November 29, 2023 • 32 mins
Born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, Kristen Secor, is not one to be held back. She has found joy in exploring the globe, documenting her journey on her accessible travel blog, World on Wheels. Her experiences, filled with challenges and triumphs, offer amazing insights into the world of accessible travel.
Kristin shares how meticulous planning and a keen spirit of adventure can make the world accessible for those with disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of using tools like Google Maps and seeking assistance from specialized travel companies. Hear firsthand about unforgettable experiences, from a woman fulfilling her dream of visiting Italy to her upcoming trip to Machu Picchu. Kristin’s tips and stories encourage listeners to balance practical aspects with the excitement of spontaneity, ensuring a safe and satisfying journey.
As we wind down, we take a moment to appreciate the indispensable role of advocacy in the travel industry. Kristin’s travel tales from the breathtaking landscapes of Antarctica and Italy, to the thrilling climb to the top of the Duomo in Florence are truly inspiring. We also learn about the impact of the World on Wheels blog in empowering individuals to overcome their fears and enjoy accessible travel. This episode is an empowering conversation that underscores the importance of preparedness when traveling with disabilities and celebrates the extraordinary experiences waiting to be discovered. Tune in to discover how you too can spread your wings and explore the world, irrespective of the challenges life may throw your way.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Voices of Inspiration.
I'm your host, Amelia Old.
Today we have the pleasure ofwelcoming a truly remarkable
individual tower show.
Born with a rare form ofmuscular dystrophy, our guest
has faced challenges that manyof us can scarcely imagine.
Her story is not defined bylimitations, but by an
unwavering determination toembrace life fully, Across 20
(00:23):
countries and four continents,including the frosty landscapes
of Antarctica.
She has explored, experiencedand left her mark.
She has become an advocate foraccessible travel, sharing her
insights on the World on Wheelsblog to make the journey easier
for others.
Today, we have the privilege ofhearing from this accessible
travel blogger who defiesexpectations and showcases the
(00:47):
beauty of a life well-traveled.
Please join me in extending awarm welcome to our guest,
Kristin Sikor.
Kristin, thank you for beinghere and allowing us a glimpse
into your incredible journey.
Everyone has a story to tell.
We connect and relate to oneanother when we share our
(01:07):
stories.
My name is Amelia Old and I amyour host of Voices of
Inspiration.
Join me as I share stories thatfriends, family and strangers
will my everyday life andtravels.
We will laugh, possibly cry,but walk away feeling connected
more than ever to those aroundyou and ready to be the change
our world needs.
Everyone has a story to tell.
What's yours?
(01:27):
Can you share a little bitabout your personal journey,
before your travel journeysactually began?
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
So I was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy.
It affects my breathing this ismy ventilator.
It affects my strength, mymobility, my endurance and it's
a progressive disease.
So when I was younger I wasmore able-bodied than I am now.
So I've had to kind of adjust todecreased inabilities and it
(02:16):
did affect my confidence when Igrew up in the 80s and during
that time a lot of people withdisabilities were kind of stuck
away to institutions or to homes, not necessarily living with
their families.
So it was something I wasalways aware of, you know, just
trying to kind of blend in,trying to minimize my disability
(02:40):
, because I didn't want to beknown as the disabled girl, I
just wanted to be me.
So that was something I wasalways kind of aware of and it
was something I didn't reallyembrace until I got older where
I became more comfortable withthat identity and really
embracing it and embracing thatcommunity, because I thought if
(03:03):
I had associated with otherpeople with disabilities, no
offense to them.
I just didn't want to be lumpedin and only seen as form of my
disability rather than for me asan individual.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And how did you develop a love for travel?
Where did that come from?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So we always traveled on family vacations when I was
younger, growing up, my mom wasa single mom, so you know we
didn't have a lot of money butwe would go visit family in
other towns or do somethingspecial that we didn't get to
normally do, and it was alwaysfun exploring new places.
And then, as I got older andsaved up money, I took my first
(03:44):
international trip when I wasfresh out of grad school.
I had met a friend in gradschool who had studied abroad,
in England.
She said, okay, we'regraduating, my parents gave me
plane tickets, let's go.
And I was like okay, let's go.
And so after that trip itreally made me fall in love with
Europe and travel in general.
(04:05):
Even more so because justseeing you know we think we have
old things in the United States.
And then you go to Europe andyou realize we're dropping the
bucket.
We're fairly new when it comesto everything.
So the buildings, thearchitecture, the different
cultures I just fell in lovewith that, have the travel bug
(04:26):
and have been traveling eversince.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Now you have a travel blog called World on Wheels,
and can we talk a little bitabout that?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah.
So when my disability wasprogressing, I really wasn't
sure can I travel anymore, whatis that going to look like?
And I scoured the internet andI didn't really find much
information.
And so there was this likeexistential crisis of am I going
to get to pursue something thatI really love now that my
(05:00):
disabilities worsened?
And luckily, my parents took meon a fairly local trip.
I live in New York.
We went to Maine, somewhere youknow within a day's drive of
home in case something wentwrong, but I fell in love with
it.
We went to a KatieInternational Park.
I loved being out in nature andthe trip made me realize that,
(05:23):
yes, I can still travel.
It's going to look differently.
I'm going to have to plan more,I'm going to have to have other
things I think about, but it'spossible.
And so when I came to thatrealization, I realized I want
to be that resource for someoneelse.
So if someone else is newlydisabled and they're overwhelmed
(05:45):
and they still want to travel,but they're not sure how and
they don't know where they cango because they don't know
what's accessible, I want tocreate a resource that they
could find, that would give themthat encouragement, that
confidence and that informationso that they could pursue their
own travel dreams.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Can you talk about?
Do you have any particularchallenging but rewarding travel
experience that you've had?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I think when you're traveling with a disability, all
travel is challenging, more sothan traditional.
I mean travel never goessmoothly for anyone.
You're always going to havestuff that pops up, but there's
more likely that it's going topop up when you have extra needs
.
