Travelling the world is a dream for many, and for some, navigating this dream comes with unique considerations. Cory Lee, a passionate travel blogger behind Curb Free With Cory Lee, proves that using a Travelling Wheelchair is no barrier to experiencing the globe. His story is a powerful testament to overcoming perceived limitations and embracing the world with open arms and wheels. This article delves into Cory’s journey, offering inspiration and practical advice for anyone considering travelling with a wheelchair, ensuring an enriching and accessible adventure.
Meet Cory Lee: A Wheelchair Travel Pioneer
Cory Lee isn’t your average 25-year-old. Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at a young age and using a wheelchair since, he’s transformed his personal experience into a beacon of inspiration for accessible travel. Growing up in a small town, Cory’s mother instilled in him a love for exploration, taking him on numerous road trips and eventually international journeys. These early experiences ignited a passion that disability couldn’tDim.
“If you can’t stand up, stand out,” his mother’s mantra, became Cory’s guiding principle. He firmly believes that a wheelchair is not a constraint but simply a different way of navigating the world. With this mindset, Cory has explored 14 countries and counting, documenting his adventures and providing invaluable resources on his blog.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing the Journey
Initially, like many, Cory faced skepticism about the feasibility of wheelchair travel. Recounting a disheartening experience in elementary school where a teacher attempted to exclude him from a field trip due to his disability, Cory highlights the societal misconceptions that often exist. However, with his mother’s unwavering advocacy and his own resilient spirit, he not only attended the camp but created cherished memories.
This early experience fueled his determination to challenge naysayers and demonstrate that wheelchair users can fully participate in travel experiences. He acknowledges that while some may question his capabilities, he focuses on educating and showcasing the possibilities of accessible travel.
Navigating the Globe: Practicalities of Wheelchair Travel
Cory’s journey isn’t just about inspiration; it’s also grounded in the practical realities of travelling with a wheelchair. Spinal muscular atrophy affects his muscle strength and mobility, necessitating careful planning and assistance. Travelling solo is not an option for Cory, who relies on companions, typically his mother or friends, for help with tasks like boarding planes, maneuvering doors, and personal care.
Accessible Transportation: The Key to Wheelchair Travel
One of the biggest hurdles in planning wheelchair travel is accessible transportation. While modern countries often offer accessible buses, trains, and taxis, information about these services can be elusive. Cory emphasizes the importance of thorough research and pre-planning transportation within a destination.
Europe, with its relatively accessible train network, offers smoother intercity travel compared to the United States, where train travel is less prevalent. Cory shares an anecdote of waiting for three hours for an accessible taxi in Los Angeles, highlighting the time and logistical challenges that can arise. His blog aims to bridge this information gap, making accessible transportation details more readily available for wheelchair users.
Funding the Adventure: Making Wheelchair Travel Affordable
Wheelchair travel can be more expensive due to specialized services and equipment. Accessible tours, for instance, can cost significantly more than standard tours due to modifications like lifts on vans. However, Cory demonstrates resourceful strategies to manage costs.
Saving diligently, utilizing airline miles and rewards programs like Delta SkyMiles and Hilton HHonors, are key components of his budget-conscious approach. He leverages credit card points earned from everyday spending and booking family travel to accumulate miles for his own adventures. Hilton’s accessibility features, including roll-in showers and pool lifts, make their rewards program particularly valuable for wheelchair users.
Handling the Unexpected: Travel Insurance and Preparedness
Travel, by its nature, is unpredictable, and for wheelchair users, unexpected situations require extra preparedness. Cory, jokingly calling himself the “king of bad luck,” recounts several travel mishaps, from a burning bus incident to a wheelchair charger malfunction in Germany. His worst experience, a severe bout of pneumonia while traveling, underscored the critical importance of travel insurance and carrying necessary medications.
Despite these incidents, Cory’s attitude remains positive. He advocates for embracing the unexpected and emphasizes that unforeseen events can occur anywhere, even at home. Travel insurance acts as a safety net, providing crucial support when things go wrong.
Navigating Less Accessible Destinations
Not all destinations are equally wheelchair-friendly. Cory acknowledges that some countries present greater accessibility challenges than others. He relies on online research, particularly Google, and connects with local wheelchair users to assess the accessibility of a destination before booking.
Paris, surprisingly, stands out as one of the least accessible cities Cory has encountered. Limited accessible metro options and scarce wheelchair-accessible taxis required him to rent a specialized taxi for an entire day at a considerable cost. This experience reinforced the necessity of advance planning and thorough research, especially for destinations with known accessibility limitations.
While Cory initially believed any country could be made accessible with enough effort, he now recognizes that some destinations are practically inaccessible for wheelchair users. Exploring destinations like Iran, North Korea, or Jordan proved challenging due to the lack of accessibility information and tour options.
The Added Costs of Accessible Travel
Wheelchair users often face higher travel expenses. The example of a wheelchair-accessible tour in Puerto Rico costing four times more than a standard tour illustrates this disparity. Companies often justify these higher costs by citing the need for specialized equipment and modifications.
To mitigate these added expenses, Cory recommends booking trips well in advance (at least six months) to secure better deals on flights and accommodations. He also emphasizes the value of travel rewards points in offsetting higher costs associated with accessible travel.
Advice for Aspiring Wheelchair Travellers
Cory’s message to others in similar situations is simple yet powerful: “Just go for it.” He acknowledges that this is easier said than done but stresses that solutions exist for every challenge. He advises proactive problem-solving, such as researching wheelchair repair shops in advance and utilizing resources like Google to find solutions on the go.
In one instance, when his wheelchair charger malfunctioned in London, having pre-researched repair shops enabled him to quickly find a replacement and continue his journey. This proactive approach minimizes disruptions and empowers wheelchair users to handle unforeseen issues confidently.
Resources for Accessible Travel
Cory highlights several valuable organizations and resources for accessible travel. Lonely Planet’s “Travel for All” community and their accessibility-focused guidebook are excellent resources. Tarita’s Travel Connections, a travel agency specializing in accessible trips, and MobilityWorks, a wheelchair-accessible van rental company in the US, are also recommended.
For destination-specific accessibility information, Cory advises contacting local tourism boards, which can provide tailored guidance and resources.
Your Wheelchair is Your Passport to the World
Cory Lee’s story is a compelling reminder that a travelling wheelchair is not an obstacle but rather a different mode of exploration. His experiences and practical advice empower individuals with mobility challenges to pursue their travel dreams. By sharing his journey, Cory not only inspires but also provides a roadmap for accessible adventures, proving that the world is open to everyone, regardless of mobility.
