limited mobility/strength/stamina/patience
LIMITLESS possibilities
Stroke. amputation. organ failure. neurodivergence.
weakness. frailty. depression. illness.
Everyone has a limitation at some point in life. Some conditions are temporary, others permanent. All change our view of what we consider possible.
Seeking to grow in understanding and experiencing more of this world helps put ‘handicaps’ into a frame of reference. Meeting someone of a different walk of life may show us how lucky we are or perhaps provide the opportunity to empathize and share that we know what a mile in someone else’s shoes requires. To travel is to learn and to teach. To inspire and be inspired. To make memories and see each new day as a chance for more.
attitude: be not afraid
With a change of existence comes the need for acceptance. Radical acceptance. I am the way that I am. Conditions may change. Moods may rise and fall. Strength may return. We have to accept that right now:
I just can’t climb to the top of that mountain.
I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be in the middle of that crowd.
I can’t do it alone.
That’s often the reality for persons with limitations. But it doesn’t have to be.
I can’t climb to the top of that mountain… I can get there with a Jeep/hot air balloon/mule.
I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be in the middle of that crowd (unprepared)… I’ll plan my coping mechanisms and a way to safety.
I can’t do it alone… and that’s ok. I’ll ask for help.
The concept of radical acceptance regarding a condition need not limit our hopes or desires. The key things to embrace are:
Spirit of Adventure: See. Smell. Taste. Feel. Hear. Learn. Grow. If you want any of these, commit yourself to the task and find the best course of achieving it.
Heart of Appreciation: Resources exist to help travelers of all states of mind and being. People stand in the gap providing those resources. With a smile, a kind word, and a desire to treat others fairly - doors will be opened and assistance offered.
Mind of Adaptation: No experience in life occurs without a hiccup or two. We can plan for every eventuality but in the end, being able to ‘roll with the punches’ makes a potentially bad day into a great memory.
appreciation: thankful for adventure
Not everyone in the world is kind to people who are different. If a person has never had a friendship or caretaker role with someone with particular needs, he or she may not know what to say or how to act. Likewise, some persons of limitation have become indifferent to the ‘normal’ people because of a bad experience or emotional response to not being able to blend into the crowd and just be.
To broaden horizons through travel is to expose yourself to new people, experiences, and attitudes. The traveler learns that everyone has a struggle, a dream, and a reason to smile. Traveling with a limited condition requires commitment to see the spectrum of society not just the outliers. It means living with an adventurous spirit of hope for the unknown while accepting that we all need help - sometimes more than others.
The travel industry endeavors to - not accommodate but - expand the opportunities for all regardless of age, health, physical strength, size, reaction to stimuli, etc. Here are a few examples:
Eurail (Europe’s rail consolidation group): if traveling with a wheelchair, a traveler can approach the ticket window and discover that staff will escort the traveler - and any companions - to the correct track, train, car, and seat while taking care of the luggage themselves. At each stop, another representative boards and assists in the same way through to the next destination.
Southwest Airlines allows preboarding, seating assistance, and in select cases, complimentary airfare for caregivers of travelers with cognitive or developmental disabilities.
Royal Caribbean - in partnership with Celebrity, Norwegian, Disney and Carnival Cruise Lines - offers dedicated cruising experiences for travelers “(with) Special Needs, including, but not limited to, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and all Cognitive, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.”
All travelers should be familiar with the opportunities, guidelines, and expectations of all forms of travel. Safety, service, and customer satisfaction are the key virtues in the transportation and hospitality industries. More importantly, the people working in these areas want to help and serve others. Returning that desire with genuine thanks changes the dynamics of the interaction. Greet a redcap with a smile, handshake, and a friendly tone. Thank a helpful flight attendant. Approach a decision-controller with a positive outlook and honest conversation to come to a mutually beneficial outcome.
Live thankful for the opportunity to pursue your sense of adventure and never be afraid to ask for advice or assistance.
For a list of resources, click here: Assistance in Adventure
adaptation: be prepared
The age old adage of ‘be prepared’ has rescued many a soldier, emergency room nurse, parent, and Boy Scout from the unthinkable.
Examine what you have. Power wheelchair. Cane. Peritoneal dialysis unit. Sound canceling headphones. A mobile pharmacy.
The items that become second nature for thriving in daily life or surviving the morning commute will be vital to wherever your journey takes you. Think outside the box of how to transport delicate machinery and electronics. Find ways to adapt the items you have.
Add a simple Velcro bike bottle holder to your wheelchair to hold your silverware/phone/keys/wallet/water bottle?
Adapt a zippered toiletry bag specifically for medications
Find a colored hard case just your style to keep your ear loops, sound canceling headphones, eye mask, essential oils, fidget device, and emergency snack in one place
Make a list and count it twice. When packing, it is easy to overpack on some items and forget essentials. Thirteen pair of socks but only three pairs of underwear. Sunscreen, sunglasses, flip flops but no wallet. Start early with your essentials unique to you.
Medications: set aside doses for the full duration of the adventure plus a considerable buffer in case of delays
Assistive gear: know what works and what doesn’t, how items are repaired or charged and have spare parts if necessary
First aid kit: a splinter may not be a tragedy to one traveler but failure to treat such an instance could send someone to the hospital
Documentation: Passport, government assigned identification, drivers license, insurance card but also items that can simplify the discussion - a laminated description of a scooter for TSA officials or a simple card that describes your anxiety triggers, responses, and how someone may be able to help
