Road Trip Ready Tip 3

The third installment of our four-part series designed to help CRT users plan a road trip

As a CRT user, planning for a road trip also means developing of plan of action for any potential problems you might run into during your trip. Avid travelers Kerri Knudson and Chad Waligura offer advice about what to pack, tools that can make traveling easier and what to do if something goes wrong with your chair. 

Tip 3: Be prepared for problems. 

“I always travel with my shower chair,” Waligura says. “I never count on a roll-in shower. Always take your basic essentials, like cathing supplies, spare tubes for tires, a hand pump, some tools.” 

Waligura often takes solo road trips and says one of the problems he’s had to solve is how to get gas without help. 

“Sometimes gas pumps are raised up on a high curb that I can’t reach,” he says. “So sometimes, you have to wait and ask someone to help you.” 

Since sliding a card can be difficult for someone with limited mobility, Waligura relies on an assistive card gripper made by Abilitease Adaptive, that helps him pay at gas pumps as well as use key cards in hotels.

Problem-solving aside, Knudson and Waligura say the most important thing is to get out there and enjoy yourself. 

“Go with the flow if you’re going to travel a lot,” Waligura says. “Be able to talk with people and ask for help. Traveling is really fun, and it’s so empowering when you figure out how to do it. 

“There have been many times when I’ve asked myself ‘Do I not want to go because of my disability?’” Waligura continues. “And if the answer is yes then I have to go.”

“A lot of times, people with different abilities are afraid to try something they’ve never done or seen,” Knudson says. “But I can tell you that some of the best experiences of my life have been the moments where I’ve said, ‘OK, I’ll give it a try. I’ll go.’”