Hi, friends! I’m Jennifer Allen. Pleased to “meet” you.
We’re so excited to share accessible adventures for all types of families. As a lover of travel, the number of countries I’ve traveled to matches my age (I don’t have to say what that is, right?). Now my children can have the same boast. Exploring, expanding my world view, understanding different cultures, and learning through experience are all fuels to my personal fire, and now they shape the way I parent and teach my children. Age and disabilities change the way we explore, but they just make the journey that much more rewarding!
Backstory
Phew! WHAT a journey!
I’m mom to my three favorite travel partners, and married to my fourth. Wesley, 11, has Nephrotic Syndrome – a rare kidney disease. Jaden, 7, has Spina bifida and is a wheelchair user. Nella, also 7, was a happy surprise along the adoption journey to bring Jaden home, so we affectionately call them “the twins.”
“Diagnosis day” changed everything for us. I ended up extending my maternity leave indefinitely in order to manage medical appointments and various therapies.
In the beginning, I truly thought our adventures were over. I didn’t know it was possible to continue hiking, skiing, and taking on the world with a wheelchair. As we began to rediscover life and travel as a disability family, I realized I could make a difference in that debilitating lack of awareness.
Wonders Within Reach was my dream to fill the gap. We exist to inspire and enable families with differing needs to get out and explore. We travel to show others what is possible and to raise awareness and make the world more accessible in the process!
Because of medical appointments (and a youth pastor position my husband loves), we’re firmly rooted in Pennsylvania; but, we explore as often as we can!