We’ve always been go-ers and do-ers and out-and-about-ers.
When I first heard that our middle son would never walk, I thought all of that had changed for us. I moped about, envisioning us trapped in our basement playroom for the rest of our lives.
One of the hardest parts, was that I didn’t have anyone in my circle to tell me how wrong I was. So, I’m speaking up now for everyone who needs to know – you don’t need legs to live a life of adventure!
One of our closest family friends, and the first person to help me realize my ableist perspective is the daughter of an internationally competing athlete… who also happens to be a full-time wheelchair user.
Hop on Instagram and search accounts that start with “wheel” and you’ll find dozens of wheelchair adventurers.
Stop dragging your feet and thinking about all of the obstacles you’re going to face or how hard it’s going to be. Instead of focusing on the “problem,” let’s find some solutions!
Know Why It’s Worth It
You already know this, right? That’s probably why you’re reading this. Time outdoors reduces stress and anxiety, fights off all sorts of illnesses, and even helps you live longer. It’s literally good for body and soul, and we long for it – whether we recognize it or not! Winter isn’t hard just because it’s cold: it’s hard because we give up on going outdoors. There’s a reason we all want to be in Florida – having that sunshine on our skin.
If a disability has been keeping you in, you miss this. You may grieve the loss, or your mood could be impacted without you even being able to pinpoint what you’re missing.
Wheel Channing was injured at three years old, and got her first wheelchair at age eight. People told her that being in a wheelchair she couldn’t possibly have a relationship with the outdoors – so she started believing that. As an adult, she moved to California, found adaptive programs, discovered the outdoors, and found out how much she had missed out. She hasn’t slowed down since! She continues taking on more challenging trails and other things people told her she wouldn’t be able to do.
Know What the Obstacles Are
Let’s be real – everything outdoors is an obstacle. Rocks, sand, grass, hills, sand, tree roots, nature steps, sand, narrow ledges… sand. It helps to know what you’re obstacle is so that you can head out with the right equipment. For example, huge inflated tires are best on sand, while solid rugged tires do better on a rocky climb.
If you’re mostly a beach person, you may be able to get your outdoors time in at an accessible beach. There are plenty of great beaches where you can get a beach wheelchair or surf chair on loan – because owning your own is expensive and bulky.
If you’re more of a mountain person, we’ll get into other equipment options below.
Know Where to Go
You can start by googling “Wheelchair accessible trails near me.” I’m going to be totally honest and say there are a lot of places where this will get you nothing. There are not a lot of disability travel bloggers. You know what there’s a surplus of, though? Mommy bloggers. Change that search to “stroller friendly trails near me” and you’ve more than doubled your luck. Same type of trail – just different coverage.
National and state parks typically have at least one wheelchair accessible trail. Always check first, but they’ve been working hard to be more inclusive. Some of the parks that can’t be accessible, like Staunton State Park in Colorado, have track chairs or other equipment to get you through.
Around the globe you can also search for rail trails. These are typically paved or packed dirt/gravel. Rail trails are our easiest go-to when we’re looking for a trail we can manage with our regular wheelchair.
Get the Right Tools
When our son was younger, we started with an all-terrain stroller. The Bob Revolution rolls like clouds across pretty rough gravel. It was also the best thing we had for sand. Try Facebook marketplace before buying it new. Babies always seem to be growing up…
When our son got a little big for the stroller, we transitioned to an all terrain wagon and a child carrier (NOT a baby carrier. My Freeloader is weighted for up to 75 pounds). Our Veer wagon is a beast. It’s not always a smooth ride, but we hauled that thing over boulders and tree stumps and anything else that dared stand in our way. For anything that involved climbing more than hiking, we used the carrier. At this point, our son was still too young to manage a trail independently with any equipment, so we weren’t impeding on his freedom by toting him around.
Now that our son is getting around independently, we’re ready for the next level!
Wheel Channing uses her FreeWheel, a fifth wheel wheelchair attachment, to enable her to hit the trails with her wheelchair. For more rugged and challenging trails, she also has a hand-cycle mountain bike (hers is a Lasher Sport, but they’re made by several brands). These are insanely expensive, but you can rent them from a variety of organizations around the world. Search “adaptive bike” and your state to see what’s near you. If it’s something you’ll use often, there are also several giveaway organizations in the U.S. There are programs like The Great Bike Giveaway that do a once a year contest giveaway, but there are also ongoing donations through places like Variety.
If you, or the wheelchair user in your family, doesn’t have the arm strength to navigate trails on their own, you can also look at push chairs. These are like adult-sized all terrain strollers. They require an accompanying adult, but can help you get out on the trail! This is another one that is pricey to buy on your own, but there are organizations to help. Many of the same organizations, like Variety, that do bike giveaways, will also help you get a push chair.
I often forget that there are loads of resources to help us get out in nature. Make sure you review the free stuff you may be eligible for before you write off getting the equipment you need! If you need help finding something that works for you, don’t hesitate to ask! I’m happy to help you find the best resource near you.
Now that you know exactly what your up against, and what’s at stake – let’s do this!