Traveling Alone With Disabilities

Traveling alone for some can be a daunting thought, but traveling alone when you are disabled takes on a whole new meaning of scary. There is so much unknown. Will there be accessibility? Will people be willing to help me? What if I go somewhere and I can't get around? These are just a few of the questions that run through a disabled individuals mind when thinking about going anywhere, let alone traveling to somewhere they've never been.

I can answer these questions fairly simply. Being disabled myself, and requiring the use of a wheelchair, I am familiar with traveling and venturing into the unknown. It is definitely scary at times, but I've learned to overcome that fear by remembering a few key things. First, no matter where you go, you got there somehow, so if things aren't accessible simply turn around and go back the way you came. This isn't exactly a solution to seeing the thing you may have wanted to see, or doing the thing you may have wanted to do, but it's just a way of overcoming the fear of even trying. You can always just turn around and go back the way you came. No harm, no foul.

Second, sometimes people are TOO willing to help; in other words, I've had numerous people ask me if I need help even when I'm quite obviously fine. I've also had people actually physically try to force me through something I didn't fit through (don't do this BTW), and more often than not people will ask me if I need a hand reaching something on a shelf just because I looked up! Generally people are good and decent and if you are in need of assistance you will more than likely find it without much effort. If you can't find help from a stranger, you should be able to find someone who works for whatever establishment you're visiting who will more than likely be happy to help you in whatever way possible.

My third question I suppose is very similar to the first; "what if I go somewhere and I can't get around?" Well, that's the same answer as the answer to "will there be accessibility?" Anywhere you go, you arrived there somehow, so if you can't get around simply turn around and go back the way you came, or find another area to visit that is accessible.

Obviously, before going anywhere, it's a great idea to do your research. Most places, whether they are large tourist attractions or not, will have at least general information available. Calling ahead and simply asking is a viable option as well, but remember that able bodied people don't always realize what the true meaning is of "accessible". I've gone a few places that claimed to be wheelchair accessible, but in fact were not. I can't even count the number of botched ramps, hidden door buttons, etc that I've encountered.

Accessibility has come a long way in the last 20 years, and it will only improve with time. Newer establishments are more likely to be fully accessible, another thing to keep in mind when traveling. Going to older historic places can be a big challenge unless they've been retro-fitted with wider doorways and ramps.

It took me many, many years to overcome my fears of going anywhere alone. I guess you could say I had a bit of a phobia of it. I learned to overcome my fears and have been traveling alone for a while now. It's not as difficult as it might seem, and there are lots of ways to stay safe and still have a great time! I will touch on the safety issues in another post. Just remember to do your research. Call ahead and express you needs if you must. Plan accordingly. Life's too short to let anything hold you back from doing the things you love!