Challenges in Travel for People with Disabilities

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Challenges in Travel for People with Disabilities

When it comes to travel, many of us think about choices. However, not everyone has the luxury of making those choices. For many, cost dictates where they can go and what experiences they can have. But if you’re an environmentally conscious traveler, you’ll carefully consider the impact of your actions on the planet, often leading you to make selections based on your own criteria.

Sometimes, this might mean opting for a train ride to Vienna instead of a cheap flight or choosing an eco-friendly homestay over a large resort. These are decisions that many can easily make. But for those with disabilities, the situation is often much more complicated.

Accessibility Issues

Imagine the perfect eco-lodge that utilizes rainwater, solar energy, and avoids single-use plastics. But if there’s only one entrance with three steep steps, no matter how committed you are to protecting the environment, you simply can’t get inside. The planet may thank you, but crawling up those stone steps is a painful experience.

The crux of the issue is that we must prioritize our needs in a world that wasn’t designed with us in mind. Accessibility and sustainability should never be opposing values, yet we often find ourselves caught between difficult choices.

A Mother's Perspective

Olivia Cryer, co-founder of The Conscious Travel Foundation, shares, “Families with disabled or neurodivergent members often can’t select the best options. We choose what is manageable.” Olivia regularly travels with her son and searches for accommodations that are sensory-friendly and predictable in their experiences. “Preparation is something that most families don’t have to think about, and some will avoid it altogether. But I believe it’s also a way to show good mindfulness.”

Challenging Travel Experiences

A few years ago, I attempted to travel from London to Marrakech without flying, curious to see how a full-time wheelchair user could navigate a journey through Europe and North Africa. Some parts of the trip were wonderful, but most of the time I struggled with broken elevators, closed assistance desks, and inaccessible train cars.

The lesson I learned wasn’t that people with disabilities can’t choose sustainable travel, but rather that most of the world’s infrastructure doesn’t consider us. I care deeply about the planet, but I also need to be able to get off the train. These two shouldn’t be in conflict, yet the current system makes them seem contradictory.

Solutions from the Travel Industry

Olivia notes that working with travel designers and location experts has changed the landscape. “They help me paint a picture for my son: what the lighting is like, where the crowds are, what the sounds or smells will be. Such descriptions help him feel safe and excited, and give me more confidence in my decision-making.” These small details can make the world significantly more accessible.

Practicing Low-Impact Travel

Many people with disabilities have been practicing sustainable travel principles without labeling it as such. We must be meticulous in analyzing and planning every part of our journey, not just making ethical choices but also strategizing for survival. If we’re not careful, we’ll find ourselves waiting for someone else to bring us a portable ramp.

Research shows that when we travel, we often stay longer in one place rather than hopping from one spot to another, as constant movement can be exhausting, especially when facing accessibility barriers. We build relationships with local guides and communities that understand our needs. We repair and reuse our equipment out of necessity, not whim. In other words, we’ve been practicing low-impact travel long before it became a trend.

Making Thoughtful Choices

When you can’t choose the most sustainable option, reconsider: inclusivity is also a way to care for our planet. You can support local businesses at your destination or even advocate for better infrastructure so that the next disabled traveler doesn’t face such difficult choices.

Olivia emphasizes, “For people with disabilities, everything becomes complex and imperfect. Sometimes, accessibility must be the top priority because it allows us to participate in life.” Ultimately, fundamental change must come from the industry, providing more options for everyone—not as a luxury service, but as a standard norm.

We all need to remember that when hotels can publish energy reports, why can’t they also provide information about accessibility? There are glimmers of hope that prove accessibility and sustainability can, and must, coexist.

For instance, Amilla Fushi in the Maldives has created overwater villas with wheelchair access and support equipment while maintaining coral restoration programs. The European Sleeper night train has prioritized accessible cabins with private amenities. These may be small victories, but they demonstrate that inclusivity and environmental responsibility are not two separate concepts.

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