As I approached the entrance to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on my blue electric scooter, a Vietnamese security guard shook his head. I knew what was going to happen next.
“No vehicles with engines allowed,” our guide translated.
After a few minutes of negotiating, we ditched the scooter and my dad hoisted me onto his shoulders.
I have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease that causes muscle cell weakness, making walking difficult and most physical activity nearly impossible. As a result, my travels have been subject to many limitations.
Traveling with a disability isn’t easy, but it should be enjoyable for everyone. This includes Americans who have difficulty walking or are unable to walk, who make up 13.7% of the population, according to a 2019 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
I’ve been able to visit 13 countries, 23 states, and Puerto Rico, and it’s mostly thanks to my dad, who has literally carried me through situations that would be difficult for able-bodied people to navigate, from rafting waterfalls in Argentina to climbing the Great Wall of China. I started traveling when I was 6 years old in Russia and haven’t stopped ever since. I just turned 23.
Travel is a “fundamental human right for inclusion and diversity,” said Brett Heising, founder of Brettapproved, a website that uses user-generated content to rate places based on their accessibility.
Still, traveling with a disability can be tough. I’ve scaled the cliffs of Santorini, Greece, on a tiny, cranky donkey without a saddle, convinced the Argentine government not to dismantle my mobility aids, walked rough cobblestones in Italy and the slippery steps of Iguazu Falls in Argentina. Elevators and gentle ramps are a great help. Unfortunately, when traveling, we don’t always have access to what we need.
“Even if you can’t travel at all, [can be] “This is enough of a headache and heartache for the tourism industry – now imagine what it would be like if they had other concerns,” said Aradhana Kowala, member of the steering committee of the Lucerne World Tourism Forum, which discusses trends, future challenges and sustainability in the tourism industry.
Traveling has pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to experience different places, shaping my view of the world and how I interact with others. I want to show others in similar situations that we can see the world. From interviews with travel experts and global travelers with disabilities, I’ve found some tips to make your next trip less stressful.
“Be as informed as you can up front and do as much research as you can so you don’t put yourself in a bad situation,” says Eric Lipp, executive director of the Open Doors Organization, a nonprofit that supports businesses that serve the disability community.
Planning ahead will reduce the chances of running into unexpected issues: ask for photos, be clear about what you need, and triple-check your accommodations.
There are many crowdsourcing websites, such as Brettapproved, which provide ratings of places based on the experiences of disabled people, their carers, family and friends.
My power wheelchair is my most treasured possession because it acts as my arms and legs. If it gets damaged during a trip, it will ruin your trip. According to Department of Transportation data obtained in December 2019, about 1.3% of wheelchairs and scooters are improperly handled. Being prepared can help you avoid the worst case scenario.
Find out what services are available where you’re going or where you’ll be using to get there. In the US, the Transportation Security Administration’s TSA Cares hotline, launched in 2011, provides support from curbside to plane if you call the hotline before your flight.
Most airlines have made accommodations for people with disabilities in the past, but it’s important to take precautions. If you have a wheelchair, measure it so the airline can fit you on a plane and provide easy-to-read instructions on your mobility device.
Don’t be afraid to communicate your needs and ask for help
Asking strangers for help can be scary, especially from a low vantage point. When I was traveling back and forth between cities during my summer internship, I had to ask people to help me put my luggage on a conveyor belt. They didn’t bite, which made life a lot easier.
“When I ask for help, 99 percent of the time help is offered,” Heising said.
People won’t know how to help you if they don’t know anything about your situation, which is why it’s important to be transparent and provide as much information as possible about your condition.
I have a rare muscle disease that most people have never heard of. Does that mean I need to explain the molecular pathways of my cells? No. But just being able to say, “How many feet do I need to walk?” or “I can’t lift my scooter by myself” or “Can you help me get out of my car? Grab me here” makes a huge difference.
Be flexible and adaptable
In 2012, my family wanted to go diving while vacationing in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Divers typically don their gear at the front of the boat, walk a few feet back, and then slide into the water. My strength was limited and I couldn’t walk that far with the weight of my oxygen tank, weight belt, and vest. Instead, my parents and I sat on the side of the boat and donned all our gear. All I had to do was sway a few inches and dive straight down into the water.
There was also the issue of swimming alone – I had enough strength to put on my flippers and kick a few times, but not enough to last the whole dive, so I asked my guide to grab me by my dive vest and pull me through the reef.
That tenacity to find ways around barriers comes naturally to Adedoyin Adepitan, a former Paralympian and now BBC travel presenter who is constantly on the road and uses a wheelchair due to complications from polio, and who approaches everything with the same attitude.
“We go out and if we come across an obstacle that we can’t handle, we find a way to overcome it,” says Adepitan, 46. “There’s always a way to do what you want to do well.”
Sure, traveling with a disability can be stressful, but don’t let it ruin the fun. Even when things don’t go as planned, look at the bright side. Celebrate the times when things went better than you expected.
We owe it to ourselves and those around us to not let our sense of adventure be stifled by our surroundings.
“This world is for all of us and we should not be limited by any disabilities,” Adepitan said.
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