And so I think just how peopledefine accessibility I have
(06:37):
found really differs acrosscultures or even within the
United States.
You know, if I ask is somethingwheelchair accessible?
They may say yes, if you can dofive stairs, and I'm like no,
that's not the definition ofaccessible.
So when you I've learned thatyou really have to be specific
(06:59):
in the questions you ask, it'snot just is it accessible, but
are there stairs, is there aroll in the shower?
Is there?
You know, I get very specificwith what my needs are because
everyone's definition of theword accessible changes, and I
think that's been one of thechallenges, no matter where I
travel, is how people definethat, how we communicate our
(07:22):
needs, people's interpretationof that need and how they answer
, and you know whether they'rejust aware of accessibility
issues.
I think if you've never had todeal with that, you just don't
know.
You know it's not like peopleare trying to intentionally
misinform you or intentionallytrying to lead you down the
(07:44):
wrong road.
They're just not aware of someof the nuances and some of the
special considerations thatpeople with mobility problems
have or need, so thatcommunication has something
that's definitely progressed butcan be challenging.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
What do you think are some of the biggest
misconceptions people have abouttraveling while being
differently enabled?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I think we make a lot of assumptions and I found I
did this in the beginning aswell of oh, I'll never be able
to go there because it's notaccessible, or you know, just
that, assuming that we allcommunicate the same way, that
we define words the same way,things like that.
(08:27):
I think when you're able tochallenge yourself to think
outside of the box, you realizethat more things are possible,
more destinations can bepossible.
But I think that reallyinvolves knowing yourself and
what you're comfortable with, sosomething I'm going to give you
(08:47):
an example of an upcoming tripI have.
I'm going to Peru in March andto Machu Picchu, and that's a
place I never would have thoughtwould be accessible for someone
in a wheelchair, and it can beif you're comfortable with being
lifted or carried or using adifferent type of wheelchair.
(09:10):
It's a specialized one for theterrain, so things can be
accessible, but it depends onwhat your comfort zone is.
So really knowing yourself andthen trying not to make those
assumptions of what you're goingto be able to do, what's
possible, what's not possible,and just really look and
challenge that of why, wonder ifthis is, let me look it up or
(09:33):
let me see what information isout there before I make that
assumption or that determinationfor myself.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
When you are planning a trip, how do you approach
organizing the trip to ensurethat it's accessible for
yourself?
Also, you have these smallgroup tours that you lead.
How do you approach planningand organizing that to make sure
that it's accessible foreveryone in your group?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
A lot of planning, a lot of more lead time.
I plan at least a year inadvance of all my trips so that
I have time to do the research.
I will email hotels and askthem specific questions Do you
have rooms with a rolling showerthat doesn't have a step?
Do you have a shower seat?
(10:22):
Do you have room no steps toget into your building?
Can you send me pictures?
Because they may say, oh, yeah,it's accessible.
And they send me a picture andI'm like, yeah, that's not
really going to work for myparticular needs.
So I really ask for moreinformation.
(10:43):
I do a lot of research online.
I use Google Maps a lot becausewhen trying to find restaurants
, that helps when you have thestreet view on Google Maps to
see what does that entrance looklike?
Is there going to be a spotwhere I can get in with my
wheelchair?
Is that going to be possible ornot?
I also look into there's a lotof companies that specialize in
(11:09):
accessible travel and so,especially for my small group
tours, I will partner with them.
Because I do the reviews.
I look to make sure that theyknow what they're doing, how
long they've been in business,what the feedback has been, but
I also look at their photos ofhow do they accommodate.
(11:29):
What do their vehicles looklike?
What do the rooms that they uselook like?
I have conversations with themof what type of person is this
trip suited for?
Can it accommodate poweredwheelchair users?
Is it better for manualwheelchair users?
What about accessible bathrooms?
You have those stops along theway so that I can make sure I
(11:53):
know what kind of needs they'regoing to meet and address.
So a lot of it is communicationand networking and just asking
those questions for people thatare traveling so that all they
really have to do is show up andenjoy the trip.
And one of the things I do whenI organize a small group tour
(12:14):
is I help them with any anxietyor fear they may have, because a
lot of them really want to dothe trip.
But they have all thesequestions and I just ask the
tour operator, or I ask thehotels and things like that, so
I can say, yes, I've thoughtabout what your needs may be,
(12:34):
I've thought about this, whatare your concerns?
Let's talk through them, let'stry to problem solve through
them, so that I can help youenjoy this trip.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So how do you choose the destinations that you take
your groups on?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So for the trips next year, I have chosen pretty big
bucket list destinations thatanyone would have, whether
they're able-bodied, whetheryou're a person with a
disability.
We are doing Perun, machuPicchu, and then we are doing a
South African safari.
So those are big items so thatyou know, no matter who you are.
It would be like, yes, thatsounds awesome and that's really
(13:13):
my goal is.
I want to go to a destinationsthat maybe people wouldn't have
thought was accessible orpossible and let them know.
Hey, let's challenge thoseassumptions, but also let's help
you check off these really cooldestinations off your bucket
list.
I mean, there are places I wantto go as well because I join
all the tours.
(13:34):
But it's also like, okay, let'sthink about what are the harder
destinations to play in.
Let's make that easier.
Or maybe the more expensivedestinations that if you did a
private tour, there would be,you know, tens of thousands of
dollars, and when you're in asmall tour, you're splitting
(13:54):
that cost.
So it makes it more affordableand more accessible monetarily
as well.
So it's really looking at, okay, where are the dream
destinations anyone would have,which ones are a little harder
to play in for most people, andthen maybe, which ones are
sometimes out of someone's pricerange that we can make more
(14:15):
affordable, and those are someof the major factors when I
choose a destination.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Do you have a memorable encounter that you've
had as part of these trips, thatjust maybe the someone that's
gone on one of these trips withyou that you know it was just
life changing for them.
