How to travel the world in a wheelchair
How to travel the world in a wheelchair - A few months ago I was His is an inspiring story, and I was hooked on his blog, so I invited Cory to share his story and advice for others who might be in a similar situation and wondering how to make travel pass
Nomadic Matt :. each about continued self.
Cory: My name Cory Lee and I am a 25-year-old travel addict, peanut butter connoisseur, and the brains behind Curb free with Cory Lee. I was born in the small town of Lafayette, Georgia and grew up. It is a rather boring city, but fortunately with enjoy traveling and my mother so we played quite often the road. I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of two and have in a wheelchair ever since. My wheelchair and I have been 14 countries and have plans to visit many more. As with a degree from the University of West Georgia degree in marketing last year I have all my energy is growing in my website. Apart from traveling and working on my blog, I love concerts, binge watching Netflix shows ( Orange is the New Black is my favorite), and try new foods.
How did you get to travel?
my mother was a teacher, so she was home from work every summer. We used the time on site to travel and took a lot of traveling along the east coast. Disney World was a popular choice. When I become 15, we tried our hand while traveling abroad and went to Bahamas. These trips made me fall in love with travel and showed me that there is so much out there in the world.
Do you think that your disability you would limit? What did you say, "It screws, I will do this, anyway?"
My mother always said to me: "If you can not stand up, stand out" and I try to live every day of this mentality. I could not have are physically, but I can stand. I can stand for everything I wish, like traveling. A disability is not to limit myself to see in the world. I refuse to even entertain the thought that my disability could have that kind of power. I've never known really a different kind of life, so I think I've just kind of learned to accept my circumstances and then keep them in mind.
plan Has that been a challenge? How do you deal with naysayers deal?
about my life, yes. It was a challenge, especially when I was younger. I remember being especially in primary school and wondering why I could not go on one of the excursions. My fifth grade class in a camp for a few nights would, and one of my teachers said that it would not be possible for me to go because of my disability. Simply did not believe that I do something that would be able, as they saw no reason for me to go. My mother went mad at these teachers and explained that I would go, and that they take each student is required, not just those who could walk.
for this stock, which is actually one of my favorite memories from elementary school. I had nonstop fun with my friends in the desert for a few days. There are naysayers in the world, but I have to be patient and learned to explain that, although I do not do the things that might be able just as others do, I can still be happy to be there and do she at the best of my ability.
do what restrictions to your disability you have because?
makes spinal muscular atrophy, my muscles weaker than the average person and restricts my ability to walk me unable does raise my arms, transfer, etc. It also deteriorates over time my muscles so I can not have the same abilities in five years, as I do now. This fact is constantly in mind and why I'm so motivated to see the world. I may be 10 years from now no longer able to travel, but I'm definitely having fun now.
How to deal, on the street?
I always travel with someone, be quite impossible generally my mother or a friend, because alone would go. I need help, aboard the aircraft, open doors and go to bed, for example, so that someone with me there is very helpful.
I also try to get an idea of how accessible certain attractions are and then make a rough itinerary. While many monuments and museums are accessible, one of the biggest obstacles when planning a trip is transportation to find. In modern countries, there are accessible buses, trains and taxis, but this information is not always easy to find online. I did not really travel to locations if I do not know for sure that I will be able to get easy once thereabout. Hopefully finally find that information is easier and I try the cause to definitely help with my website.
In Europe, many of the features are available so that it is fairly easy to get to town, from city, but in the United States, it's a bit more difficult and expensive, because we rely on trains they are not so much. I have been waiting for more than three hours for an accessible taxi in Los Angeles before that during which valuable time is me, the city could have been made to explore.
Are you working? Or have a savings? As you make your travels?
I just started freelance writing and now that my site is growing, I started also to earn from it as money. But in recent years I've pretty much been when saving an expert. I literally save every dollar I can to travel, and I get the benefits of SkyMiles and other rewards programs. I have the Delta SkyMiles debit card, and for every dollar I spend, I earn one mile. I'll book often family vacations or anything else that I. On my card, and then get them to pay me back, so I can earn many miles I also like the Hilton HHonors program, since Hilton one of the wheelchair-accessible hotel brands. You have roll-in showers and spacious rooms, and often they are even on the pool access lift.
Many people are wondering, "what happens if something goes wrong?" Well, what happened?
Trust me, I'm the king of bad luck. Seriously, can, if things go wrong, it will go wrong with me. I caught on a burning bus in Washington, DC. I stuck my wheelchair charger on the wall in Germany (with the proper converter), and it exploded. Literally. Sparks flew and the power in the entire hotel went for about 15 minutes.
