Facilities in Italy aren't
particularly geared towards
disabled travellers, though
people are helpful enough and
progress is gradually being made
in the areas of accessible
accommodation, transport and
public buildings. The historical
and, in some cases, crumbling
fabric of many of Italy's cities
and villages presents particular
problems.
The Italian State Tourist
Office
can supply you with detailed
information about facilities and
accommodation in Rome and
Florence and a booklet in
English, Servicing for
Disabled People , published
by the Italian State Railways,
listing their services. Cooperativa
Sociale has a useful Web
site - www.coincociale.it
- with some pages in English and
a wealth of information, tips
and links in Italian. If you do
not use a wheelchair all the
time but your walking
capabilities are limited,
remember that you are likely to
need to cover greater distances
while travelling (often over
rougher terrain and in hotter
temperatures) than you are used
to. And if you use a wheelchair,
have it serviced before you go
and carry a repair kit.
Read your travel insurance
small print carefully to check
that pre-existing medical
conditions are not excluded. And
use your travel agent to make
your journey simpler: airline or
bus companies can cope better if
they are expecting you, with a
wheelchair provided at airports
and staff primed to help. A
medical certificate of your
fitness to travel, provided by
your doctor, is also extremely
useful; some airlines or
insurance companies may insist
on it. Finally, don't forget any
medication you may require -
carried with you if you fly -
and a prescription, including
the generic name, in case of
emergency.
