Door to Door: a travel guide for disabled peopleBefore you travel: Personal assistanceKey points to consider | Sources of information and advice | A note of caution - pavement scooters | Insurance | Medical preparations | Legislation - the DDA | Personal assistance | Help with costs | Benefits and allowances Increasingly, improvements to transport vehicles and facilities enable many disabled people to travel completely independently. However, there are still some situations which require a disabled person to travel with a companion, such as when travelling by plane or ferry. If you are unable to look after your own personal needs during the flight, such as transferring from seat to wheelchair, eating, and using the toilet, you are required to travel with a non disabled companion. This can add to the cost of a journey, but it is worth checking with the airline to see if there is a concession available to help with this. More information about these requirements can be found in the Going by air and Going by sea sections. If you need assistance with everyday tasks either some or all of the time, there are agencies in both the voluntary and commercial sectors which can provide this service, but you will probably have to pay for the service. Updated: 13.01.05 | Contact: dptac@dft.gsi.gov.uk |