THE TRAVEL WITH ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION

The Travel With Assistance Foundation (TWAF) is dedicated to training and maintaining a select group of responsible, capable and caring volunteers to serve as travel assistants, specifically matched with “people in need of assistance” or otherwise unable to fully enjoy and appreciate the life-affirming, educational and healing benefits of travel.

The founders of the Travel With Assistance Foundation recognized that the daunting challenges of travel for the average traveler may be insurmountable obstacles for those with special needs. Overcoming these obstacles is the goal of the TWAF.

The Honorary Chairman and founder of TWAF is Lucia Valentin. Her years of dedication as a volunteer to the American Red Cross and her commitment to assisting others in travel became the inspiration for the travel assistance program.

Amanda McDaniel brings her extensive travel and management background to the position of Executive Director. As a cruise director for many years, she managed the activities and entertainment on board, handled all customer relations, assisted with various emergencies at sea and in port, and trained and managed staff that delivered impeccable Five-Star service to the passengers. She is ideally suited to develop and implement the volunteer training programs.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

The “assisted traveler” may request travel assistance directly or through a travel agent. Assignment of a travel assistant is not guaranteed and is based upon availability. The request should be made a minimum of 30 days prior to making final payment for the cruise or tour.

The Travel Assistant will be assigned based upon the specific requirements of the traveler and availability of the assistant. When possible, a pre-trip dialogue will be established between the assistant and the traveler. This will enable them to establish a relationship fostering trust and compatibility. The only cost of the service to the traveler is the travel expenses of the assistant. The assistant is evaluated following each trip. This will ensure that the TWAF volunteers are delivering the highest standard of service.


THE ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEER TRAVEL ASSISTANT
The volunteer travel assistant (TA) will have the combined skills of a personal assistant and a personal concierge.

Each TA will be certified in CPR and first aid. They will be required to successfully complete a training course sponsored by the TWAF. The TA candidates are selected from an elite group of individuals referred by professionals from various related industries.
Each TA will receive support from TWAF administrative offices before and during the trip. TWAF administrators will review a travel checklist with the assisted traveler to minimize travel risks. A travel dossier will be prepared on behalf of the traveler including important medical Information, family contact information, copies of critical documents and important in-route emergency contact numbers.

Examples of Routine Functions:
• Coordinate daily schedules.
• Assist in accounting for and safeguarding documentation, dication personal affects.
• Accompany assisted traveler on tours and excursions as desired.
• Assist in expediting all check-ins, transfers, immigration and related matters.
• Accompany assisted traveler to meals, activities and entertainment as desired.
• Facilitate all communication as needed.
Examples of Non-Routine Functions:
• Handle lost travel documentation (tickets, passports, traveler’s cheques)
• Refer Medical emergencies to appropriate medical personnel.
• Respond to late arrivals and departures and related changes in itinerary.
• The primary focus of the travel assistant is to ensure the safety and comfort of the assisted traveler at all times.

Travelers Qualifying for Assistance

Travel With Assistance Foundation promotes a new class of traveler, the “assisted traveler”. Assistance is not restricted to any particular group. It is for anyone desiring to travel who needs or prefers additional assistance.

Our travel assistants are not intended to replace licensed medical professionals.
The following are examples of situations where travel assistance may be appropriate;

Someone unaccustomed to traveling alone.
Someone recovering from surgery or injury.
A person who is hearing impaired.
A person who is visually impaired.
A person who is using a walker or a wheelchair.
A person who is easily stressed.
A cruise ship that has a larger-than-normal group of seniors or people with disabilities.
A tour operator that has a special needs party booked on a tour that may require more assistance than the average traveler.
Someone who becomes easily lost or confused.
Anyone requiring extra assistance for their safety or well being.

Contact Information

The Travel With Assistance Foundation is a new organization.
Status as a 501 (c)(3) is pending IRS approval.


THE TRAVEL WITH ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION
Tel/ Fax 1-302 635-1145
Toll Free 1-888 600-0122
www.TravelWithAssistance.org
TravelWithAssistance@yahoo.com

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a Volunteer and an Employee or Independent Contractor?
When you offer someone a travel job, whether as an Employee or Independent contractor, you are contracting for the services to be provided. Since you are offering a “job” for payment, you may attract some wonderful carrying skilled individual or just someone who has income as their primary objective. With a Volunteer, you are not giving compensation, so the person attending to your needs is someone who is there because they love doing for others. They aren’t there for the compensation because there isn’t any; they are there because they care.

