Canada is one of the best places in the world to travel if you have
mobility problems or other physical disabilities. All public buildings
are required to be wheelchair-accessible and provide suitable toilet
facilities, almost all street corners have dropped kerbs, and public
telephones are specially equipped for hearing-aid users. Though
wheelchair users may encounter problems when travelling on city public
transport, main population centres are gradually introducing suitable
buses
Contacts for travellers with disabilities
Australia and New Zealand ACROD (Australian Council for Rehabilitation
of the Disabled) PO Box 60, Curtin, ACT 2605 (tel 02/6282 4333); 24
Cabarita Rd, Cabarita, NSW 2137 (tel 02/9743 2699). Provides lists of
travel agencies
The Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) can provide a wealth of
information on travelling in specific provinces, and most of its
regional offices produce a free guide on the most easily accessed
sights. Provincial tourist offices are also excellent sources of
information on accessible hotels, motels and sights. You may also want
to get in touch with Kéroul in Montréal, an organization that
specializes in travel for mobility-impaired people, and publishes the
bilingual guide Accès Tourisme (C$15 plus $3 postage). Twin Peaks Press,
PO Box 129, Vancouver, Washington (tel 1-800/637-2256 or 360/694-2462)
also publishes useful guides: the Directory of Travel Agencies for the
Disabled (US$19.95), which lists more than 370 agencies worldwide,
Travel for the Disabled (US$19.95) and Wheelchair Vagabond (US$14.95),
as well as directories for accessible-van rental companies and cruise,
ferry, river and canal-barge guides for the physically handicapped.
Information
Australia and New Zealand
ACROD (Australian Council for Rehabilitation of the Disabled) PO Box 60,
Curtin, ACT 2605 (tel 02/6282 4333); 24 Cabarita Rd, Cabarita, NSW 2137
(tel 02/9743 2699).
Provides lists of travel agencies and tour operators for people with
disabilities.
Disabled Persons Assembly , 4/173-175 Victoria St, Wellington. New
Zealand (tel 04/801 9100).
Resource centre with lists of travel agencies and tour operators for
people with disabilities.
UK
Can Be Done Ltd , 7-11 Kensington High St, London W8 5NP (tel 020/8907
2400, fax 020/8909 1854, www.canbedone.co.uk ). Offers tours to Canada
for people with disabilities.
Heathrow Travelcare (tel 020/8745 7495, fax 020/8745 4161). Assistance
for disabled travellers at Heathrow Airport.
Holiday Care Service , 2nd Floor, Imperial Buildings, Victoria Rd,
Horley, Surrey RH6 7PZ (tel 01293/774535, fax 784647).Information on all
aspects of travel.
RADAR , Unit 12, City Forum, 250 City Rd, London EC1U 8AF (tel 020/7250
3222).
A good source of advice on holidays and travel abroad.
Tripscope , The Courtyard, Evelyn Rd, London W4 5JH (tel 020/8994 9294
or 0845/758 5641, fax 020/8994 3618 or 0117/939 7736).
Offers advice and information on travel for sick, elderly and disabled
people.
Canada
BC Coalition of People with Disabilities , 204-456 W Broadway,
Vancouver, BC V5Y IR3 (tel 604/875-0188). Offers advice and assistance
for travellers in BC.
Canadian Paraplegic Association . Their main office is at Suite 320,
1101 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3W7 (tel 613/723-1033, fax
723-1060, and there are offices in every province: 520 Sutherland Drive,
Toronto ON M4G 3V9 (tel 416/422-5644); 780 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver,
BC V6P 5YT (tel 604/342-3611); 825 Sherbrook St, Winnipeg, MB (tel
204/786-4753); Kéroul, 4545 Pierre-de-Courbetin, CP 1000, Montréal HIV
3R2 (tel 514/252-3104).
VIA Rail information and reservations for the speech- and/or
hearing-impaired are available on tel 416/368-6406 from Toronto, tel
1-800/268-9503 from elsewhere.
Western Institute for the Deaf , 2125 W 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1X9
(tel 604/736-7391 or 736-2527). Gives advice for the hearing-impaired.
US
Directions Unlimited , 720 N Bedford Rd, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (tel
1-800/533-5343). Tour operator specializing in custom tours for people
with disabilities, including travellers who are blind.
Mobility International USA , Box 10767, Eugene, OR 97440 (voice and TDD
tel 541/343-1284, www.miusa.org ).
Information, access guides, tours and exchange programmes. Annual
membership $35 (includes quarterly newsletter).
Society for the Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped (SATH), 347
5th Ave, New York, NY 10016 (tel 212/447-7284, www.sath.org ).
Information on suitable tour operators and travel agents.
Travel Information Service , Moss Rehabilitation Hospital, 1200 W Tabor
Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19141 (tel 215/456-9603). Telephone information
service and referral.
Transport and facilities
Most airlines , both transatlantic and internal, will do whatever they
can to ease your journey, and will usually allow attendants of more
seriously disabled people to accompany them at no extra charge - Air
Canada is the best-equipped carrier
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