C To guard against losing medication, keep half of it in your purse or pocket and the other half in your luggage.

C Ask your doctor for the names of appropriate physicians in the areas you'll be visiting, in case you need prompt medical attention Or know the name of the national society for your disability in the countries you visit.

C Always travel with a brief medical history of yourself, particularly the details and dates about your disability, the medications you take plus the name and phone numbers (office and home) of your physician. Ideally, this should be in the language of the country you are visiting. If you travel abroad, have handy the address and phone number of the American embassy or consulate. Your hotel or tour guide can supply this information. Embassies are primarily responsible for representing U.S. interests and making sure that U.S. citizens receive their legal rights.

C When you return home from your trip, forget your usual routine for a few days; return to it gradually. Allow your body to rest from the trip.

C Advance preparations are important for any trip. When a person has a disability, advance planning becomes even more important Give yourself a long lead time.

C Generally, tours for the disabled available through commercial tour operators cost about the same as comparable trips for the abl~ bodied, with the exception of extra charges for attendant care when it's furnished.

C On trips abroad, immigrations and customs procedures can be simplified with the help of fellow travelers. Also you will not be stranded in case of an accident or emergency. Group tours can pose problems. They usually involve a lot of walking. Also, some people on a tour may resent the presence of a disabled person. Evaluate a tour carefully to see if it's right for you.