It’s vacation time! Time to work on that bucket list of places you’ve always wanted to see and things you’ve always wanted to do. We hope MyoCon 2025: TMA’s Global Myositis Patient Conference is on that list. For many in the myositis community, this four-day adventure is like a family reunion, a time to reunite with others who navigate these rare diseases and learn all you can about living well despite the challenges. No matter where you are in your myositis journey, MyoCon 2025 gives you opportunities for travel, personal growth, and trying new activities.
Getting from here to there can be exhausting and difficult, though, even for those who don’t struggle with mobility issues, fatigue, and pain. Here are TMA’s top ten tips for traveling with myositis.
- Research your destination, accommodations, and transportation options well in advance to ensure they meet your accessibility needs.
- Travel with your health insurance documentation (and/or a medical certificate), prescription medications, disability parking placard, and anything else that verifies the requirements for your safety and convenience. Download PDFs or save photos on your phone, in case you need to access documentation on the fly and out of WiFi reach.
- Give yourself enough time for airport check-in and transfers. Be prepared for unexpected changes and have a backup plan in case things don’t go as expected.
- Notify your airline in advance that you will need special consideration. Be clear with your requests, and specify what kind of assistive device you use. Check in with your airline again 48 hours in advance. Try to book an aisle seat.
- Request an escort pass at the airport. These are not guarantee but when granted will enable your care partner to accompany you to the departure gate (even if they are not flying with you). Request the pass at the airport’s special services check-in counter.
- Your hometown airport may have a specific program to facilitate or encourage accessible travel. For example, more than 300 airports in 30 countries are part of the Sunflower Hidden Disabilities Program.
- Travel smart with the equipment you own. Remove any batteries, loose parts, or cushions on equipment you’re taking with you. Rent equipment as needed—scooters, rollators, bed risers for example. Check our conference “Plan your trip” page for a list of rental companies in Dallas.
- If you travel with a service animal, make sure you have all the necessary documentation and supplies for them.
- Pack smart. For example, don’t overpack by being selective about what you bring. Keep important documents, like your ID, boarding pass, and travel itinerary, in an easily accessible place. Don’t forget your comfortable shoes. And conference rooms are often cold; bring layers.
- Check out “Let’s Travel: Making Disability Air Travel More Accessible,” hosted by TMA’s Women With IBM Affinity Group, featuring Mindy Henderson, Vice President for Disability Outreach and Empowerment for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Plan your trip to MyoCon 2025.
Bonus tip! Write down three things you want to learn about during the conference. Stay focused on your goals in attending MyoCon 2025 so you don’t overextend yourself.