So.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
NUSHER is actually the first year that I'm
organizing the small group tours, but I've had an experience
more on an individual basis.
I wrote a post on affordabledestinations for people with
mobility problems, and I had awoman email me.
Her birthday was coming up.
She really had always wanted togo to Italy, didn't think it
(14:58):
was going to be possible from anaccessibility standpoint, but
also didn't think it would everbe in her budget.
And so after reading that post,she emailed me and she said oh,
my goodness, thank you so much.
I'm going with my sister.
It's going to be a girl's tripand I never thought I would be
(15:19):
able to go.
And after reading your post, Ifound a hotel in my budget and I
just booked a trip to Rome andI can't wait to go to my dream
destination.
And that just makes me feel sogood that you're helping someone
fulfill a dream.
I mean the trip, the first tripnext year.
I have a woman going with methat majored in archaeology and
(15:47):
wanted to see Machu Picchu andnever thought she won after she
became disabled with mobilityproblems, and so when she saw I
was offering the trip, shejumped on board.
She says yes, let's do this.
I never thought I could go andI'm so excited to go with you
and to experience thisdestination that I've always
(16:08):
read about in books.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That gave me goosebumps.
I love that so much.
How do you balance thepractical aspects of successful
travel with the desire foradventure and spontaneity?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I really judge my audience Right now.
My audience is anywhere from myage, which I'm 42, to older 50s
, 60s.
Maybe they've had mobilityproblems due to a stroke or due
to health issues and things likethat.
So I really look at what arethey ready for?
What are they prepared for?
(16:48):
Because I'm more on theadventurous side, but I know not
everyone is.
So I'm looking at how can Imaybe challenge them a little
bit but also stay within whatthey're feel comfortable doing.
So maybe that's from anadventurous standpoint of going,
(17:09):
zip lining or something likethat.
Or maybe it's just trying adestination that they thought
was never possible and they'rewilling to take that risk.
You know to join me and say,yeah, let's try this out.
And I think Africa is a greatexample of that, because,
depending on who you talk to,that word adventurous can mean a
(17:30):
lot of different things fordifferent people.
But a safari is somewhatadventurous, right, You're
seeing animals in their naturalhabitat, they're wild, so you
don't know what's going tohappen, but you're also in the
safety of the vehicle so there'sa lot of safety measures in
place but is also allowing themto experience something that's
(17:53):
not a part of their everydaylife.
So I think that's a really goodexample of okay, let's look at
something adventurous, but stillwithin your comfort zone.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
We all you know go through different levels of
frustration or difficulty duringtravel.
When you have those moments,how do you handle that and
continue to stay motivated andexplore new places?
And your advice to others thatmight face some of those
challenges and how to respondand deal with those.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
So I think the more informed you are, the better
prepared you are to handle thosechallenges.
So if you're in the UnitedStates, you know the ADA laws,
what your rights are when itcomes to traveling.
So if you show up to a hoteland they said that your room is
accessible and you find out it'snot, they gave that room away
(18:50):
and now you're in a standardroom, what can you advocate for
and how can they make it right?
So I think it's problem solvingand knowing how, what your
options are to communicate withthem, because unfortunately, not
everyone in the travel industryknows what they can do to
(19:10):
assist you.
They may recognize the problemor they may not.
That's the other option, butthey don't always know.
Okay, now what do I do?
What can I do?
I don't, you know, I'm not surehow to handle it.
So the more you can brainstormof what your needs are.
And okay, like, do you have asister hotel who has an
(19:32):
accessible room and now you haveto put me up at that sister
hotel because you could notdeliver the type of room I
booked?
You know things like that youare entitled to in the United
States.
Other countries are going to bea total different ball of wax
because they may or may not haveaccessibility laws.
(19:53):
That's becoming a more commonthing.
Other countries are starting toadapt accessibility laws, but
they may be very general.
They may be at the verybeginning stages.
So it's always looking at whatare my rights, what are my
options, how can I maybe make aroom work, even if it's not
(20:15):
ideal, and think about thosetypes of things.
So the more you can advocate foryourself and I would always say
be pleasant.
I know it can be inferior whenyou book and what you think is
accessible to find out is not,but anger doesn't get you a lot.
(20:37):
If you take it out on theperson there who may have had
nothing to do with thatsituation, they're going to be
less likely to want to help you.
So if you can be assertive butpleasant, it's going to get you
farther.
They're going to want to helpyou more.
(20:57):
And I think it's a time topotentially for education of why
this is important, why this is,you know, something that needs
to be addressed or looked at oryou know whatever and why this
is something that can be, how itcan be dealt with in the future
(21:18):
to help prevent similar issuesfrom happening again.
So I guess those are my mainpoints is know what your rights
are, problem solve for thatperson or with that person,
because they may not know allthe options and try to be
assertive or pleasant so thatyou can get your needs met.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
I think that's really great advice.
So, out of all the destinationsthat you've been to, what have
been some of your favorite, andwhy do they hold a special place
in your heart?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
In order.
That was amazing.
So I know there's not adestination people would think
would be accessible.
So I think that one was specialbecause it kind of broke down
some mental barriers of what'spossible for other people.
But I also really enjoyed thescenery and the wildlife.
(22:10):
We saw penguins every day andwhales every day and seals and
orca and these gorgeousmountains and these enormous
icebergs and all these things.
It was just very different fromanything I've ever seen before.
So that was really, reallyspecial.
(22:32):
And I would say Italy Italy wasa place that had always been on
my bucket list.
It was probably like the firstbig bucket list item for me, and
I went with my best friend whenI was a little more able-bodied
I wasn't quite in a wheelchairyet, but I was walking with a
cane and definitely had mobilityissues and so that one was just
(22:57):
special, because when you havea destination that you've always
dreamt about, you never knowwhether it's going to live up to
what you've pictured in yourmind, and Italy did.
It did not disappoint.
The food was incredible, thepeople were so friendly and it
was a way it was a trip that Ipurposely challenged myself with
(23:21):
.
