I’m busting the myths around accessible road trips – my six tips will cover you from car rental advice to route planning

A SEASONED traveler unveils six indispensable tips for disabled vacationers, encompassing savvy car rental guidance and meticulous route planning. The travel industry finds itself at a crossroads on how to cater to the needs of a significant yet often marginalized demographic — People with Disabilities. GettyAn experienced traveler gave their advice for disabled people looking to vacation[/caption] Instagram / Syren Shveta NagakyrieSyren Nagakyrie has published two books on traveling accessibility[/caption] Disabled people comprise 20% of the US population, John Sage, the CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions said in a blog post. The disabled population possesses untapped potential and consumer power, he said. He is not alone. Syren Nagakyrie, the founder of Disabled Hikers, a non-profit advocating for more accessible information on public trails, has made similar calls to action for outdoor justice. Nagakyrie has written two books about outdoor accessibility. “The outdoors has been a place that I can retreat to,” Nagakyrie said to Diversify Outdoors. “We need a massive shift in outdoor culture, in the mindset of people, and the way we think about the outdoors and really challenging the ableism and colonialism that is inherent in outdoor culture.” Having navigated the world of travel, Nagakyrie wrote a series of tips for disabled travelers in The New York Times. Here is what they suggested: CAR RENTALS Nagakyrie said several car rental companies will provide adaptive driving devices. Enterprise and Budget both offer several driving tools for disables drivers – but Nagakyrie said drivers should request them at least three days in advance. They also suggest wheelchair users rent from companies like BraunAbility and MobilityWorks. MobilityWorks has locations in 34 US states. PLAN THE ROUTE Nagakyrie suggests using Google Maps, Waze, and MapQuest to plan out the destination route. However, they’re all limited in their scope. They also suggest mapping driving plans on the Furkot app. The app allows drivers to specify how long they want to drive each day. FINDING HOTELS Hotels are required to be accessible under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, but the reality is a bit blurry, Nagakyrie said. Several chains suggest they have mobility, hearing, and vision-compliant rooms. Larger chains, like Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton, have allergen options and non-scent rooms. Travelers should check their availability before booking. Nagakyrie suggests travelers call the local hotel to guarantee their compliance. MEDICATION COOLER Nagakyrie suggested travelers invest in compressor coolers to maintain medication temperature. They also said some hotels have cooler storage for medications. Nagakyrie also suggests utillizing mini-fridges in hotels to keep insulating packs cool. The mini-fridge could keep packs cool for days, they said. SURF THE WEB Several websites and apps can help travelers find activities and food along their route. Nagakyrie suggests looking through the websites of national parks to find accessible activities. They also suggest using apps like Fig to find allergy-specific places to eat. Another app, AllTrails, features lists of wheelchair-friendly trails throughout the US as well. VISIT THE PARKS US National Parks must meet ADA compliance, they added. The parks have regulations around visitor centers and information for disabled travelers. Most parks offer listening services, American Sign Language translation, and wheelchair accessible routes. However, they said that accessibility access varies in each park. The U.S. Sun reached out to Nagakyrie for comment on this article.