In June I embarked on an amazing journey now nearing the end, some three and half months later.

On this trip, I started with one electric wheelchair (TDX ), a commode chair, a manual chair and 3 bags. As the song says “They see me rolling……they hating …. They wanna see me riding dirty”. Europe here I come! 

But I try to remember “No shopping Marlena no Shopping!”   I am a woman, and this idea was never going to be a reality. Don’t judge me I like to shop and to be honest that was a Bert (my travel companion and luggage handler/ packer) problem, not mine.

My trip has been amazing, fun, adventure-filled, at times frustrating, and an eye-opener. All these emotions and more are to be expected when one travels. But travelling with a wheelchair adds another dimension altogether. 

While I'm not new to travelling the globe, on every new trip I learn something new and embrace new surroundings. It is awesome and travelling is my drug. Experiencing travelling from a wheelchair is a unique viewpoint and something that enhances my life. I love it so much, but one must understand that access is much more than a ramp or lift to get your wheelchair where it needs to be. Accessible travel is a mindset, and with the right people in your corner, you literally can go anywhere you wish, albeit with some variations. 

Some learnings from this trip have been:
 

• Be open to new experiences - So you want to throw yourself off a 47-story building and zip-line in Dubai? Ask the question “Is this something we can do guys?” Despite the “inaccessibility” you may be surprised with the results.  This is just one example of how you can get out of your comfort zone and go for it, as this is when the best experiences occur.
• Expect the unexpected - Being a wheelie we get used to our surroundings and kind of work out how to navigate our way around things. When you travel things may not always work out. Don’t sweat it though. Some of my best experiences have come from unexpected opportunities. 
• Access is different wherever you go - Be prepared to adapt when required. This may cause frustration but there is always a way to move forward. Think of it like this - All countries have people with disabilities or elderly people and while some respect the rights of people with disabilities better.  There is always a way to overcome barriers. Access in many European hotels means small lifts and small bathrooms. Email ahead and confirm it suits your needs. Know your access requirements and let the hotel know them as well. The sooner the better. 
• Plan Ahead but don’t over plan -  Sometimes things go wrong and not according to the schedule. On this trip, we booked 5 nights in Lyon France.  As a rule, we emailed each hotel a week or two out from our stay. Our plan had to change as the hotel said their lift was down and they could not get us inside. We had to hustle and ended up staying extra nights in Nice and Paris. I know I know, third world problems, right? Embrace changes as you go. Planning ahead is beneficial when considering things that may go wrong with your equipment. For instance, we bought spare front tyres for my chair in case those cobblestones worked their evil ways. Thankfully we did not require them. Don’t overthink these things as it will stress you out more than required.
• Things will go wrong but take the risks - There are many things you can’t forecast being a traveller with a chair but just go to that place you have always wanted to. Open an Instagram account and share with the world the benefits and also the misfortunes that may or may not have happened. Even the “negative.” You will look back on those posts and think “it wasn’t that bad”. 
• Learn off previous travellers -  How good is the internet and the day and age in which we live? Literally Google “Wheelchair in  …….” Get tips before you go. If your needs aren’t physical like mine, apply whatever your needs may be.                                                                                                                                                                        

There are many more points I could share but the main thing is do not let your disabilities stop you from seeing this amazing world we are living in. It really is a wonderful way to embrace the good things you have in your own country and communities in which we all live. By seeing other cultures you will open your eyes to the good, the bad and everything in between. It will make you a stronger person and a better disability advocate. 

Your support and patronage of other countries make them aware that people with disabilities are also customers. When something doesn’t quite work it can leave a positive reason to implement change in access, especially in developing countries. 

I have one more night left in Singapore and I think I might go test my mate’s patience and buy some nice shoes or an outfit. 
Feel free to message me any questions you may have about travelling with a chair.
“Where there’s a wheel there is a way” - my future title for my wheelchair travel books, I think. 

About the Author: 

Marlena Katene is Australia’s most unique entertainment journalist. Having Cerebral Palsy Marlena communicates via an ABC Board and iPad. After completing her Bachelor of Communications degree Marlena has been blessed to interview a wide range of people ranging from Ed Sheeran, Robbie Williams and even the Dalia Lama. While her journalism focuses mainly on music she also has written on other issues and freelance writes for a variety of magazines. Apart from her journalism work, Marlena is an avid traveller and adventure seeker. In 2016 she became the first person in the world with Cerebral Palsy to Base jump, achieving this feat by jumping off the 421 metre KL Tower in Malaysia. Addicted to travelling she is always seeking the next adventure and place to explore. You can find Marlena on Instagram as @marlena_katene