“What, exactly, do you do?”
It’s often unspoken, but this is the question we get the most when anything comes up about about our Instagram, our travel blog, or just about all the places we go.
So, allow me to explain what it means to be a special needs travel family, and why you should give a hoot.
How it All Began
Rather comically, it all started with a spam e-mail. I received an e-mail asking “How would you like to get paid to travel?” It was enough to grab my interest for one of those master classes that tries to rope you in to buying a class that teaches you how to get rich through social media. The lovely hosts shared about how they’ve built a massive social media following, and now they’re paid to travel the world, in exchange for posting about the destinations hiring them. Those pictures drinking martinis in bikinis and kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower are all part of a day’s work.
Obviously, that couldn’t be us; but, it sparked an idea.
What is a Travel Family?
When I first heard about these “travel couples” who galivant the globe as a social media business, I had this great idea, that I thought was totally original. Of course we can’t just traipse about the planet without a care in the world: we have three children; we have a ton of medical needs that keep us rooted near specialists; we have jobs that we love and family that we want to be connected with. What if we showed the world what our adventures look like as this type of family? What if we gave a glimpse of what exploring the planet looks like after settling down and having a family?
I started an Instagram account the very next day, with this big goal in mind. Do you know what I found? Thousands of families already doing the exact same thing. I mean, I guess it was a good idea, anyway…
What’s Different About a Special Needs Travel Family?
It was briefly disheartening to find that so many people had stolen my “original” idea. It only took a few days, however, to realize that none of these families looked quite like mine. Plenty of families had three children… or many more. Plenty of families had working parents. Plenty of families made a point of teaching their kids through travel.
None of these families had a kid in a wheelchair.
I can see why: it’s harder.
That’s how I got my inspiration to shift gears into disability travel. It’s a different world, and it can be overwhelming. So much of the world is not wheelchair accessible, or not designed with special needs in mind, that many families have just given up trying. But if someone could do the “legwork” for them, traveling could be more than achievable – it could actually be fun, again!
I research, and plan, and map out accessible routes and destinations, and highlight locations that are getting it right. I also help attractions that are struggling by identifying barriers and improving accessibility.
How is This a Career?
Let me be completely honest and tell you I haven’t made much money (yet!). To this point, I’m typically paid in travel, which allows us to experience so much more than we would be able to afford, so I’m still counting it as a win.
A destination or attraction will contact a travel family (or vice-versa) requesting a visit and laying out how they want the experience shared on social media. The layer we add as a special needs travel family is our attention to accessibility, which boosts a destination by marketing it to an entirely different crowd, provides feedback on how to be more inclusive, and raises awareness on both ends of the travel industry. I love seeing how both tourism boards and tourists are beginning to pay more attention to what’s missing as they join us in our journey to make the world barrier-free.
This is both a job and a mission for me.
Why Should I Give a Hoot
The world is for everyone. You believe that. Your value for human life believes that all people are created equal, regardless of gender, skin color, or physical ability.
Currently, the ability to explore this planet is disproportionately reserved for the able-bodied. You have the ability to change that, and time has proven over and over again that changes that improve life for the disability community improve life for everyone (think about that next time you roll your suitcase over a curb-cut or read the subtitles on a screen in a noisy restaurant).
Ok, How Can I Help?
I’m so glad you asked!
Awareness is the first step toward progress and you can help both by improving your own level of awareness and by joining me in my journey to raise awareness for others.
You
To raise your own awareness, try searching and following hashtags that you would never use. You can try things like #wheelchairuser or #representationmatters. This is actually a great tip for expanding your worldview in any area. You can do this for other tags like #blackfamilytravel or #jewishlife – anything that will help you to see people you don’t normally see!
The hashtags are great for social media, but you can apply the same idea for any media type. Check out books by disabled authors. Read articles on inclusion topics. Seek out the perspectives that are different than yours.
Don’t forget to follow yours truly to keep these important issues in front of your eyes! Some other great Instagram accounts for highlighting these issues are @therollingexplorer and @press260.
Others
By choosing to inform yourself, you’ll already make a difference in the world around you – without even trying! Share your knowledge. Pass on the books you read. Repost the insights you gain. Speak up when you see misinformation or a lack of inclusion. Even simply leaving a note in the comments box at a business or attraction that doesn’t welcome the disabled can go a long way! Show your support for others who are raising their voices to make a difference. I see change happening all around me, and I’m excited to see how the world will be different for the next generation! Thank you for being a part of that!