The worst thing that ever happened to me was in Washington, DC in 07. I was there feel really sick with the Envision EMI and began on July 4th. I started, and to throw the dissemination of getting back up. My mother took me to the hospital and I ended admitted two weeks are and missed the entire second half of the conference. In addition I also had pneumonia severely dehydrated to be. Pneumonia can be quite fatal for people with spinal muscular atrophy, but luckily the doctors fixed me up with a needle in my back introducing and draining my lungs. It was not the most enjoyable experience, but it did the trick. Now when I go somewhere, I always travel with my medicine and insurance.
And frankly, something could go wrong in the comfort of your own home, so ask "what if?" Constantly you will not look good. Embrace the unexpected.
How do you deal with countries that could not be a handicap or wheelchair accessible?
There are definitely some countries that are more suitable for wheelchairs than others. I use the magical powers of Google and talk to determine whether a destination is reachable or not before I book a trip with other wheelchair users in the area. I try to visit places that have accessible taxis and other transportation, because I'm pretty much stuck without it. Paris is probably the least accessible place, which I was. The metro was not available and there was only a taxi across the city that was available suit my needs. We are at the end to hire this a taxi for a whole day and it cost us about $ 0. This was insanely expensive, but there was really no other options. I learned definitely continue to book taxis in advance and before going accessible transport more research somewhere. Trying to do something spur of-the-moment, like a wheelchair is almost impossible.
Are there some countries you simply can not go?
I used to think that every country would achieve anything if I just tried to get it working hard enough, but it turns out that some countries are almost impossible to navigate with a wheelchair. My friend and I saw some extreme destinations such as Iran, North Korea, or Jordan on a visit, and I could find no information on the accessibility online. I emailed even any tour company I could find, and asked if she knew of any accessible tours, and they told me basically that it is not.
Is it expensive to travel with a disability? Are there any precautions that you can take to or other costs for services?
There is much more expensive to travel as wheelchairs. For example, last year I was in Puerto Rico, and while most trips around $ 50 per person, were a wheelchair tour was $ 0 per person. It's crazy that they can charge so much more, but companies usually say that the costs due to the need to set a special lift to the car and make other changes. Taxis do in many parts of the world the same.
While on $ 50 a day to travel the world would not be possible probably in a wheelchair, there are strategies that can be implemented to save a little money. For example, I always book trips well in advance (6 + months in advance) and I can usually get better deals on flights and hotels, by doing this. I also need to schedule more time, because I have to plan with accessibility in mind. Also Rewards points are my best friend! By using SkyMiles and save $ 400 on a flight, I can at this ridiculous price afford to go accessible Tour $ 400.
What advice would you give others in your situation?
I would tell them it just to go. This is easier said than done, but for every problem there is a solution. If the airline damages your chair, they will fix it. If your chair screwed up while you are at a destination, use the forces of Google and make a list of wheelchair-repair shops in the area before you go. This came really handy for me for my wheelchair charger in London broke the air. I just looked at my list of repair workshops in the region, called, and within a few hours, I had a brand new charger that worked.
Are there any groups or organizations that people should know about?
There are several others who also rock the accessible travel scene as. Lonely Planet began back a "Travel for All" Google+ community for a while, and they are committed to providing accessible tourism promotion. They launched the first LP leader last year entirely dedicated to accessibility. Also, Tarita the travel connections great if you need help planning your travel accessible. Tarita is a travel agency with multiple sclerosis and she really knows how to plan the perfect trip for all abilities. Mobility Works is a wonderful company that rented wheelchair accessible vans. They have locations in 33 states, so if you are traveling in the US, then you are set. If you are not in the US and require information about accessibility in your chosen destination, contact you can point in the right direction the tourist office and they should.
Cory Lee a 25-year-old travel addict and recent college graduate. He decided to start a wheelchair travel blog, because he has always had a strong passion for traveling. His blog, Curb Free with Cory Lee, the division of the world is dedicated from the perspective of a wheelchair user.
to the next success story
is one of my favorite parts about this job listening travel stories of the people. You inspire me, but more importantly, they also inspire you. I travel in a certain way, but there are many ways to finance your trips and travel around the world, and I hope that these stories that show that there is more than one way to travel, and that it within your reach your journey to achieve goals. You can send me an email to [email protected] if you want to share your story!We all come from different places, but we all have one thing in common:
we all want to travel more
Make Today take the day one step closer to travel - whether buying a guide, book a hostel. an itinerary, or go all the way to create and to buy a plane ticket.
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