How will I know the type of person I’m getting?
We start by asking what you are looking for. We will then find one or more individuals that have the skills and qualities you desire. You will then have the opportunity to talk to the interested Volunteer or Volunteers. You will then have the opportunity to review the background. The next step will be to talk to them personally to see how you feel about that person traveling with you. This is done initially and in advance of any commitment or travel arrangements. The Volunteer will also have the opportunity to look at what you want and need as well as your personality and determine whether or not they want to travel with you. Background checks and screening is done in advance on all potential volunteer. They are selected for their caring qualities and attitude and referred to us from known sources. We do not advertise or have a recruiting program as we are very selective.

What if I change my mind?
Up until the time you are required to make final payment for your trip, you can decide to cancel the trip and or cancel the travel assistant for the entire trip or any portion thereof. The travel assistant has the same rights if they have a change in their situation and decide not to accompany you. If this happens, of course, we will make every attempt to find a suitable replacement and may already have a backup person in place.

What if I or the assistant become ill prior to the trip?
It is highly recommended that you obtain travel insurance for both yourself and the travel assistant. This way, there will be the ability to cancel and reschedule your trip, or just modify the plans with minimal financial impact.

What if there is an emergency or problem on the trip?
Our volunteers are trained to deal with the unexpected and our staff members will provide the ground support. We also work closely with the travel service providers and your personal travel agent to take care of whatever need. This of course is not a substitute for carrying travel insurance.

Why should I use a travel assistant instead of a friend or family member?
It is unlikely that your friend or family member will provide the level of service that our volunteers are trained to provide. With friends and family members, there is often reluctance by the Traveler to ask for the extra services you may desire. The friend or family member is seldom aware as to what those needs and desires are and may not anticipate your needs. In addition, they are unlikely to have the back-up support in place that our organization provides. We will also have a different level of relationship to the travel suppliers and we will also know various support organizations or service providers that can support you with any specific need.

What special services does the organization provide?

RE: All general Travel emergencies.
We work exclusively with travel services. Our staff is extremely knowledgeable and highly skilled in this area. We also have the ability to work directly with the various travel suppliers. We know who to contact and how to implement any necessary modifications to your trip if necessary. We can also communicate with a key person who knows what is happening and is the liaison with your friends and family members when appropriate and desired.

RE: Health Care Emergencies:
We maintain your emergency contact information for your friends, relatives or business associates. We will notify them based upon your personal directive. We can also be a contact point for them to stay informed of your status and condition. This will alleviate fears and make it unnecessary for everyone to be calling all over to try to find out what is happening. We can also coordinate their meeting you where ever you may be in the world. We will keep in touch with the person in charge of your care regardless of how many times that person may change.

We will have your emergency health care information as well as any health care directives available. We will also have contact information for your health care insurance provider as well as medical doctors or clinics and can relay the information as required. This way, any medical records can be accessed as needed and transmitted to those in charge of your care.

If you are able to continue your trip, we can make the necessary arrangements to get you back to the location your cruise or tour can be rejoined.

We will also have information about your prescription and medications, medical information that you provided and any health care or dietary concerns. This can be updated and changed as often as you like and can be retained for the future even if you are home or deleted at the end of your trip. All information is treated with privacy and security and will only be shared as authorized by you. We will also provide you with the ability to appoint a person to make health care decisions on your behalf. That can also be either temporary or long term. If you already have such arrangements in place, you can make such information and documentation available by adding it to your record.

RE: Lost or Stolen Documents
We will have a copy of your passport and ID. If it is lost or not accessible to you, we can quickly send a copy to the appropriate authority in order to alleviate unnecessary delays or interruptions to your trip.

We maintain all of your travel information, copies of passports and contact information for all known service providers. We also maintain cruise contracts copies of all forms of tickets as well as anything else you want to have available to you. Any changes made by the cruise line or tour company will be updated as needed.In new purchases will be logged and tracked. If you should loose or misplace something, a copy will be readily available. Your assistant will keep updated information for your file as new arrangements such as excursions or tickets are purchased or any plans are changed.

We want your trip to be as stress free and smooth as possible.

RE: Financial Emergencies
If your credit cards or travelers checks are lost or stolen we can assist you in contacting the various companies and arrangement for replacements or emergency cash as needed and provided by these companies as well as your travel insurance carrier. We can keep you informed as well. We will also maintain contact information about your doctors, health insurance carriers and any medical information you want available in the event of an emergency. This can be transmitted to any hospital or doctor as needed and any records not on file can be quickly obtained. We can also maintain any health care directives you may have as well as any other information you want accessible such as copies of traveler’s checks as well as credit card companies and their contact information.

