Vacation with a disabled child

Getting away from everyday life, gaining distance, recharging your batteries, enjoying a carefree time together: This is doubly valuable for parents of disabled children, but also doubly difficult. The statutory health insurance companies offer parent cures - alone or with the child. But of course there are also individual options. Fortunately, there are suitable vacation resorts and assistance. However, good and often long-term preparation is required.

This is good news: the number of accessible vacation offers is increasing. Some travel agencies have specialized in planning and organizing trips for people with disabilities and their relatives. The vacation accommodation meets special needs, and some vacation homes and apartments are attached to care facilities. Family holiday homes, care hotels or barrier-free farms are also available. What you should do when planning your trip: Check which requirements your destination absolutely must meet. For example: What distance do we dare to travel? Do we need a care bed? Are the accommodation and surroundings barrier-free? Are the sanitary facilities large enough and suitably equipped?

If you do not want to or cannot use a car, it is advisable to notify the train or airline in good time of any special requirements.

With the train

About two thirds of German train stations are barrier-free, look for a suitable one if necessary. If you have any questions about traveling with a disabled child, use the Bahn mobility service center. Here you can obtain the necessary information, organize assistance with boarding and alighting by train staff and much more. The Mobility Service Center can be reached by telephone on 030 65212888 from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays and on national holidays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It is also possible to register for assistance online: msz-hilfe.specials-bahn.de.

By plane

Help is also available at the airport. Assistance with check-in and boarding is free of charge, as is the transportation of a wheelchair or necessary medical aids. The same applies here: register in good time! You must clarify any special seating requirements at the time of booking.

• The facilities of the Müttergenesungswerk offer special spa treatments for parents with children with disabilities. You can find more information on the website. There you will also find a search for advice centers.
• The Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Familienerholung has affordable offers for special target groups in its program. Many houses are geared towards people with disabilities or people with relatives in need of care.
• Action Mensch supports accompanying persons for people with disabilities as well as children and young people on vacation trips. Here you can find details on the vacation travel support program.
• There are special foundations that fund vacations and vacation trips for families with a disabled child.

You can find travel agencies and organizations that focus on travel for people with disabilities on the following websites, among others:

• The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs promotes family holiday resorts that have special offers for families with children with disabilities.
• On the portal www.behindertenreisen.de, parents of disabled children can find offers on accessible vacation homes and more.
• On the portal Urlaub-barrierefrei.info you can search for wheelchair-accessible accommodation and specialized tour operators.
• Many Lebenshilfen offer group trips, long-distance trips and city breaks for people with disabilities. You can find more information at www.lebenshilfe-tours.de.
• The Bundesverband Selbsthilfe Körperbehinderter e. V. provides information on its website about barrier-free individual and assisted group travel and offers the placement of trained travel assistants.