January 2025 Issue
Magazine Sections
Navigating the world with Limb Differences
Guest Editor's note
By Talli Osborne
This world wasn’t built for a girl like me, but that’s not stopping me from exploring it. As a woman without both of my arms and with shortened legs, I know firsthand both the joy and the obstacles that come with traveling. There’s a unique kind of empowerment that comes with venturing into the world, exploring new places, and embracing new experiences—even when there are bumps in the road.
Leading Off: Living life on our terms
By Jan Bonville
This issue celebrates our fellow adventurers, explorers and travellers who, as always, are determined not to let something like a major disability get in the way of our dreams. We spotlight travellers with a variety of limb differences . . .
10 tips for travelling with physical challenges: A resilient woman's guide
By Talli Osborne
Travelling with physical challenges can require a bit more planning, but the rewards are worth it. As a woman with mobility issues, I’ve learned to embrace the journey, adapt with creativity, and always focus on the positives. Here are my top ten tips for making your travels smoother and more enjoyable:
On the road with Erin Ball blending circus arts and advocacy
I have had my wheelchair not arrive with me several times while flying. It has also been broken more than once. It’s very frustrating and I don’t have a good answer to how I navigate this.
Nadine Richards’ approach to life, travel and advocacy
Nadine wears many hats—adaptive athlete, advocate, model, and wellness professional—and she wears them all effortlessly, infused with an infectious energy. Born in Alberta, Canada, she lives with a limb difference and describes her disability with openness and humor, seeing it as just another unique part of who she is rather than a limitation.
Beyond the stares, Lisa explores the world on her terms
Some people blend in seamlessly when they travel, soaking up cultures, cuisines and sunsets, unobtrusively. Others—sometimes unintentionally—travel and stand out. When Lisa Butler packs her bags, her invisible checklist isn’t just about passports, snacks, or car seat logistics. It’s about setting a tone. A confident posture, a ready smile, an attitude that declares I’m here louder than the stares she’s long grown used to. Travelling with a visible limb difference means you’re never anonymous—not in Toronto, not in rural Uganda, not in the thick heat of a Bolivian rainforest.
Miriam Osborne invites us to see the world through the lens of difference
If you’ve ever seen life as a series of challenges and victories woven together, Miriam Osborne’s story is the lens that would sharpen the focus and deepen the hue. An editor at The Toronto Star, avid traveller and advocate at heart, what makes Miriam Osborne’s story unique isn’t just where she’s been but how she navigates the spaces most of us take for granted.
Talli Osborne says: “Embrace your differences and let them sparkle.”
Canadian, Talli Osborne, is a vivacious spirit with an unrelenting zest for life. With her unapologetic individuality, she confidently turns personal hurdles into platforms of empowerment. With a dynamic career that spans motivational speaking, singing with punk rock bands and acting, Talli’s electric personality shines the moment you meet her.
Adaptive Adventures
Born different, living strong: My journey in my own words
By Wendy Gideon
A big part of what drives me is simply knowing that the human body is capable of amazing things. I believe that with the right mindset, determination, and a positive attitude, anyone can push the limits of what’s considered possible.
Family Fun, No Limits
Driving to Europe or finding an accessible European destination near home
By Jennifer Allen
You did it! You made it through the summer of thrown-off routines and overload meltdowns. You cared for all of the needs, macgyvered medical equipment to handle the needs of summer play, and you made it to another school year! School is just another beautiful reminder that you can do hard things.
Accessible Destination Round-up
By Jennifer Allen
As a travel writer for families with disabilities, I’m often asked to bring my family to different destinations to highlight accessible options and give feedback on any improvement needed. Along the way, we discover a lot of hidden gems with exceptional attention to disability inclusion.
Exploring the world with a limb difference: practical tips from real mom life
By Jennifer Allen
I first connected with Ashlee Homer on social media a few years ago when she was searching for resources for her daughter, Vika, who has a limb difference. Since then, I’ve been fortunate enough to have her as a local mom friend. Whether it’s bringing me coffee during hospital stays, checking in during major life events, or offering encouragement through quick Instagram messages, Ashlee has been a constant source of kindness and support.
