Traveling With a Disability

Have a positive attitude

Depending on where you go, the people you encounter may not know very much about your disability. Don’t be afraid to educate people about your condition to help them get a better understanding of it. Should you encounter a place or an attraction that could be more accessible to people with disabilities, try not to focus on the negative. Rather than viewing it as an injustice, approach it from the perspective that you’re breaking new ground for future disabled travelers. Politely inform people of how they can improve their facilities for other people with disabilities and be sure to thank them for whatever assistance they do offer.

Nancy Berger of the Disabled Travelers Guide has found that in her experience “each and every person you meet along the way in your travels appreciates in his or her own way what it takes for you to be in their world. They want you to succeed and will do all they can to see that you do.” By having a positive attitude, you will likely find it to be reciprocated wherever your travels may take you.

So if you or a loved one is a person of disability, don’t feel trapped at home – the world is ready and waiting for you to explore it! By preparing yourself and planning your trip carefully, you can go anywhere in the world and experience things you never thought possible. You’ve probably never let your disability stand between you and anything thus far in your life, so why should travel be an exception? Go forth, travelers!

Denis Kuvaev / Shutterstock.com