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Transportation and Travel

Transportation To Medical Appointments

For the child with special health care needs, it can sometimes be a challenge just getting to doctor visits. However, transportation to and from medical appointments can be funded by private insurance or Medicaid when medically indicated. When determining the type of transportation required by a child with special health needs, it is important to consider multiple issues, including:

Whether the child is being transported by wheelchair or stretcher
The type of equipment (i.e., ventilator)
Medications
Treatments
Safety precautions (i.e., seizures, trach care, G-tube)

Easter Seals provides information on "Transportation Solutions for Caregivers: A Starting Point." This web site includes tips, products and sources for assistive devices and adaptive equipment.
Hometowne Transportation has an ambulette service as well as wheelchair accessible vans for non-emergency medical transportation. Call 513-245-1700 to arrange services.
Medicaid will provide transportation in keeping with the child's medical needs. Transportation services can be provided though the use of bus tokens, cab service or medical transport. In Hamilton County, you must call five business days before your medical appointment to schedule a trip. Transportation services are arranged by contacting the representative based on the first letter of the child's last name:
M, N, O, P (513-946-1675)
C, G, K, L (513-946-1640)
B, E, F, Z (513-946-2027)
H, I, R, U (513-946-1744)
A, D, S, Q, V (513-946-1778)
J, W, T, Y, X (513-946-1242)
You can confirm your ride by calling 513-587-4880 the day before your appointment.

Medicaid contract providers in Hamilton County for stretcher transport are Medcorp (513-984-2000) and Rural Metro (513-863-5000). For wheelchair or stretcher transport the contract provider is Universal Transport (513-829-1287).

Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) operates Access, a wheelchair accessible transportation service. This service must be applied for in advance.

Car Seats

Trauma Services at Cincinnati Children's provides a child safety seat guide, a complete listing of car seat safety fitting station locations in the Greater Cincinnati area and car seat safety information.
Ohio Kids are Riding Safe provides information for choosing a car seat / restraint, special consideration for children with medical conditions, lists of types of car safety seats available, and contact for qualified help and training opportunities.

Disability Placards

DMV.ORG is an online resource for all Department of Motor Vehicle-related needs.
Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles has information on Ohio disability placards and an application form. Information on Ohio disability license plates and an application form are also available from their website. You can also apply at your local Ohio Deputy Registrar License Agency.

Driving

Many people with physical disabilities can learn to drive safely with the right training and equipment.

Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) lists the driver rehabilitation specialist in each state and fact sheets on driving with specific disabilities.
Bick's Driving School, located in Western Hills, assesses and trains individuals with disabilities. They will pick up and drop off students. Adaptive equipment modifications and consultations are also available.
Car Talk Special Needs Zone has information and links to resources to assist drivers with disabilities.
Ford Motor Company Mobility Motoring has resource information on organizations and government agencies that provide assistance to drivers with physical disabilities. State directories identifying driver assessment facilities and providers in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana are also available.

Wheelchair-Accessible Vans

Information on wheelchair-accessible vans, including financing, conversion and parking permits, is available from the following resources:

Access Unlimited specializes in creating products that allow easy access to any vehicle including cars, trucks, vans and SUVs.
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), together with Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU), offers mobility loans for AAPD members. Loan arrangements allow for the purchase of expensive mobility equipment at smaller, more affordable monthly payments.
Avis rents vehicles that can be adapted for children and adults with special health care needs.
The Child Wellness Fair operates a Vehicle Donation Program to assist families and organizations. A printable application is available online.
Disabled Dealer provides an internet listing of used wheelchair accessible vans for sale by geographical area.
Ford Motor Company Mobility Motoring offers financial assistance of up to $1,000 for the installation of adaptive equipment, and up to $200 on alerting devices for hearing impairments, lumbar seats and running boards on new Ford Motor Company vehicle purchases or leases.
Kings Toyota in Cincinnati works with MobilityWorks to provide adaptive equipment solutions and wheelchair accessible vans.
Liberty Motor Company, Inc. operates on their founding principle of "accessibility at a reasonable cost." New and used wheelchair-accessible vans available.
M.C. Mobility sells and rents customized wheelchair accessible vans and offers a wide variety of products to modify your existing vehicle.

