Getting There: Traveling With a Disability — September Series

Packing for a weekend away might sound pretty simple.

You figure out how many days you’re going to be gone, pack a couple of outfits, some toiletries, and you’re ready to go.

For me, packing for a weekend means thinking a few steps ahead because I have cerebral palsy.

When I go away for my weekend at the casino, I don’t just pack two or three outfits and assume that will be enough.

I prepare for the unexpected.

A Few Extra Outfits

I usually pack a few more outfits than I think I’m going to need.

Why?

Because something could happen and I might mess up an outfit.

I would rather have an extra change of clothes with me than be away from home and realize I don’t have what I need.

The same goes for underwear. Lately, bladder control has become more difficult for me, so I make sure I pack more underwear than I normally would.

It may not be the most glamorous part of talking about traveling with a disability, but it’s real.

And that’s what this series is about.

Preparing for my body’s needs allows me to worry less once I’m away.

Don’t Forget the Medicine

Medication is another important part of packing.

Clothes can sometimes be replaced if you forget something.

My medication isn’t something I want to leave behind.

So while I’m thinking about what shirt I want to wear or what I’m going to bring for the weekend, I also have to make sure I have all of my medicine with me.

That’s one of those things I need to double-check before leaving home.

My Walker Has to Be Ready Too

Then there’s something else I have to prepare that many travelers probably never have to think about:

My walker.

Before going away, I need to make sure my walker is ready for the weekend too.

Are the wheels okay?

Are the back legs in good condition?

Do the glides—or what I sometimes call the “shoes” on the back legs—need to be replaced?

Is everything working the way it should?

My walker isn’t simply another piece of luggage I’m bringing with me.

It’s part of how I’m able to experience the trip.

If something isn’t working correctly, that could affect how safely and comfortably I can get around once I’m away.

So when I’m preparing myself for the weekend, I’m preparing my walker too.

Packing Gives Me Peace of Mind

I could look at all of this extra preparation and become frustrated.

Instead, I try to look at it as another way I’m learning to work with my disability.

I know my body.

I know what could happen.

And I know what I need to feel comfortable and prepared.

So yes, my suitcase might have a few more clothes in it.

There might be extra underwear.

My medication has to be checked.

And Ms. Pinky needs her own little “checkup” before we leave.

But once I’ve done all of that, I can stop thinking so much about what if and start thinking about something much better:

I’m going away for the weekend.

That’s the reason I prepared in the first place.

Packing for my disability isn’t about expecting something to go wrong.

It’s about giving myself what I need so I can go out and enjoy what goes right.

— Marie W.O.W.C.P.
Our Beautiful Challenges
Seeing the beauty between the challenges. ✌️😊💛