Getting There: Traveling With a Disability — September Series

Why isn’t a simple outing always so simple when you have a disability?

For the average able-bodied person, getting out of the house might not take much thought. You decide where you want to go, get yourself ready, grab what you need, and leave.

For someone like me, and for many other people living with a physical disability, getting out of the house can sometimes feel like a chore before the outing has even begun.

But we still do it.

We do it because we want to be part of our communities. We want to go shopping, meet a friend for lunch, go to the gym, attend an event, sit in a coffee shop, or simply enjoy being somewhere other than home.

And most importantly, we have the same right to be part of our communities as everyone else.

Having a disability shouldn’t mean staying home because getting somewhere takes more work.

For me, an outing can take time, patience, planning, and effort. Sometimes I have to think about things other people may never have to consider. How am I getting there? Is the place accessible? Will I have enough energy? Is there an accessible bathroom? Do I need someone to help me prepare? Will I need assistance once I get there?

Sometimes other people become part of that planning too. When you have a physical disability, independence doesn’t always mean doing every single thing by yourself. Sometimes independence means knowing what support you need so that you can get where you want to go.

That’s something I have learned over the years.

I don’t want the work it takes to leave my house to stop me from living my life.

Yes, a simple outing might take me longer.

Yes, I might need help preparing.

Yes, I might have to plan transportation ahead of time.

And yes, sometimes by the time I finally get out the door, I may already feel like I accomplished something.

But then I am out there.

I am part of my community.

Maybe that’s something we don’t talk about enough when we talk about accessibility. Accessibility isn’t only about whether there is a ramp at the door. It’s about whether people with disabilities have a real opportunity to get out of their homes, reach the places they want to go, participate, and feel like they belong once they arrive.

A simple outing isn’t always simple for me.

But that doesn’t make it any less worth taking.

Because my disability may change how I get there, but it shouldn’t decide whether I get to go.

— Marie W.O.W.C.P.
Our Beautiful Challenges
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