Better together – disability parent Q&A

Q: How can you save money as a family traveling with a disability?

A: Finances are often a much greater barrier than accessibility. There are several free trip programs for people with disabilities, but most of them involve grants and applications and can only be used once. This could be a great option for that bucket list trip you’ve always wanted to take, but they’re not going to help you travel more often as a family.

We use HomeExchange to stay for nearly free everywhere we go. They have accessible homes around the world, but you may need to be flexible with your timing or location.

We’ve also started taking advantage of credit card sign-on bonuses to be able to travel more frequently.

Once you’re traveling, many places offer disability discounts. National Parks give free admission and discounted camping with an America the Beautiful Access Pass. Museums4All has free and discounted museums around the U.S. with an eligible ACCESS card.

There are also endless free ways to explore. Check out local parks, beaches, forests, and all-abilities playgrounds; find a free walking tour through the tourism bureau; visit a free local museum; explore the library, bookstore, and downtown programs. We’ve even enjoyed some accessible community pools.

@the_squeaky_caster shared that many museums are a part of the North American Reciprocal Museum Program. As Roller level members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is a NARM member, we’re able to get into other museums in the NARM program at a discount or for free. There are equivalent reciprocal programs for science museums and botanical gardens.