Be prepared for the weather, and prioritize seasons when it should be easier for you to get around

We typically visit places during times of year when it’s easier for me to get around. 

For example, ice and snow are the hardest terrains for me to maneuver with safety and control. Visiting a destination such as Michigan or Wisconsin? You probably won’t find us there in January, but you might in July.

If we’re going somewhere with adverse conditions, we prepare accordingly. That could mean prioritizing certain activities over others, or finding adaptive activities built around my movement needs and challenges.

Terrain will be uneven or challenging, sometimes in unexpected ways

The sidewalks of Ville Nouvelle in Fes, Morocco, are tiled, textured, and even beautiful.

They are also surprisingly slippery.

Dust, grit, and sand form a skim layer that makes these otherwise broad, decently level sidewalks a treacherous challenge for a one-legged girl.

Terrain can be tricky, often in unexpected ways.

For example, in Japan, the public staircases are typically made with a decent pitch and width, but stairs in homes can be steep and narrow.

A trekking pole increases my stability. Whether ruins, stairs, or tricky sidewalks, I take my time and we make sure we’re not in a hurry.

Pack a carry-on medical bag with basic supplies for your mobility equipment

We travel with a long, skinny duffel (which we declare as a free medical item when flying). What your medical bag carries depends on your circumstances, but here’s what’s in mine:

• Pair of folding travel crutches
• Extra prosthetic liner for my residual limb
• Waterproof sock
• Small repair kit (hex wrench, replacement hex screws, loctite, duct tape)
• Collapsible trekking pole (I have another with me)

In a separate backpack, I carry the charger for my prosthesis’s microprocessor knee—along with a letter from my doctor that explains what I need for my mobility and my prosthetic device.

Expect blatant staring

Stares happen whether we’re walking down to a smoothie shop in Da Nang, Vietnam; sampling olives at a medina in Tangier, Morocco; or going up and down the hillside stone steps and ruins of Monte Alban in Mexico.

To be clear, stares also happen in Canada, the USA, Australia, Japan, and European countries. In my experience, they’re usually less blatant.

When kids stare, I encourage them to ask me questions. Sometimes adults want to know the circumstances underlying why I’m an amputee (osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, when I was 13, btw).

Before you travel, understand your comfort level and how you might adapt or respond to staring.

In their stares, I see a learning opportunity. I’m very comfortable in my role of sharing a life experience someone may not be familiar with. I can be an example of someone who enjoys themselves while also having a disability.