Increased emphasis on public accessibility for disabled people has opened up a whole new world for easier wheelchair travel. From walkways to buildings, people in wheelchairs are experiencing more freedom.

People with limited mobility are finding that elevated ramps, curb cuts, automatic door openers and wider doorways are now the norm. With few obstacles in their way and public transportation now offering features for handicapped riders, a wheelchair is not the impediment it once was. Advocates for the disabled lobbying for increased accessibility have paved the way for a new generation of wheelchair travelers.

With the increased public awareness, disabled people are discovering a whole new world beyond the confinement of their wheelchairs. They’re able to do more, go more places without running into obstacles. However, some advance planning still needs to be done when making arrangements to travel long distances despite disabilities.

The accessibility of your destination, particularly if it’s a third world country or remote area, needs to be researched, as does your hotel, airline and accessibility to medication and medical facilities. The accessibility of your airline and hotel has to be researched as does access to medical facilities, including pharmacies if you require prescription medication

Rather than book your hotel through the Internet, call your hotel personally to inquire about accessibility and door widths in the room. Ask for a confirmation number or code as proof of your booking. This rarely, happens, but sometimes hotels overbook and can give your room away or deny that you even made a reservation.

Check with your airline to see what type of service for disabled people they provide. Getting on the plane with a wheelchair is not generally a problem, but make sure the space provided for wheelchair passengers is available. Depending on your reasons for requiring a wheelchair, some airlines may request that you use one of their chairs and will offer to stow your chair under the plane with the luggage. If your personal wheelchair is stowed as luggage, what will happen if the luggage crew accidentally damages your chair, or what is the protocol if your chair ends up being lost or accidentally shipped elsewhere?

Does your airline require a doctor’s note listing the prescription drugs that you’re taking? This would be a smart thing to do regardless of the airline’s policy. If you’re crossing a border or even if you’re being screened at security, you can avoid needless scrutiny about any drugs you’re carrying if you have a note from your doctor.

Make sure you have proper travel insurance. This can’t be emphasized enough. This is key because often those bound to a wheelchair may have compromised immune systems making them vulnerable to all manner of viruses. There is also the possibility that a fall from the wheelchair could occur.