Shane spent an afternoon with Jordan of A Tribe Called Owens sharing his experiences with accessibility challenges in Saint John.
Check out the video to hear Shane share his story and insights about accessibility.
We’d appreciate to hear your thoughts and comments about accessibility. And be sure to give Jordan’s YouTube channel a follow.
Follow Jordan on Instagram:
@atribecalledowens
Jordan’s website: http://www.iamjordanowens.com
Canada is famous for its natural beauty from coast to coast. It has been a challenge for us to figure out what locations, landmarks, and national parks are accessible.
In our case we are looking for destinations that are accessible by wheelchair and mobility walking devices as a wheelchair is not always needed. For anyone with physical disabilities travelling can be discouraging.
There is a lack of accessible tourist destinations and facilities. Appropriate transportation options are often limited or costly.
Luckily, we are finding more destinations that have made accessibility a priority. Although we are still a long way from living in a society that is fully accepting and embracing a sense of equality to individuals requiring accessibility options.
We continue to research destinations that are more feasible and truly accessible for all. In the coming weeks we will highlight a few of the destinations we have come across and hope to visit once the COVID pandemic is under control and travel is possible between provinces in Canada. Stay tuned as we share stories of our research of Canadian Vacation Ideas for Travellers with Disabilities.
Until next time, stay safe and use this time to travel in the comfort of your favourite armchair, research some new trip destinations and reminisce about your past trips. Talk soon my friends.
The current state of things has given us plenty of time to ponder where we have been and where we hope to go….hopefully some day soon. Travelling has been a part of our lives, and while being given the opportunity to slow down and spend more time at home; I found that it has also made us long for the days when we were free to roam the globe.
I certainly have spent many hours reflecting on our travels and the good times we experienced in each new place we visited. And just as much time researching and planning our next adventure.
Eventually the world will return to (our new) normal and we will find a way to hop on a plane or jump in our truck to head off to a new destination. I know we are eager to travel again soon.
We are always excited for our next adventure, but it’s so easy to lose steam when we encounter issues trying to find suitable accommodations. It’s estimated that one in five Canadians (or 6.2 million) aged 15 years and over had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities, according to new findings in 2017. Yet there are very few accommodations available for those wishing to travel.
It’s not uncommon for us to have to try multiple hotels or AirBnBs to find available accommodations. Our options are limited due to supply and demand. It’s not uncommon for us to not find a room available at the time we want. We once spent 3 hours trying to find accommodations in New Hampshire after our vehicle broke down and had to be towed for the night…so much more happened that night, but we’ll share that in another post (you definitely will want to check that one out)
Then we also have to look at what is deemed an accessible room in the particular area we are traveling. Our main concerns are a shower with a bath bench or chair, grab bars, a non-slip floor and ideally a hand held shower head. Doesn’t seem like much to ask for, but you’d be surprised by what we encounter.
Planning isn’t something you want to rush to begin with, but as we prepare for trips from experience we know it’s going to take a little longer to find something suitable. You might think well that’s to be expected you have special concerns…but consider this; wouldn’t you think in 2020 that you’d be treated just like everyone else and not be defined by your limitations?
Hi and thanks for stopping by! Elizabeth and I are looking forward to sharing our adventures…the fun and the frustrations as we try to travel with mobility issues. Check back soon to hear about our recent travels in Eastern Canada, England and Ireland
Thanks for joining me!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Shane and Elizabeth’s Accessible Travel Adventures 