Travel and the Paralympic Movement

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Over the past six years, I have accompanied my wife during several international trips to around 20 different countries on five different continents. She lives with complete thoracic 5/6 paraplegia and utilizes a wheelchair for mobility. Without many plans, we have wandered around the globe experiencing the good, the bad, and definitely the ugly. 

One of the best pieces of advice I can give anyone with a disability traveling to an international destination for the first time is to visit a country that has hosted a recent Paralympic Games. You may be able to have a great experience in many countries, but attitudes and access seem to be best in countries following the games, although at times the experience in any country—even your own—may not be perfect.

For a little background on what creates this trend, we only need to look at the requirements to win an Olympic/Paralympic bid. Every country has to show a plan for transportation as well as facilities to host many different sports. The great benefit for individuals with disabilities is that this design must also include access for the thousands of athletes with impairments who will come to compete in the Paralympic Games. These athletes with disabilities have to be taken into consideration as well as spectators with disabilities, creating accessible viewing areas, and the ever-so-important accessible restrooms. Often the awareness of the need to make the areas around the games accessible extends to popular tourism spots and raises awareness of access and the abilities of people with disabilities throughout the country.