Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
This story spotlights a 72-year-old solo traveler who uses a wheelchair and treats careful preparation as a path to independence. The piece frames travel as doable with realistic planning—choosing routes thoughtfully, pacing days, and using tools that make unfamiliar places easier to navigate—while showing how accessible destinations can expand what’s possible, as seen in an overview of national parks that prioritize accessibility.
The traveler explains how methodical checks reduce stress: confirming step-free access, communicating with airlines about assistance and mobility equipment, and verifying hotel layouts before booking. The narrative connects individual tactics to wider design choices that help many people, much like the everyday benefits described in the Curb Cut Effect.
The article names real barriers that can upend a day—broken elevators, narrow doorways, steep ramps, and missing curb cuts—creating cascading problems for wheelchair users and older adults. It underscores how removing barriers supports safety, energy management, and dignity, echoing patterns described in the overlap between barriers faced by seniors and People with Disabilities.
Throughout, the message is steady and hopeful: start with manageable goals, build repeatable routines, and share what works so more travelers can venture farther. The article closes by encouraging service providers and communities to listen, improve, and make access predictable—because thoughtful design makes trips smoother from curb to hotel room.
Read the Full Article: At 72, this wheelchair user travels the world on her own
by: Kathleen Wong
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