Minneapolis/St. Paul has a great team of TSA agents that will meet you at the entrance of security. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support
Tip 6: When you are within 30 days from your travel I recommend contacting where you are staying to request mailing excess supplies to them like: briefs, formula, pre-package tube feeding meals and supplies, and anything else that may lighten your packing.
Tip 7: If your child is too large for a car seat and you are flying but they need assistance with sitting, there is a great harness you can purchase and use with approval from the FAA. https://www.amsafe.com/kidsflysafe-com/
Tip 8: When you arrive at your destination, do you need a modified van? There are options for so many domestic locations! We have rented modified vans in both Seattle, WA and Sarasota, FL. Many more cities are now also offering Lyft and Uber with wheelchair accessible options too. https://wheelersvanrentals.com/ https://www.wheelchairvanrentalfl.com/locations
Tip 9: If traveling to a beach location, there are many beaches that offer the use of a Beach Wheelchair. Some beaches also have a Mobi Mat that allows a wheelchair to roll over the sand. I usually do a search via the internet to get more information about the beaches that I would like to travel to.
Tip 10: Does your child have a hidden or non-visible disability? There is a program for air travel that helps airline employees recognize when someone has a hidden or non-visible disability. You can stop by the Customer Service or Information desk at most airports and pick up a sunflower lanyard free of charge for your family member to wear. The Sunflower is globally recognized as a symbol for non-visible disabilities, also known as hidden disabilities or invisible disabilities. https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com/us/
Tip 11: Do you have a child that is just too big for an infant changing table? There are now some airports, including Minneapolis/St Paul, Chicago O’Hare, and Seattle, that have added a full size changing table to accessible restrooms. In a pinch, I have used one of the lactation pods at the airport. Mamava Pod has an app that you can download to unlock these pods that are located in many airports and public places. They typically have two benches and also a counter space that can be used as a changing table. https://www.mamava.com/find-mamava