Ability Van Rentals is their wheelchair accessible van rental division in Ohio.

MobilityWorks provides a wide range of services including the purchase of new or used conversion vans, adaptation of a currently owned vehicle and financial counseling. MobilityWorks delivers nationwide and has local representatives.
National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) has information on choosing the best vehicle, buying adaptive equipment and finding financial assistance.
Ohio Legal Rights Service provides information on accessible vehicles, disability parking permits, medical considerations and public transportation.
Wheelchair Getaways has accessible van rentals for people with disabilities. Locations and contact information are provided for each state.

Air Transportation

Air transportation services for children with special health care needs are available from the following organizations:

Cincinnati Children's Transport Team transports critically ill newborn and pediatric patients from local, regional, national and international referral sites
Angel Flight America provides free air transportation to specialized health care facilities
Children's Flight of Hope provides free air transportation to and from medical facilities for critically ill and injured children whose families meet financial criteria; serves destinations within 600 nautical miles of the Raleigh-Durham International airport
Corporate Angel Network arranges free air transportation for cancer patients traveling to treatment.
Miracle Flights for Kids provides free air transportation for children with special health care needs.
National Patient Air Transportation Helpline provides information about all available forms of charitable, long distance medical air transportation. Referrals to appropriate resources given.

Travel

It is important that families of children with special health care needs make preparations well before traveling to make sure that their child receives the proper care should acute problems arise. Plan ahead and keep these tips in mind to help make travel easier:

Travel with a detailed and current medical summary, plan of care and contact information on all providers:

EMS Medical Emergency Form / Letter (40k)
Parent Notebook can help you organize important health care information.

American Academy of Pediatrics provides samples of different types of caregiver notebooks.
EMS Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Needs, developed by the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics can be a helpful organization tool.
Check with your physician for the necessary precautions, immunizations and / or medications for your destination.

The Centers for Disease Control provides information about required vaccinations for every country.
World Health Organization has information about international travel precautions. They also provide vaccine schedules listed by country and region.

When traveling by plane, keep your medications in your carry-on bag for easy access during the flight and to protect against loss if your luggage doesn't arrive. This will also prevent exposure to extreme temperatures in the baggage compartment, which can reduce the effectiveness of some medications.
Be prepared to provide airport security with a copy of your prescription if you use medication that requires a syringe.
Carry your pharmacy's phone number and list of your prescriptions in case you lose your medication.
If your trip requires changes in time zones, consult your physician to see if the timing and dosage should be adjusted.
Beware of buying over-the-counter medications in foreign countries. Some could have different ingredients that could cause allergic reactions or complications with drug interactions.
Keep your medications out of direct sunlight if you are traveling in a hot, humid climate. Excessive heat can reduce the effectiveness of some medications. Avoid storing medications in the glove compartment of your car.
Take along more medication than the number of days you plan to be away so that you will be prepared for unexpected delays.
Some medications can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight and may require increased sunscreen protection.
Call your insurance providers to clarify what coverage they have when traveling out of your network area and be specific in relating your itinerary, especially if you are traveling out of state or out of the country. Ask for written documentation and record the insurance representative's name, department and extension.
Obtain a list of the nearest appropriate hospitals, physicians and durable medical equipment (DME) contacts for all cities / regions you are visiting. Bring an adequate suuply of medications, special nutritional items and equipment before leaving.
Thoroughly investigate all aspects of your trip to make sure that your child's disability can be accommodated.
Many children with special health care needs have difficulty with travel and need frequent stops as well as an ample supply of snacks, games, toys and other distractions. Also be aware that some children may need adjustments in their medications.

Emergency Plan

If you have a child with special needs, you may need to take extra steps to prepare in the event of an emergency. Resources are available to help you develop an emergency plan.

American Red Cross provides a comprehensive guide to prepare for emergencies for people with disabilities.
Disability Preparedness Resource Center provides information on how people with disabilities can prepare for an emergency.
Family Readiness Kit, developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, provides information on how to prepare for a disaster.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has information on preparing for an emergency to assist an individual with special needs.