Better Together: Disability Parent Q&A
Q: What type of preparation do you do before a trip, in addition to the usual vacation planning?
A: I’m going to split this into three categories of planning, packing, and preparing. It sounds like a lot, because it is. Like most things in the world of disability parenting, relearning how to travel may seem overwhelming at first. It becomes another part of the routine as you get used to it.
Feature Stories
Creating accessible short-term rentals for all people with disabilities
By Lorraine Woodward, Becoming rentABLE
When most people think about accessibility, they often think in terms of wheelchair access. Unfortunately, by doing this you exclude a huge population of people with disabilities. At Becoming rentABLE, we advocate for expanding accessibility for all types of disabilities including all mobility (wheelchair, walker, canes and crutches), cognitive (autism, dementia, brain injury), hearing, sight and aging access.
Q and A with Hülya Marquardt
By Brodie Farrow
Hülya Marquardt is a vibrant 41-year-old mother, wife and business owner living a fulfilling life in southern Germany. Born with a physical difference in her hands, Hülya’s life took an extraordinary turn at 18 when she underwent the life-changing experience of losing her legs above the knees due to sepsis. Rather than seeing these moments as setbacks, Hülya has embraced her journey, building a beautiful life full of love, purpose, and success.
Christa Couture’s inclusive travel adventures
A musician, writer, filmmaker and broadcaster, Christa Couture wears her creativity with flair, highlighted by her prosthetic leg decorated with bold, colorful flowers—a visible symbol of her approach to the world. As a mixed Cree and Scandinavian woman, a mother, queer artist, and someone who has lived with a disability since childhood, Christa has embraced life’s challenges and joys.
With one limb, Tim Mason is unapologetically living and seeing the world his way
Tim Mason doesn’t merely exist—he radiates, bursting into a space like fireworks against a midnight sky. He is a kaleidoscope of infectious energy: one moment, he’s spinning on a treadmill in the gym, defying the odds with his dancing; the next, he’s candidly sharing the complexities of his lived experiences with whoever expresses an interest. A man of many talents and one limb, Tim proves again and again that limits are more about perception than reality.
Destination spotlight
Germany embraces Tourism for All
Germany’s Tourism for All initiative, supported by the German government, certifies accessible travel options across Germany. It covers various accommodations, attractions, dining facilities, and more, each independently verified to meet the needs of different disability groups.
A taste of accessible experiences in Germany, with much more to discover!
Germany has emerged as a leader in accessible travel, making it an ideal destination for visitors with disabilities. From modern cities to medieval towns, here are some of the best accessible spots to explore across the country.
Immersive Nature Experiences
Safari with a disability—Embrace the unknown
By Jan Bonville
Is there any feeling like waking up at dawn, a hot coffee to dispel the early morning chill, and going out into the savannah’s pearly morning light in an open-air jeep, looking out for the predators that only venture forth in the cool of early morning or dusk, the gentle-eyed gazelle, statuesque giraffes, majestic elephant herds, and hearing the calls of the brightly colored birds perched on the acacia and thorn trees?
Beyond sight
Dave Steele, the blind poet: From vision to verse
Picture a world fading from view—a once vibrant landscape slipping into the shadows. For most, the loss of sight would feel like an insurmountable barrier, a darkness too overwhelming to navigate. But Dave Steele, a poet from Manchester, UK, has turned that very darkness into hope.
Silent Adventures
Deaf filmmaker, Ladan Sahraei, travels boldly through silence
Imagine stepping into an airport, a bustling, chaotic hub of activity, where multiple announcements crackle over speakers, a plethora of information flying around that space as fast as planes. Sadly, for those in the Deaf community, these vital updates dissolve into a wall of silence.
Vlogger Spotlight
Inside Liv Stone's world: Surfing, cooking, breaking stereotypes and living life fully
Liv Stone, a vlogger and three-time Para Surfing World Champion, shares her passions for surfing, cooking, travel and adventure on her YouTube channel. Whether riding waves or experimenting in the kitchen, Liv’s vibrant energy inspires viewers to embrace life fully.
