Spring 2023
In this issue:
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Note from the guest editor
Cory Lee
By Cory Lee Woodard
Hey there! I’m Cory Lee and I am absolutely thrilled to be the Guest Editor for this issue of Accessible Journeys. This magazine is such an incredible resource in the accessible travel industry, so I happily jumped at this chance.
Adaptive Adventures
Extreme-ly Impressive Adventures
by Nancy Baye
Aside from walking the dog around the block, my idea of outdoor activity might stretch to a walk along the Seawall, or through the well-marked trails of Pacific Spirit Park. As for sports, I do cycle a lot—those two wheels being the only ones I have..
Adventuring with new gear on Vancouver Island
by Fiona Scott
As travel destinations learn about the advantages of environments and attractions being built with full inclusivity in mind, adventurer seekers have a growing number of opportunities to experience. Whether the adventures sought are simply breathing in..
Codi Mendenhall: defying limitations with adaptive adventures and more
by Lucky Mae F. Quilao
To interact with Codi is to immediately fall in love with her. Her facial expressions speak volumes and being non-verbal has not been a deterrent for the advocacy work she undertakes with her mother, Jen, within her state and local community. Together..
Adventure with no limits
by Lisa Guthrie-Deabill
Swishing down a snow-covered mountain. Gliding along the ice. Hiking a rocky trail. Casting a line in the lake. All these outdoor activities take a certain amount of skill. Regardless of a person’s ability or disability, Rocky Mountain Adaptive (RMA)..
Alvaro Silberstein: Travel and adaptive adventures - it is possible!
by Lucky Mae F. Quilao
He was just a typical 18-year-old Chilean guy – studying, travelling, camping with family and friends, socializing – doing what teenagers usually do, when a car accident shifted his life’s trajectory. “I broke my neck at level C5. It was a difficult situation..
Adaptive Cyclist, Patrick Sweeny has got the nerve
My name is Patrick Sweeney and I’m an adaptive cyclist. I had myoclonic seizures that led me to having surgery in 2013. I am now seizure free, but I have left sided hemiparesis, meaning I have left side weakness, but this doesn’t stop me from competing..
Amanda Powell on how outdoor activities aid advocacy efforts
by Lucky Mae F. Quilao
Hayley Haws Hiking should have been easy. It is basically walking where the head must be kept up, the chin parallel to the ground, the back lengthened, the shoulders placed down and back, the arms swinging, and the feet stepping from heel to toe. The..
AJ talks adaptive activities with disability rights advocate, Kelly Narowski
A.J. Can you tell us about your background, and your roles as a professional speaker and volunteer disability rights advocate? I sustained a T6 complete spinal cord injury as a result of a serious car crash at the age of 25. I’m 49, so I’m almost to..
Adaptive Sports Organizations in BC, Canada
By Lucky Mae F. Quilao
British Columbia (B.C.) loves its sports, especially the outdoor kind. Here are just a few of the adaptive sports organizations we found in this Pacific Northwest part of the world. Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) With a vision to make alpine…
Bi-skiing, snowboarding and sliders
by Codi Mendenhall
Bi-Skiing, snowboarding and sliders all are super fun! I have my own Bi-Ski it is a Blue Mountain Man. I have my own snowboard. It’s black with pink Cherry Blossoms. I go skiing with my school, too. I have been skiing for 7 years, and I started…
My ski adventures
by Ashton Dunford
Eleven-year-old Ashton Dunford lives in Utah. He loves skateboarding, skiing and cycling. His message is simple: blind children are just capable as sighted children. Find Ashton and his mom Hilda at @ourblindside. Today I’m going to tell you about my..
Family Fun, No Limits: Exploring The World Together
Can we even do that
by Jennifer Allen
Ice skating, castle tours, skiing, hiking and scaling gorges are just some of the things I assumed we couldn’t do after receiving my son’s diagnosis of spina bifida. In the past three years, we’ve done every one of those things, and many more that I thought..