So stairs have always beensomething has been extremely
difficult for me.
I'm no longer able to do them.
But when I went to Italy forthe first time, I read that the
views from the Duomo andFlorence were incredible.
But to get to the top you haveto climb 463 stairs and they're
(23:45):
very narrow, there's no railing.
And so I said I'm going to dothis.
I'm going to do this because Idon't know if I'll be able to do
it in the future, and I'veheard it's amazing experience
and I don't want to miss out.
So I trained in the gym for ayear before the trip to try to
get my strength up.
My best friend Godwester helpedme.
(24:07):
She's afraid of heights, so itwas a challenge for her too.
And we climbed to the top ofthat church and the very last
part was a ladder.
So I went.
I went first thing in themorning, so I didn't want there
to be a lot of crowds.
I didn't want to hold people up, and so whenever there was room
(24:28):
on the staircase, I would letpeople pass me.
And at the very end is thisbasically ladder, coming out of
the floor to get to anywhere.
You can see the view.
And I was going up.
I was exhausted, I was runningout of things to hold on to to
help pull myself up.
(24:49):
And at that point there wasthese two gentlemen at the top
that just gave me their handsand kind of lifted me up, and it
was everyone that I had letpass on the way up the stairs.
And when I got up there andthey saw me, they all started
clapping and they all wererooting for me because they saw
how difficult it was for me.
(25:10):
But it was this really specialshared moment with these perfect
strangers that I'll never seeagain in my life.
But in that moment we all havethe same goal, we all
accomplished it and it was justthis really connected, beautiful
moment.
So I think Italy always standsout for me because of that
challenge, but also because itwas just a really special place.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
That is probably one of the most inspiring stories
anybody has ever told me.
That's amazing, that's trulyamazing.
Wow, what changes would youlike to see in the travel
industry to make it moreinclusive?
So?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I would love to see more accessible transportation
options.
I know that those are alwaystricky because lifts are hard to
maintain or expensive tomaintain, but I think, just
looking at how to include morepeople, and so, whether it's a
(26:11):
walking tour, if you're doing awalking tour, can you take the
time to try to find a step freeroute right, so that you don't
have to do stairs?
Is there an alternative way sothat someone with mobility
challenges can still join thatwalking tour?
If you're doing a motor tour,is there a way to make that more
(26:34):
inclusive?
If it's a big bus, obviouslyyou would need a lift, but if
you're doing a smaller van, canyou do a ramp in the back that
leads up and then has space fora wheelchair in the back so that
someone can still participate,and obviously ramps are not as
expensive to maintain and toimplement as a wheelchair lift
(26:56):
would be.
So, looking at kind of outsidethe box of how can I offer more
options to people, so from amobility perspective, that.
But if for someone with othertypes of disability, if you have
visual impairments, how can youmake that experience more alive
for them?
(27:17):
Is there a model that they cantouch so that they can kind of
experience what you're seeingthrough touch.
Is there a way for people withhearing difficulties to get that
information?
So if you're talking verballyand your back is just someone,
they're not going to be able toread your lips and they're not
(27:37):
going to be able to necessarilyhear what you're saying.
So can you provide writteninformation on what they're
saying?
Or if you're using an audiotour, is that compatible with
hearing aids and things likethat?
So just a little, these tinylittle things can make a bigger
(27:58):
difference to make traveling oncruise.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
So I wear hearing aids in both ears.
The audio tours can bedifficult, and even if it is
like the headphones that go overyour ears sometimes, then it
makes it too loud.
Or, like you said, if theguides they're back to you, I
can hear things, but I may notbe able to make out the words.
(28:22):
So that's a really good pointtoo.
How do you think not just thetravel industry but just
individuals as a whole cancontribute to creating a more
inclusive and accessibleenvironment for everyone?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
So I think, just asking about accessibility, I
think from a public perspective,they're starting to realize
that people with disabilitieswant to travel and want to have
these experiences, but to havesomeone kind of show them that
there's a market for this of.
(29:00):
Hey, I love this tour, I reallyenjoyed it.
Do you offer accessible options?
Because I know my grandparentor my parent, who maybe had a
knee replacement or hasdifficulty getting around, would
love to join, but they wouldneed extra accommodations.
So really letting people knowthat you want to see this, even
(29:23):
if you yourself don't needsomething like that, letting
them know hey, I know people, orI would love to see other
people be able to participate,even if they have different
needs, I think just from more ofa public everyday standard to
its little things like notparking in disabled or
handicapped parking spaces orblocking curb truss I know in
(29:48):
cities that's a huge issue.
You know, if you're in a reallybusy city like New York City
and parking is extremely limited, there are people that'll pull
right up against the curb cut sothat just to have a spot for
however long, but that's whatthat does is it now makes those
(30:08):
sidewalks inaccessible forpeople not only in wheelchairs
but strollers, people who maybeuse like a sightseeing cane or
things like that, they reallyrely on those things to give
them cues and to make thingsmore accessible.
So little things like that canmake a huge difference when
you're visiting your city or aplace you know just around the
(30:34):
access and let people know, hey,this is important.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
And our listeners find you online.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
So worldlinwheelsblogcom is my
accessible travel blog.
I'm also on Facebook, World onWheels, and that's where I'm
most active, but I'm also onInstagram at World on Wheels 3.
I need those juice faces aswell.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
And I'll make sure to link to the website and your
social media channels on thenotes of this episode.
So I have one last questionthat I ask everyone that comes
on.
You have a favorite quote orany words of wisdom that you
would like to share?
Speaker 2 (31:14):
I do and I'm going to be paraphrasing this and I
can't remember who said thequote, but the quote is courage
is not the absence of fear, it'sthe realization that something
is more important than fear.
But travel is.
For me, there's always going tobe things that you can be
anxious about and you can alwaysget in your head of what if
(31:37):
this was wrong or what if thatyou know, and let that anxiety
really relive.
But if you take that chance andyou realize that saying the
world and travel is moreimportant than that fear, that
can be holding back, it can be areally really powerful thing.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
Thank you so much for joining me today.
I have loved hearing your story.
I think you're doing justreally incredible things,
important things, and I reallylook forward to seeing all of
the photos and videos from yourtrips here.
I'm sure it's going to beamazing and I look forward to
(32:19):
seeing all of the future thingsthat you do because, like I said
, your work is important and Ireally appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Thank you so much for having me.
I appreciate it.
Welcome to Voices of Inspiration.
I'm your host, Amelia Old.
Today we have the pleasure ofwelcoming a truly remarkable
individual tower show.
Born with a rare form ofmuscular dystrophy, our guest
has faced challenges that manyof us can scarcely imagine.
Her story is not defined bylimitations, but by an
unwavering determination toembrace life fully, Across 20
(00:23):
countries and four continents,including the frosty landscapes
of Antarctica.
She has explored, experiencedand left her mark.
She has become an advocate foraccessible travel, sharing her
insights on the World on Wheelsblog to make the journey easier
for others.
Today, we have the privilege ofhearing from this accessible
travel blogger who defiesexpectations and showcases the
(00:47):
beauty of a life well-traveled.
Please join me in extending awarm welcome to our guest,
Kristin Sikor.
Kristin, thank you for beinghere and allowing us a glimpse
into your incredible journey.
Everyone has a story to tell.
We connect and relate to oneanother when we share our
(01:07):
stories.
My name is Amelia Old and I amyour host of Voices of
Inspiration.
Join me as I share stories thatfriends, family and strangers
will my everyday life andtravels.
We will laugh, possibly cry,but walk away feeling connected
more than ever to those aroundyou and ready to be the change
our world needs.
Everyone has a story to tell.
What's yours?
(01:27):
Can you share a little bitabout your personal journey,
before your travel journeysactually began?
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
So I was born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy.
It affects my breathing this ismy ventilator.
It affects my strength, mymobility, my endurance and it's
a progressive disease.
So when I was younger I wasmore able-bodied than I am now.
So I've had to kind of adjust todecreased inabilities and it
(02:16):
did affect my confidence when Igrew up in the 80s and during
that time a lot of people withdisabilities were kind of stuck
away to institutions or to homes, not necessarily living with
their families.
So it was something I wasalways aware of, you know, just
trying to kind of blend in,trying to minimize my disability
(02:40):
, because I didn't want to beknown as the disabled girl, I
just wanted to be me.
So that was something I wasalways kind of aware of and it
was something I didn't reallyembrace until I got older where
I became more comfortable withthat identity and really
embracing it and embracing thatcommunity, because I thought if
(03:03):
I had associated with otherpeople with disabilities, no
offense to them.
I just didn't want to be lumpedin and only seen as form of my
disability rather than for me asan individual.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And how did you develop a love for travel?
Where did that come from?
Speaker 2 (03:22):
So we always traveled on family vacations when I was
younger, growing up, my mom wasa single mom, so you know we
didn't have a lot of money butwe would go visit family in
other towns or do somethingspecial that we didn't get to
normally do, and it was alwaysfun exploring new places.
And then, as I got older andsaved up money, I took my first
(03:44):
international trip when I wasfresh out of grad school.
I had met a friend in gradschool who had studied abroad,
in England.
She said, okay, we'regraduating, my parents gave me
plane tickets, let's go.
And I was like okay, let's go.
And so after that trip itreally made me fall in love with
Europe and travel in general.
(04:05):
Even more so because justseeing you know we think we have
old things in the United States.
And then you go to Europe andyou realize we're dropping the
bucket.
We're fairly new when it comesto everything.
So the buildings, thearchitecture, the different
cultures I just fell in lovewith that, have the travel bug
(04:26):
and have been traveling eversince.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Now you have a travel blog called World on Wheels,
and can we talk a little bitabout that?
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah.
So when my disability wasprogressing, I really wasn't
sure can I travel anymore, whatis that going to look like?
And I scoured the internet andI didn't really find much
information.
And so there was this likeexistential crisis of am I going
to get to pursue something thatI really love now that my
(05:00):
disabilities worsened?
And luckily, my parents took meon a fairly local trip.
I live in New York.
We went to Maine, somewhere youknow within a day's drive of
home in case something wentwrong, but I fell in love with
it.
We went to a KatieInternational Park.
I loved being out in nature andthe trip made me realize that,
(05:23):
yes, I can still travel.
It's going to look differently.
I'm going to have to plan more,I'm going to have to have other
things I think about, but it'spossible.
And so when I came to thatrealization, I realized I want
to be that resource for someoneelse.
So if someone else is newlydisabled and they're overwhelmed
(05:45):
and they still want to travel,but they're not sure how and
they don't know where they cango because they don't know
what's accessible, I want tocreate a resource that they
could find, that would give themthat encouragement, that
confidence and that informationso that they could pursue their
own travel dreams.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
Can you talk about?
Do you have any particularchallenging but rewarding travel
experience that you've had?
Speaker 2 (06:14):
I think when you're traveling with a disability, all
travel is challenging, more sothan traditional.
I mean travel never goessmoothly for anyone.
You're always going to havestuff that pops up, but there's
more likely that it's going topop up when you have extra needs
.
And so I think just how peopledefine accessibility I have
(06:37):
found really differs acrosscultures or even within the
United States.
You know, if I ask is somethingwheelchair accessible?
They may say yes, if you can dofive stairs, and I'm like no,
that's not the definition ofaccessible.
So when you I've learned thatyou really have to be specific
(06:59):
in the questions you ask, it'snot just is it accessible, but
are there stairs, is there aroll in the shower?
Is there?
You know, I get very specificwith what my needs are because
everyone's definition of theword accessible changes, and I
think that's been one of thechallenges, no matter where I
travel, is how people definethat, how we communicate our
(07:22):
needs, people's interpretationof that need and how they answer
, and you know whether they'rejust aware of accessibility
issues.
I think if you've never had todeal with that, you just don't
know.
You know it's not like peopleare trying to intentionally
misinform you or intentionallytrying to lead you down the
(07:44):
wrong road.
They're just not aware of someof the nuances and some of the
special considerations thatpeople with mobility problems
have or need, so thatcommunication has something
that's definitely progressed butcan be challenging.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
What do you think are some of the biggest
misconceptions people have abouttraveling while being
differently enabled?
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I think we make a lot of assumptions and I found I
did this in the beginning aswell of oh, I'll never be able
to go there because it's notaccessible, or you know, just
that, assuming that we allcommunicate the same way, that
we define words the same way,things like that.
(08:27):
I think when you're able tochallenge yourself to think
outside of the box, you realizethat more things are possible,
more destinations can bepossible.
But I think that reallyinvolves knowing yourself and
what you're comfortable with, sosomething I'm going to give you
(08:47):
an example of an upcoming tripI have.
I'm going to Peru in March andto Machu Picchu, and that's a
place I never would have thoughtwould be accessible for someone
in a wheelchair, and it can beif you're comfortable with being
lifted or carried or using adifferent type of wheelchair.
(09:10):
It's a specialized one for theterrain, so things can be
accessible, but it depends onwhat your comfort zone is.
So really knowing yourself andthen trying not to make those
assumptions of what you're goingto be able to do, what's
possible, what's not possible,and just really look and
challenge that of why, wonder ifthis is, let me look it up or
(09:33):
let me see what information isout there before I make that
assumption or that determinationfor myself.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
When you are planning a trip, how do you approach
organizing the trip to ensurethat it's accessible for
yourself?
Also, you have these smallgroup tours that you lead.
How do you approach planningand organizing that to make sure
that it's accessible foreveryone in your group?
Speaker 2 (10:01):
A lot of planning, a lot of more lead time.
I plan at least a year inadvance of all my trips so that
I have time to do the research.
I will email hotels and askthem specific questions Do you
have rooms with a rolling showerthat doesn't have a step?
Do you have a shower seat?
(10:22):
Do you have room no steps toget into your building?
Can you send me pictures?
Because they may say, oh, yeah,it's accessible.
And they send me a picture andI'm like, yeah, that's not
really going to work for myparticular needs.
So I really ask for moreinformation.
(10:43):
I do a lot of research online.
I use Google Maps a lot becausewhen trying to find restaurants
, that helps when you have thestreet view on Google Maps to
see what does that entrance looklike?
Is there going to be a spotwhere I can get in with my
wheelchair?
Is that going to be possible ornot?
I also look into there's a lotof companies that specialize in
(11:09):
accessible travel and so,especially for my small group
tours, I will partner with them.
Because I do the reviews.
I look to make sure that theyknow what they're doing, how
long they've been in business,what the feedback has been, but
I also look at their photos ofhow do they accommodate.
(11:29):
What do their vehicles looklike?
What do the rooms that they uselook like?
I have conversations with themof what type of person is this
trip suited for?
Can it accommodate poweredwheelchair users?
Is it better for manualwheelchair users?
What about accessible bathrooms?
You have those stops along theway so that I can make sure I
(11:53):
know what kind of needs they'regoing to meet and address.
So a lot of it is communicationand networking and just asking
those questions for people thatare traveling so that all they
really have to do is show up andenjoy the trip.
And one of the things I do whenI organize a small group tour
(12:14):
is I help them with any anxietyor fear they may have, because a
lot of them really want to dothe trip.
But they have all thesequestions and I just ask the
tour operator, or I ask thehotels and things like that, so
I can say, yes, I've thoughtabout what your needs may be,
(12:34):
I've thought about this, whatare your concerns?
Let's talk through them, let'stry to problem solve through
them, so that I can help youenjoy this trip.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So how do you choose the destinations that you take
your groups on?
Speaker 2 (12:50):
So for the trips next year, I have chosen pretty big
bucket list destinations thatanyone would have, whether
they're able-bodied, whetheryou're a person with a
disability.
We are doing Perun, machuPicchu, and then we are doing a
South African safari.
So those are big items so thatyou know, no matter who you are.
It would be like, yes, thatsounds awesome and that's really
(13:13):
my goal is.
I want to go to a destinationsthat maybe people wouldn't have
thought was accessible orpossible and let them know.
Hey, let's challenge thoseassumptions, but also let's help
you check off these really cooldestinations off your bucket
list.
I mean, there are places I wantto go as well because I join
all the tours.
(13:34):
But it's also like, okay, let'sthink about what are the harder
destinations to play in.
Let's make that easier.
Or maybe the more expensivedestinations that if you did a
private tour, there would be,you know, tens of thousands of
dollars, and when you're in asmall tour, you're splitting
(13:54):
that cost.
So it makes it more affordableand more accessible monetarily
as well.
So it's really looking at, okay, where are the dream
destinations anyone would have,which ones are a little harder
to play in for most people, andthen maybe, which ones are
sometimes out of someone's pricerange that we can make more
(14:15):
affordable, and those are someof the major factors when I
choose a destination.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Do you have a memorable encounter that you've
had as part of these trips, thatjust maybe the someone that's
gone on one of these trips withyou that you know it was just
life changing for them.
So.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
NUSHER is actually the first year that I'm
organizing the small group tours, but I've had an experience
more on an individual basis.
I wrote a post on affordabledestinations for people with
mobility problems, and I had awoman email me.
Her birthday was coming up.
She really had always wanted togo to Italy, didn't think it
(14:58):
was going to be possible from anaccessibility standpoint, but
also didn't think it would everbe in her budget.
And so after reading that post,she emailed me and she said oh,
my goodness, thank you so much.
I'm going with my sister.
It's going to be a girl's tripand I never thought I would be
(15:19):
able to go.
And after reading your post, Ifound a hotel in my budget and I
just booked a trip to Rome andI can't wait to go to my dream
destination.
And that just makes me feel sogood that you're helping someone
fulfill a dream.
I mean the trip, the first tripnext year.
I have a woman going with methat majored in archaeology and
(15:47):
wanted to see Machu Picchu andnever thought she won after she
became disabled with mobilityproblems, and so when she saw I
was offering the trip, shejumped on board.
She says yes, let's do this.
I never thought I could go andI'm so excited to go with you
and to experience thisdestination that I've always
(16:08):
read about in books.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That gave me goosebumps.
I love that so much.
How do you balance thepractical aspects of successful
travel with the desire foradventure and spontaneity?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I really judge my audience Right now.
My audience is anywhere from myage, which I'm 42, to older 50s
, 60s.
Maybe they've had mobilityproblems due to a stroke or due
to health issues and things likethat.
So I really look at what arethey ready for?
What are they prepared for?
(16:48):
Because I'm more on theadventurous side, but I know not
everyone is.
So I'm looking at how can Imaybe challenge them a little
bit but also stay within whatthey're feel comfortable doing.
So maybe that's from anadventurous standpoint of going,
(17:09):
zip lining or something likethat.
Or maybe it's just trying adestination that they thought
was never possible and they'rewilling to take that risk.
You know to join me and say,yeah, let's try this out.
And I think Africa is a greatexample of that, because,
depending on who you talk to,that word adventurous can mean a
(17:30):
lot of different things fordifferent people.
But a safari is somewhatadventurous, right, You're
seeing animals in their naturalhabitat, they're wild, so you
don't know what's going tohappen, but you're also in the
safety of the vehicle so there'sa lot of safety measures in
place but is also allowing themto experience something that's
(17:53):
not a part of their everydaylife.
So I think that's a really goodexample of okay, let's look at
something adventurous, but stillwithin your comfort zone.
Speaker 1 (18:03):
We all you know go through different levels of
frustration or difficulty duringtravel.
When you have those moments,how do you handle that and
continue to stay motivated andexplore new places?
And your advice to others thatmight face some of those
challenges and how to respondand deal with those.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
So I think the more informed you are, the better
prepared you are to handle thosechallenges.
So if you're in the UnitedStates, you know the ADA laws,
what your rights are when itcomes to traveling.
So if you show up to a hoteland they said that your room is
accessible and you find out it'snot, they gave that room away
(18:50):
and now you're in a standardroom, what can you advocate for
and how can they make it right?
So I think it's problem solvingand knowing how, what your
options are to communicate withthem, because unfortunately, not
everyone in the travel industryknows what they can do to
(19:10):
assist you.
They may recognize the problemor they may not.
That's the other option, butthey don't always know.
Okay, now what do I do?
What can I do?
I don't, you know, I'm not surehow to handle it.
So the more you can brainstormof what your needs are.
And okay, like, do you have asister hotel who has an
(19:32):
accessible room and now you haveto put me up at that sister
hotel because you could notdeliver the type of room I
booked?
You know things like that youare entitled to in the United
States.
Other countries are going to bea total different ball of wax
because they may or may not haveaccessibility laws.
(19:53):
That's becoming a more commonthing.
Other countries are starting toadapt accessibility laws, but
they may be very general.
They may be at the verybeginning stages.
So it's always looking at whatare my rights, what are my
options, how can I maybe make aroom work, even if it's not
(20:15):
ideal, and think about thosetypes of things.
So the more you can advocate foryourself and I would always say
be pleasant.
I know it can be inferior whenyou book and what you think is
accessible to find out is not,but anger doesn't get you a lot.
(20:37):
If you take it out on theperson there who may have had
nothing to do with thatsituation, they're going to be
less likely to want to help you.
So if you can be assertive butpleasant, it's going to get you
farther.
They're going to want to helpyou more.
(20:57):
And I think it's a time topotentially for education of why
this is important, why this is,you know, something that needs
to be addressed or looked at oryou know whatever and why this
is something that can be, how itcan be dealt with in the future
(21:18):
to help prevent similar issuesfrom happening again.
So I guess those are my mainpoints is know what your rights
are, problem solve for thatperson or with that person,
because they may not know allthe options and try to be
assertive or pleasant so thatyou can get your needs met.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
I think that's really great advice.
So, out of all the destinationsthat you've been to, what have
been some of your favorite, andwhy do they hold a special place
in your heart?
Speaker 2 (21:47):
In order.
That was amazing.
So I know there's not adestination people would think
would be accessible.
So I think that one was specialbecause it kind of broke down
some mental barriers of what'spossible for other people.
But I also really enjoyed thescenery and the wildlife.
(22:10):
We saw penguins every day andwhales every day and seals and
orca and these gorgeousmountains and these enormous
icebergs and all these things.
It was just very different fromanything I've ever seen before.
So that was really, reallyspecial.
(22:32):
And I would say Italy Italy wasa place that had always been on
my bucket list.
It was probably like the firstbig bucket list item for me, and
I went with my best friend whenI was a little more able-bodied
I wasn't quite in a wheelchairyet, but I was walking with a
cane and definitely had mobilityissues and so that one was just
(22:57):
special, because when you havea destination that you've always
dreamt about, you never knowwhether it's going to live up to
what you've pictured in yourmind, and Italy did.
It did not disappoint.
The food was incredible, thepeople were so friendly and it
was a way it was a trip that Ipurposely challenged myself with
(23:21):
.
So stairs have always beensomething has been extremely
difficult for me.
I'm no longer able to do them.
But when I went to Italy forthe first time, I read that the
views from the Duomo andFlorence were incredible.
But to get to the top you haveto climb 463 stairs and they're
(23:45):
very narrow, there's no railing.
And so I said I'm going to dothis.
I'm going to do this because Idon't know if I'll be able to do
it in the future, and I'veheard it's amazing experience
and I don't want to miss out.
So I trained in the gym for ayear before the trip to try to
get my strength up.
My best friend Godwester helpedme.
(24:07):
She's afraid of heights, so itwas a challenge for her too.
And we climbed to the top ofthat church and the very last
part was a ladder.
So I went.
I went first thing in themorning, so I didn't want there
to be a lot of crowds.
I didn't want to hold people up, and so whenever there was room
(24:28):
on the staircase, I would letpeople pass me.
And at the very end is thisbasically ladder, coming out of
the floor to get to anywhere.
You can see the view.
And I was going up.
I was exhausted, I was runningout of things to hold on to to
help pull myself up.
(24:49):
And at that point there wasthese two gentlemen at the top
that just gave me their handsand kind of lifted me up, and it
was everyone that I had letpass on the way up the stairs.
And when I got up there andthey saw me, they all started
clapping and they all wererooting for me because they saw
how difficult it was for me.
(25:10):
But it was this really specialshared moment with these perfect
strangers that I'll never seeagain in my life.
But in that moment we all havethe same goal, we all
accomplished it and it was justthis really connected, beautiful
moment.
So I think Italy always standsout for me because of that
challenge, but also because itwas just a really special place.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
That is probably one of the most inspiring stories
anybody has ever told me.
That's amazing, that's trulyamazing.
Wow, what changes would youlike to see in the travel
industry to make it moreinclusive?
So?
Speaker 2 (25:51):
I would love to see more accessible transportation
options.
I know that those are alwaystricky because lifts are hard to
maintain or expensive tomaintain, but I think, just
looking at how to include morepeople, and so, whether it's a
(26:11):
walking tour, if you're doing awalking tour, can you take the
time to try to find a step freeroute right, so that you don't
have to do stairs?
Is there an alternative way sothat someone with mobility
challenges can still join thatwalking tour?
If you're doing a motor tour,is there a way to make that more
(26:34):
inclusive?
If it's a big bus, obviouslyyou would need a lift, but if
you're doing a smaller van, canyou do a ramp in the back that
leads up and then has space fora wheelchair in the back so that
someone can still participate,and obviously ramps are not as
expensive to maintain and toimplement as a wheelchair lift
(26:56):
would be.
So, looking at kind of outsidethe box of how can I offer more
options to people, so from amobility perspective, that.
But if for someone with othertypes of disability, if you have
visual impairments, how can youmake that experience more alive
for them?
(27:17):
Is there a model that they cantouch so that they can kind of
experience what you're seeingthrough touch.
Is there a way for people withhearing difficulties to get that
information?
So if you're talking verballyand your back is just someone,
they're not going to be able toread your lips and they're not
(27:37):
going to be able to necessarilyhear what you're saying.
So can you provide writteninformation on what they're
saying?
Or if you're using an audiotour, is that compatible with
hearing aids and things likethat?
So just a little, these tinylittle things can make a bigger
(27:58):
difference to make traveling oncruise.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
So I wear hearing aids in both ears.
The audio tours can bedifficult, and even if it is
like the headphones that go overyour ears sometimes, then it
makes it too loud.
Or, like you said, if theguides they're back to you, I
can hear things, but I may notbe able to make out the words.
(28:22):
So that's a really good pointtoo.
How do you think not just thetravel industry but just
individuals as a whole cancontribute to creating a more
inclusive and accessibleenvironment for everyone?
Speaker 2 (28:40):
So I think, just asking about accessibility, I
think from a public perspective,they're starting to realize
that people with disabilitieswant to travel and want to have
these experiences, but to havesomeone kind of show them that
there's a market for this of.
(29:00):
Hey, I love this tour, I reallyenjoyed it.
Do you offer accessible options?
Because I know my grandparentor my parent, who maybe had a
knee replacement or hasdifficulty getting around, would
love to join, but they wouldneed extra accommodations.
So really letting people knowthat you want to see this, even
(29:23):
if you yourself don't needsomething like that, letting
them know hey, I know people, orI would love to see other
people be able to participate,even if they have different
needs, I think just from more ofa public everyday standard to
its little things like notparking in disabled or
handicapped parking spaces orblocking curb truss I know in
(29:48):
cities that's a huge issue.
You know, if you're in a reallybusy city like New York City
and parking is extremely limited, there are people that'll pull
right up against the curb cut sothat just to have a spot for
however long, but that's whatthat does is it now makes those
(30:08):
sidewalks inaccessible forpeople not only in wheelchairs
but strollers, people who maybeuse like a sightseeing cane or
things like that, they reallyrely on those things to give
them cues and to make thingsmore accessible.
So little things like that canmake a huge difference when
you're visiting your city or aplace you know just around the
(30:34):
access and let people know, hey,this is important.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
And our listeners find you online.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
So worldlinwheelsblogcom is my
accessible travel blog.
I'm also on Facebook, World onWheels, and that's where I'm
most active, but I'm also onInstagram at World on Wheels 3.
I need those juice faces aswell.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
And I'll make sure to link to the website and your
social media channels on thenotes of this episode.
So I have one last questionthat I ask everyone that comes
on.
You have a favorite quote orany words of wisdom that you
would like to share?
Speaker 2 (31:14):
I do and I'm going to be paraphrasing this and I
can't remember who said thequote, but the quote is courage
is not the absence of fear, it'sthe realization that something
is more important than fear.
But travel is.
For me, there's always going tobe things that you can be
anxious about and you can alwaysget in your head of what if
(31:37):
this was wrong or what if thatyou know, and let that anxiety
really relive.
But if you take that chance andyou realize that saying the
world and travel is moreimportant than that fear, that
can be holding back, it can be areally really powerful thing.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
Thank you so much for joining me today.
I have loved hearing your story.
I think you're doing justreally incredible things,
important things, and I reallylook forward to seeing all of
the photos and videos from yourtrips here.
I'm sure it's going to beamazing and I look forward to
(32:19):
seeing all of the future thingsthat you do because, like I said
, your work is important and Ireally appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (32:28):
Thank you so much for having me.
I appreciate it.
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I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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