Following our previous conversation on wheelchair-accessible vehicle rentals and travel strategies, Kathleen Downs, a patient advocate and wheelchair user herself, continued to share valuable advice. Her focus was on navigating ride-sharing services like Uber and handling specialty medications during travel.
Navigating Uber Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV)
Living in the suburbs, Kathleen expressed the limitations of not having accessible Uber at home. However, in major cities like New York, Uber has made strides by introducing wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAV). These vehicles can be requested through the standard Uber app, where one can find the WAV option labeled with the familiar accessible parking icon.
She emphasized that while these services are still limited, she remains hopeful for their future expansion. These services provide a much-needed alternative to paratransit or door-to-door bus services for people with disabilities, which are often notoriously unreliable. Researching local paratransit options and seeing if they have a guest pass could be beneficial for travelers. Still, Kathleen recommends regular public transportation, accessible Ubers, or renting a van whenever possible.
Managing Specialty Medications During Travel
Towards the end of the conversation, Kathleen discussed managing specialty medications during travel. Her experience involved transporting a frozen antibiotic medication while traveling from New York to California for spine surgery amidst the 2020 pandemic.
Traveling with such a specialty medication required careful planning. She had to abide by travel restrictions on liquids and ice, necessitating a letter from her doctor explaining the medical necessity of the substances she was carrying. She packed a few doses in a lunch box filled with ice, but for longer trips, this wasn’t feasible.
In such situations, Kathleen advises contacting the specialty pharmacy that supplies your medication. In her case, they had a branch in California, which was able to deliver the rest of her doses. She stressed the importance of investigating whether your pharmacy has a branch in your destination if you find yourself in a similar situation.
Kathleen’s continued insights provide practical advice for wheelchair users and others with special needs when planning a trip. From navigating wheelchair-accessible transportation services to managing specialty medications, her experiences are a valuable resource for those seeking to make travel more accessible and less stressful.
