Start with what cannot fail.
Travel equipment planning is about identifying the things that would stop the trip if they were lost, damaged, dead, incompatible, or left at home. Those items get priority, backups, labels, and a place in the plan.
Wheelchair Essentials
- Charger and power cable
- Battery information
- Freewheel instructions
- Tools and small spare parts
- Removable or vulnerable components
- Photos of the chair before travel
Access Technology
- Phone, tablet, or computer
- Accessible input device
- Mounting hardware
- Headphones or audio equipment
- Communication backup
- Charging cables and adapters
Power & Charging
- Primary chargers
- Known-good spare cables
- Power strip or extension solution where appropriate
- Portable battery options for permitted devices
- Outlet access plan at the hotel
Backups
The backup does not have to duplicate the entire system. It needs to preserve the function that matters if the primary device fails.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Make the equipment understandable to somebody who has never seen it.
Photograph it
Document condition, cable routing, attachment points, removable pieces, and anything that would be difficult to explain after damage occurs.
Label it
Use simple labels for power, freewheel, handling points, fragile components, and anything that should stay attached or come off.
Test it
Do not discover at the destination that the spare cable, adapter, charger, or backup device has not worked in six months.