Services for the Disabled

Getting around in the U.S. or Canada is hard enough when a person is disabled, but can be even harder in a foreign country.

Handicapped and disabled persons should find living in Costa Rica not much of an obstacle. Presently, some places have wheel chair access. A few hotels like the Hampton Inn in Alajuela and the Hotel del Sur in San Isidro, have fully equipped rooms for disabled persons.

During the rainy season the terrain can sometimes be hard to negotiate. Recently the government has increased the construction of sidewalk ramps, special marked parking spaces and telephones for those people with physical limitations. In 1998, the Costa Rican Law for the Equality of Opportunities for persons with Disabilities went into effect. It mandates every public space in the country to be wheelchair-accessible by 2008, thus improving accessibility for the disabled.

As we mention in Chapter 2, medical care is affordable in Costa Rica. So, health care should not be a problem. Also, keep in mind that taxis are inexpensive and the best way to travel for people with physical impediments. Since hired help is such a bargain, a full-time employee may be hired as a companion or as a nurse for a very reasonable price. We even know several men confined to wheelchairs who have even found love and married in Costa Rica. There is a social club for disabled veterans that meets once a month. Call 443-9870 for more information. We suggest that you pick up the book, Access to the World: A Travel Guide For the Handicapped, by Louise Weiss, Published by Chatham Square Press, 401 Broadway, New York, NY 10013. This book contains good information and suggestions for disabled travelers.