Blog post by Kamil Goungor traveller with disabilities and activist working at the European Network of Independent Living (ENIL) for the CE-Spaces4All project.
I love to travel! On a trip you can see unbelievable places, take part in unique experiences, taste delicious food and meet amazing people that very often do their best to welcome you and show you their hospitality. Travelling makes you a better and more humble person, in the sense that you get out of your bubble, see the diversity of the world and discover new cultures and traditions, realising that you are not in the epicenter of the world, and at the same time understanding your role here. You discover yourself while travelling. It makes you open minded and “richer” in many ways, and very often motivates you to move forward, change things or take action. As long as you start travelling, you just can’t help and ask for more! That was the case with me of course.
My first trip abroad was when I finished high school, when we visited Barcelona, Spain. I, an electric wheelchair user, hadn’t any idea of how travelling by plane with a wheelchair was then. By now, I have visited 28 countries, and plan to go to many more. I have even started a travel blog (thetrawheeler.com), the first such initiative in Greece by a disabled person, in order to motivate (and not inspire) others, disabled or not, to discover our planet.
However, let’s be honest, if you are a disabled person, travelling may be a challenging task. It is not more challenging than our everyday life already is though. Barriers are everywhere. We know that better than anyone, but we have learnt to surpass them, and fight for more inclusive societies. So, with this in mind, I strongly believe that we should not hesitate to explore the world too!
Trains are maybe the most comfortable mean to travel with a wheelchair. You have to check if the train you’ll choose is wheelchair accessible, and in most cases you have to contact the company about your wheelchair in advance (48h before in many cases) – which is unfair and EDF campaigned strongly against it. Many trains have designed spaces for wheelchair users (limited places per train though), and accessible toilets. Travelling by train is also a “greener” choice of transport, compared to planes, and a very safe one.
Trains, of course, are not an option for every destination. Planes are “unavoidable” if you wish to visit some places that are either far or not connected to the mainland. If you are well prepared, travelling by plane is a feasible option for a wheelchair user, but let’s be frank, it is also by far the most tiring and challenging way of travel for many disabled people. The process may include some challenges and difficult situations, however if you get used to the procedures, you don’t have to worry much. There is hope that in the future travelling by air will be more inclusive, and there’s actual work done in this direction, but by waiting your life passes by… So, my honest advice is that no matter of the difficulties, grab a plane and you will acquire the experience to do it again!
There are other means of travelling as well, like cruise ships, coaches etc. I mentioned here just the main two I usually use. But don’t hesitate to do your research and choose those that suit you best! There is plenty of material on the web, and fellow disabled travellers love to share their experiences and know-how.
The most important advice I would give you for travelling is to prepare well, and do your research beforehand. It is important to have an idea of the accessibility of the place you visit. Check the transport options. Contact your accommodation and make sure that it can meet your needs. If you need equipment, know that nowadays you can rent it in many places. And of course double check everything!
As time passes, things get better, and I have seen this myself. The progress is inevitable, but usually it is slow (that’s why I believe that our role, as activists, to push for more, is important). Despite the fact that a trip (by plane, ship, train etc.) may practically be not as easy for a disabled person, as it is for a non disabled, it is not so difficult either if you prepare well. Don’t take me wrong, there are a lot of barriers out there that discriminate against us and make travelling more difficult, and there is no excuse for that, but the purpose of this short article is to motivate you to travel and at the same time to encourage you to advocate for better conditions. Only when we are loud and proud –as we say at ENIL– change will come!
As for my final message for you; TRAVEL THE WORLD! It’s totally possible and it’s definitely worth it!
Follow Kamil Goungor on Instagram at @thetrawheeler