jeudi 31 janvier 2019

Planning For Special Needs Travel

By Kenneth Baker


When traveling, most people have special needs and wants they would want to be catered to make their journey more enjoyable. However, there is a different group of people who have specific needs that must be met for them to start their journey. Special needs travel plans are needed for these group of people to ensure they are comfortable during their journey. The plans must include sensitive treatment for them and a lot of understanding.

Some of the customers who require this kind of arrangement done for them include people who use wheelchairs, people with visual, hearing or speech impairment, or people of different cultures who may not speak English. In some cases, parents traveling with young children may also require special attention or even minors traveling on their own. Customers with special dietary needs are also included in this group.

The special need may be in the form of additional and sensitive customer service throughout the course of their journey. It could also involve notifying the entire transport crew of their presence. It is, therefore, best that some of the plans are made well in advance to allow for the travel agents and transport companies get adequate time to make the necessary adjustments.

There are guidelines set in the disability rights and laws that ensure that individuals with special needs get equal opportunities and treatment. This has made it easier for such individuals to access public transportation and accommodation like the rest of the travelers. Whether traveling by road, air, water, those with special needs have been included and numerous changes made for them.

Public transport companies such as airlines have been making changes to their operations and even planes to cater to the special needs of these individuals. A notable structural change in the planes is the adjustment of the aisle seats to have removable arms that make it possible for an individual with mobility issues to be comfortable. Meals are also adjusted to cater for any passenger traveling that may have special dietary needs.

For those customers who must use wheelchairs, the airline companies have made it possible for the wheelchairs to be gate checked easily. They are also offloaded and provided to their clients first at their destinations or when changing planes. A travel agent should ensure they get the best and most direct route for a passenger with mobility issues to avoid further inconveniences. Otherwise, ample time should be available to ensure such a passenger changes planes accordingly.

Other adjustments that have been done by transport companies include the different communication methods available. For those who are visually impaired or have hearing problems announcements are made in a way that they also include them. Some trains, for example, are equipped with braille signs that help the special needs travelers also get the important announcements made. Those traveling with their guide dogs by train are not charged extra for the dogs to accompany them.

When traveling by road, a special needs traveler may need a vehicle that will cater to his or her special needs. Some of the transport companies have vans that allow for wheelchair access and others have vehicles that are controlled by hand. Cruise ships have also made special adjustments to their cabins and public areas to allow the travelers with special needs to be comfortable.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire