The major obstacle to world travel for a disabled person may be more psychological than physical.

Trepidation often imposes more severe limitations than physical impairments. None of us would willingly expose ourselves to potentially embarrassing circumstances, so we tend to avoid new experiences.

But being disabled is not a valid excuse in itself not to go on safari in Africa or to explore our national parks or to cruise through the Northwest Passage. Tour operators, air carriers, cruise lines, train and motorcoach operators, hotels and other suppliers of worldwide travel services are becoming increasingly sensitive to travelers with special needs, who number nearly 50 million in the U.S. Whether prompted by government edict, good sense or greed, these suppliers are literally lowering the barriers to travel by the disabled. If you require any special attention or preparations, your business has become Big Business in the travel industry.

Thorough planning in advance is the key to a relaxed trip that won't tax your mental and physical strength. If you've never traveled abroad before, consider embarking on your first adventure with a special-needs tour or cruise that follows a leisurely itinerary, with plenty of free time for relaxation and personal pursuits. You should discuss frankly with your travel agency your expectations and limitations and ask it to research the most compatible program for your particular interests and abilities.

Tour operators catering to the disabled and their families and friends will arrange logistics for awkward access and for virtually any travel difficulty that may necessitate special or discreet attention. They'll even provide a nurse or trained escort to accompany families or individuals who require direct assistance. There's no need to feel shy about managing with your disability in a strange land — blind and wheelchair travelers are certainly not unusual in urban environments, and folks with crutches and canes are not an uncommon sight even in rugged, off-the-beaten-path destinations.

Don't deprive yourself of the joys of travel because you don't know what to expect. Ignorance is completely curable. There are scores of resources available that will whet your appetite for distant lands and will offer practical advice on how to maneuver about the globe, with your composure intact. The sheer number of available resources is sufficient indication that millions of folks with mobility and developmental problems view their disabilities as a challenge, not an obstacle, to traveling the planet with dignity and delight.

To begin your research, check out the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality, (212) 447-7284 or www.sath.org. This advocacy/resource organization offers, for an annual individual membership fee of $30 or $49, a wealth of travel resources for all types of disabilities and informed recommendations on destinations, access guides, travel agents, tour operators, vehicle rentals and companion services.

Devoted to improving the rights, empowerment and international access of the disabled, Mobility International U.S.A., (541) 343-1284 or www.miusa .org, serves as a clearinghouse for international exchange, information, travel, and technical assistance. Many programs, projects and opportunities for the disabled are offered. Make a tax-deductible donation to receive the organization's semi-annual newsletter Global Impact.

For just about every useful piece of information on the planet related to accessible travel, including a list of agents and tour operators specializing in travel opportunities for the disabled check out: www.access-able.com and www.disabledtravelers.com.

Irene Croft Jr. of Kailua, Kona, is a travel writer and 40-year veteran globetrotter. Her column is published in this section every other week.