RE: Coordination
It is highly unlikely that any of your service providers will know where you are at any given time of your trip. We will have this information and will also be able to access schedule or port changes. We will know contacts in various locations so we can get you what you need while allowing you to continue your trip with as little interruption as possible. You or your travel assistant can reach someone to assist you at any time of the day or night by telephone or email.

We will keep and have readily accessible to you any information we are provided including things like airline ticket information, theater tickets.

Why should I use a Travel Assistant instead of a nurse?
In addition to the cost factor, there is a major difference. A nurse is trained to provide medical assistance as well as various levels of care. They are seldom trained in travel and providing travel services. If your condition requires a medical professional, you should have someone with that type of training and background and we are not intended to be a substitute for that type of care. A nurse however is probably not the best prepared to assist you in your travel needs. Most travelers don’t need a nurse. The need or simply want someone to obtain wheelchair assistance as needed, assist with their luggage and personal affects. Obtain services as desired, and relieve them of the stress caused by being un sure of where and at what time they need to be somewhere, and to run after and stop a tour guide that is walking too fast for you to keep up with, to stand in line so you don’t have to and to create a path for you and your wheel chare or walker so you can conveniently get though tight or blocked areas. You should be able to enjoy your trip without relying on strangers to help you get assistance as needed or standing too long or walking to far just because you are reluctant to ask for assistance or a place to sit down.

If you need medical assistance, a nurse is appropriate, if you need travel assistance, you should have someone providing that specialty service. They are very different.

What background and training will my travel assistant have?
All assistants have been trained in First Aid and CPR.

They have been trained to prevent most potential travel problems and to quickly respond and take care of those that can’t be prevented. They are trained to make your travel experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Although you should always feel free to ask for something you want, most of the time you won’t need to. The assistant has been trained observe and assess your needs and to offer assistance prior to it being asked for.

Your assistant has been trained to provide the services of an outstanding concierge services, assist with many services a private butler would provide.

Our Volunteers have varied experience and skills and will be matched as closely as possible to your own situation.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, your assistant will be your ears and make sure you have the information you need.

If you are in a wheelchair your will help you get the necessary space in an elevator and provide the level of assistance you desire.

If you have special dietary needs, they will inform the head waiter or waiter of those needs and ask questions about the food and preparation.

If you want something special from a buffet or a book from the library they can get it for you or assist you in getting what you want.

If you are unhappy with your table assignment or the time of dinner or just want to change for the evening, your assistant will contact the appropriate parties and express your desires.

The service is very different and will be customize to suite your personal wants and needs.

The service is not intended to substitute or replace medical care. It is intended however to obtain whatever services you may want or need including medical.

Who can obtain the Service?
The services are available by request. The service may be requested directly or through you travel professional. There is no financial or medical requirement in order to obtain the service? There is also no age requirement.

Am I guaranteed Service?
No. We work with volunteers. They all have different backgrounds and availability. The service should be requested as far in advance as possible. If we do not have someone appropriate or properly trained to suit your needs, we can’t provide the service. As many of our volunteers are spending their vacation time to accompany you, the more desirable trips and itineraries are likely to be filled ahead of a less desirable itinerary. Some prefer warm climates, some cold. Some prefer something exotic. Some people want a lot of activity while others are geared towards relaxation. Cruise vacations are likely to be easier to fill than a land tour. We will work with you and try to deliver the best vacation experience for both you and the volunteer.

What if I have special needs?
Please advise us of any special needs and we will advise you as to whether or not we can assist you. Obtaining assistance for most special needs can be accommodated provided they do not require specialized medical care.

What is the cost?
You will be responsible for the travel expenses of the volunteer. This is the same expense you would probably incur if you took a friend or family member to assist you.
There is no charge for the service. Our assistants are volunteering their service. Tips or gratuities are greatly appreciated by our volunteers


THE FOUNDATION IS SUPPORTED BY DONATIONS

Our organization is fully dependent upon donations and grants in order to operate. All contributions are greatly appreciated and will allow us to continue to provide this valuable service. In addition to monetary contributions, you can also donate airline miles, hotel points and other types of travel awards. Most travel programs allow for transfer to charities without the normal restrictions or transfer fees.