What are some practical tips for traveling internationally with a Personal Assistant?
• Begin planning several months in advance (at least) before you plan to go abroad. • Identify the areas where personal assistance is required and how much assistance you will need. • Think about any special training the personal assistant may need to learn with you before the program (i.e. bathroom assistance, transferring, dressing, medications, recognizing pressure sores, method of communication (especially if your disability affects speech), lifting a wheelchair up and down stairs, operating assistive technology, or etc. • Make sure your attendant has time off. If you require someone to be with you 24 hours a day then you may need to consider having a second attendant available. • Allow time for the two of you to get to know each other and get used to working together before going abroad. You may want to have the personal assistant start a few weeks before the program so you and they can get used to the routine and make any adjustments along the way. • Be patient. These are intense
