Travel – Navigating the World as an Amputee
The article below is written by Deborah Boardman - Operations Director and Kirsty Bloor - Member | Volunteer | Support Hub Lead extraordinaire of Amputation Foundation.
Among the multitude of thoughts, fears and questions that race through people’s minds when they are facing or have been through an amputation there is often the question about travel. Whether it be day to day getting from A to B or in the longer term whether going on holiday is going to be possible.
Travel is a symbol of freedom and also independence and while accessibility is improving in some areas, the world is still largely built with two arms and two legs in mind!
Let’s start with some good news, everything will be possible eventually! How long it might take for it to be possible will vary from person to person and of course their individual amputation and necessary recovery timeframe.
The not-so-great news is that travel will require more effort, planning and a degree of resilience. Whilst it shouldn’t be solely on an individual’s shoulders to work around a system that often fails them, in our experience amputees develop incredible adaptability and creativity in navigating the world of travel and we will cover some of the helpful tips & guidance gathered from our various Support Hub throughout the article.
Public Transport – Challenges
Buses
The step to get on a bus can be lowered but not all services have this or where they do, the drivers don’t always lower it
Drivers aren’t always forthcoming about getting the ramp out for people with disabilities
Accessible spaces are often taken up by prams and drivers are no longer obliged to ask for a pram to be folded down – even when they do, a passenger can refuse to comply
Accessible spaces are also often taken up by other wheelchair users who can also refuse to manoeuvre to create additional space
Trains
Passenger Assist Service is available on most services and staff will support with ramps or assistance to board, however systems errors or lack of available staff can sometimes mean that even this doesn’t work quite as well as it should
For longer journeys, the accessible bathrooms can (more often than they should) be out of order and for an individual not able to move freely to the next available & accessible bathroom this can often be a real issue
Taxis
Taxi Drivers often refuse passengers who are travelling in a wheelchair
Whilst adapted taxis are slowly becoming more available, they can cost a little bit more
Public Transport – Helpful Tips & Guidance
Buses
If you were (and will be again) a frequent bus traveller, make a list of the bus numbers | routes | service providers in your region that you are likely to want to use
Write a letter, email or call the service provider asking them for their policy covering accessibility
Ask specifically about the routes you might want to regularly take and how the service caters for people with differing abilities
You may be eligible for a bus pass for your area which whilst doesn’t address service issues, might save you some money
If you need help with any of this, your Support Hub will support you with research
Trains
Check out Passenger Assist and familiarise yourself with what support is available
Like with buses, if you were (and will be again) a frequent train user, make a list of the available services and the specific train company
Write a letter, email or call the train company asking them for their policy covering accessibility
Ask specifically about the services you might want to regularly use and how it caters for people with differing abilities
If you are a frequent train user, railway cards for people with disabilities exist and might save you some money
If you need help with any of this, your Support Hub will support you with research
Taxis
Uber is a cover-all areas & geographies service which also has a specific function allowing an individual to select “Assist” car & driver
If you prefer to use a local more regional service, then we suggest that you research the firms where you live and call them to ask specifically about how their fleet of cars and drivers might be equipped to take you for future journeys
Once you know which firms are able to support your needs & requirements, it is much easier to ensure that they send someone who knows what to expect – there is nothing worse than being refused by a driver (probably not what 99% of drivers want to do either btw) and missing an appointment or being late simply because you have had to wait for a replacement taxi.
Everyday travel will seem daunting (as will most things initially) but as one of our contributors said, “Small Journeys, Big Planning!”. With the right mindset and approach, you will find that adaptability & creativity we mentioned earlier and don’t forget that there are others who have blazed the trail before you – connect with your peers via your Support Hub where every question you have will have an answer.
Driving – Challenges
One of the most frequent questions we get asked is “Will I be able to drive or drive again?”. The answer is almost always yes!
The second question is normally “How?” – see our Tips & Guidance below
Even with a Blue Badge for parking, the increase in approvals for BB allocation means that often, accessible parking spaces are limited
Initially, you might struggle to travel alone or at least until your car has all of the right adaptations or your new prosthetic means you no longer need your wheelchair
Driving – Helpful Tips & Guidance
If you haven’t yet passed your test and have never driven – don’t despair! There are organisations who will teach you how to drive. Speak with your Support Hub peers and they will advise
Ask your Support Hub about the best approach for your individual circumstances as there are so many adaptive controls & support products available for all sorts of vehicles – let your peers help you to narrow down your research
Via your Support Hub, get in touch with an approved company specialising in car adaptations or new adapted car purchases
Apply to the Motability Scheme (motability.co.uk) if you need help to obtain a vehicle
Apply for a Blue Badge from your Local Council – As with the whole “healthcare lottery” different authorities may mean varying costs, but you will be entitled to a Blue Badge for parking purposes
BB holders will also often be entitled to concessions for toll roads
BB holders can take their badge with them if being driven by a family member | carer | friend
Research often frequented places and get to know where the accessible parking spaces are located
Avoid (if you can) the busiest times or rush hours – you shouldn’t have to but if it makes your life a bit easier then it falls into your planning
If there are no accessible parking spaces available, park in the middle of two spaces with your BB clearly on display – you will need at least a wheelchair width on one side in order to either transfer from the car or open the door wide enough to manoeuvre your new prosthetic out of the car without risk of falling or causing yourself pain
If you need to drive alone, there are Active User Wheelchairs available which fold down and come apart so that it can be placed in the passenger seat
Holidays – Challenges
It’s one thing navigating the UK as an amputee and whilst the UK still has a lot of work to do in terms of accessibility, it is without a shadow of a doubt better than many other locations. Travelling abroad will be challenging not only in getting to the end destination but also knowing what to expect from the end destination
Travelling by plane will come with its challenges particularly when going through security checks so do be aware that there are things that you should plan for
Prosthetic on or prosthetic off? A very frequently asked question in our Support Hubs!