Adaptive adventures for families with autism
by Nicole Thibault
Magical Storybook Travels opened its doors in January 2015 by owner and travel specialist, Nicole Thibault. Located in Fairport, N.Y., the agency specializes in family travel and travel for families with special needs. When my son was little and newly…
Disability Parent Q&A with Jennifer Allen
Q: What about physical therapy? We can’t miss weeks or months of PT. A: We’ve worked this out a few different ways. Our PT typically has built-in breaks. We do 12 weeks on, then at least four weeks off. That break in between can be a good time to travel,..
Feature
A partnership in hospitality and tourism to improve experiences for people with disabilities
by Saada Branker
How can we better serve people with disabilities (PWDs) as they travel? This question, and the conversations sparked, are at the heart of a partnership intent on propelling change in how we regard disabilities. One changemaker is the University of Central..
Recognizing Becky Large
by Nancy Baye
The founder of Champion Autism Network opens doors to families with autism “I wake up every day trying to figure out how to do better and serve more people living with autism. We’ve come so far, and I’m proud of the infrastructure we’ve created and the..
Mapping Social Inclusion : The Strength And Passion Of Google’s Local Guides
by Saada Branker
Ermes Tuon, a mobility advocate who lives in Treviso, Italy tells a story about his determination to help rebuild a part of his country that was destroyed by an earthquake in 2016. The world remembers what happened then—the loss of lives, and the scope…
The Google Maps Commitment
by Saada Branker
The information sourced daily on Google Maps appears through a layered, global system of collaboration and dedication. We asked Kevin Reece, Director of Product, Google Maps about the intention and approach to increasing accessibility for all through..
Blogger Spotlight
Anthony Tipling-Bower
At Mt. Fuji, Japan This 32-year-old wheelchair-using nomad has visited 40 countries so far. He runs the blog, Geordie Travels, where he writes about his experiences on the road, giving some details about accessibility in various locations around the globe..
Carolyn – RV Rebel Girl
Carolyn AKA RVRebel Girl on YouTube After experiencing so many loved ones crossing over too soon before having the chance to reap the benefits of their hard work, Carolyn decided to retire early from her law enforcement career. She wanted to enjoy life..
Invincible Woman on Wheels - Emma Dobson
Emma Dobson, the Invincible Woman on Wheels, is a 26-year-old wheelchair user, disability activist and blogger from Birmingham, England. She started blogging in 2017 at the suggestion of a friend she’d road tripped around Sicily with. The friend learned..
Explore The Outdoors
Progressive Oregon Coast initiatives
by Nancy Baye
Early in 2023, eight Oregon destination management organizations (DMOs), received grants to partner with Wheel the World. The goal of the venture is to make the Oregon Coast and its activities even more accessible to travelers with disabilities. And that’s..
Adaptive Sports Organizations in BC, Canada
By Lucky Mae F. Quilao
British Columbia (B.C.) loves its sports, especially the outdoor kind. Here are just a few of the adaptive sports organizations we found in this Pacific Northwest part of the world. Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP) With a vision to make alpine..
CRIS Adaptive : Breaking Down Barriers to Outdoor Recreation & Sport for People of all Abilities
by Laura McEwan
Can you tell us about the history of your organization? For 22 years, CRIS Adaptive has been dedicated to creating opportunities for outdoor recreation for individuals and groups who face physical, cognitive, intellectual, and sensory challenges and…
Outdoor adventures for those with mobility needs
The need for adventure seems to be innate in many individuals. Whether the goal is to fly high in a hot air balloon, hike the mountains, or try to ride an obstinate camel, adventures are exciting and fun. For those are differently abled or have mobility..
Accessible Product Showcase
CharleyWrap from Jenn and Mark Hooper
What is the CharleyWrap and who does it serve? The CharleyWrap is an easy, comfortable, cost-effective supportive device for those with low trunk strength and scoliosis. We invented it initially for our profoundly disabled daughter, Charley, because all.
