Road Trip Ready Tip 4

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

Road trips are a unique way to experience your country, from seeing the sights to experiencing local communities and cultures. But for CRT users, hitting the road often also means knowing what to do if your CRT equipment breaks down. 

Tip 4: Have a repair plan.

If your car breaks down during a road trip, getting it fixed is a matter of finding a good nearby mechanic—but that’s not the case for CRT equipment. 

“I wish I could say that fixing equipment worked like fixing cars,”says Brian Littlefield, an NSM assistive technology professional (ATP) in Bangor, Maine. “Ninety percent of the time insurance is involved, so there are lots of factors that have to be taken care of. The process takes time.” 

If something does go wrong while you’re traveling, Littlefield suggests: 

• Reach out to your home branch. Contact your ATP, customer service representative or technician and explain what’s going on with your equipment. They can help you locate a nearby NSM branch and connect you with professionals who can assess the problem. Consider calling the branch location first to check availability.
• Visit an NSM branch near your current location. Make sure to tell them your name, your home branch location and the ATP or person you work with in the service department there. Provide as much information about the problem as you can. 
• Have an evaluation. The professionals at the branch you’re visiting will assess your equipment and try to determine what is causing the problem. If it’s a simple adjustment and someone is available, they’ll work to help you out. If the repair isn’t a quick fix, they’ll get a quote for repairs and share all that information with your home branch. This allows your home branch to get the documentation process started before you get home. 
• Be patient. Staffing at locations can vary and the ATPs and technicians at the branch you’re visiting likely already have appointments scheduled for the day. You may have to wait a bit for an opening. 

“It’s never ideal when something isn’t working, especially when you’re traveling,” Littlefield says. “But let’s see if we can get your equipment back to a working condition for you to get home.” 

Looking for a branch near you? With a network of 200-plus locations across the U.S. and Canada, NSM is North America’s largest and most trusted provider of comprehensive mobility solutions including CRT, home and vehicle accessibility, and full-service maintenance and repair. To find a location near you, use our branch locator.