If travelling with a wheelchair, damage can sadly happen or worst case scenario go missing! There will be a complaint and a compensation process you will be able to navigate, but it doesn't help the frustration and upset at the time
You will be asked to remove your shoes & they will go through the scanner
Your hands, feet & prosthetic limb(s) & wheelchair will be swabbed for narcotics. It takes a few minutes for the result to come back, then you are on your way again. There is usually a chair available, but if there isn't, ask for one, don't struggle
Subject to your individual circumstances insurance might be more expensive, particularly if you are travelling with a particular type of mobility aid
Holidays – Helpful Tips & Guidance
Never rely on website claims around accessibility – always double check prior to booking
Consider which country you are thinking of visiting and discuss with your Support Hub peers – the wealth of knowledge & experience that other amputees can offer is second to none and if they haven’t been to a specific location, they’ll know someone who has
Research Hotels & Villas/Apartments diligently – some will claim that a room is accessible simply because it’s on the ground floor! Double check before booking that things like grab bars, step-free showers or wide doorways are available subject to your requirements
Research your insurance options by discussing firstly with your Support Hub. Subject to how you will be travelling and with which mobility aid(s), enhanced insurance may or may not be required
Virgin & TUI rate quite highly amongst our contributors – TUI will book 'welfare' seats and organise private transfers from the airport to the hotel
Packing Tip: Take spare prosthetic liners, stump socks, and any repair tools you may need. A waterproof cover or secondary limb is useful if you’ll be near water
If you are comfortable doing so, travel in shorts or a t-shirt proudly displaying your limb loss or difference – it often helps with the “explaining” or rather not having to….
Ask your consultant | prosthetist | GP for a travel letter so you don’t have to go through the whole explanation time & time again
There are 'fast' lanes at security / customs for people with disabilities. Use them as it definitely saves a lot of standing or difficult baggage carrying & more importantly potential pain
Upper Limb amputees might want to think about managing luggage and tickets or phone e-tickets and boarding passes and passports etc….a travel wallet with everything in one place might be useful
When considering whether to fly with your prosthetic on or off, advice will often depend on age & overall physical health
Younger people can afford to remove their prosthetic in the knowledge that at the other end of a long journey, they can pretty much just put it back on
The older we get the trickier things can become and you may well retain water or swell up whilst on a flight and you might not be able to get your prosthetic back on at your end destination airport
For your first time flying as an amputee, you may want to consider the following:
Travel with your prosthetic AND your wheelchair if applicable
Arrive in plenty of time to give yourself time to rest in between stages
Remove prosthetic after passport control – navigate security with your prosthetic off - put it back on for boarding – Leave it on until you have landed
Organise assistance at both airports for support getting on & off the plane
If travelling with a wheelchair, they don’t have to take it away until you are boarding (they equally should have it ready for you when disembarking)
Our contributors have spoken positively about most airports abroad reporting that most have been incredibly helpful & kind
Help with luggage | wheelchair pushing | golf carts etc…..
Bear in mind that you might be first on the plane and last off – not perfect but does make for an easier / less stressful boarding & disembarkment
Whilst abroad, you’ll be doing different things than at home (sunbathing, swimming or paddling, wearing lighter clothing) – people will look! Our contributors have said that normally people are just full of admiration and are generally well-meaning, but sometimes it will be too much – Don’t forget to take yourself off and decompress from time to time
Lower Limb amputees might find walking on sand for the first time quite challenging. Before your holiday overseas, you might want to have a go at it somewhere closer to home just to get a sense of how it feels – but remember you’re not on holiday yet so you might want to wrap up warm
General - Helpful Tips & Guidance (In no particular order or category)
Look into Access Card and National Disability Card. There is a charge for both but, you can save money on days out, concerts, events and sometimes travel. Both appear to work in various non-UK countries as well and both appear to offer discounts to “carers” accompanying you
We might have mentioned planning and being organised a few times throughout this article but on the whole our contributors have stated that with the right preparation & mindset, travelling need not be the nightmare you are currently envisaging
The one thing you can’t avoid is other humans – people will look and will be curious – they will often ask questions! There are two ways to approach this. 1) Be completely open and explain your circumstances 2) Tell them that if they don’t mind you’d rather not discuss as travelling can be stressful enough as it is
Use Apps like Google Maps, Citymapper, Waze to find the most accessible routes & step-free access options
If you are travelling with powered prosthetic or mobility aids, don’t forget to take a backup battery or power source
Summary
Travelling with limb loss isn't about limitations—it's about adaptation. When you are ready to take it on, the world is still your oyster!
The world needs to listen to amputees’ voices and push for practical, lasting change so that travel becomes a right, not a risk!
The Limb Loss Limb Difference alliance will drive this agenda forward as a collective: - Amputation Foundation | Blesma | Finding Your Feet | Limb Power | Reach | Steel Bones
There are also several influential people in the UK championing the need for improvements to travel, so we’re not alone in this cause and more importantly you’re not alone either!
Paralympic Champion: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
Leading The Aviation Accessibility Task and Finish Group working to make flying accessible for all "from booking to baggage claim"
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/aviation-accessibility-task-and-finish-group
Co-founder of Global Disability Campaign Body Rights on Flights: Sophie Morgan
Head of policy at Disability Rights UK: Fazilet Hadi
Amputation Foundation will work tirelessly to support its members, volunteers and staff (92% of whom are amputees) alongside and as part of the Limb Loss Limb Difference alliance.
Blog by Amputation Foundation