We have been working with a European travel agency specializing in accessible travel. Their guests have so far been mostly wheelchair users. Let’s not beat around the bush: there is a reason why people with mobility challenges and other disabilities search out specialized travel agencies. What able people take for granted is anything but given for someone who has reduced hearing, sight, a neuropsychiatric diagnosis, or, as mentioned, reduced mobility. Yet all of us, regardless of our abilities, deserve to visit new places and to get away from the ‘rut’ of everyday life.
“I’d be putting everyone out.”
This is what a close friend said about why she doesn’t travel or book tours. That is a very sad statement, but one we understand. Just the other day, we toured Gothenburg with a group that included a wheelchair user. Navigating a 400-year-old city, built on clay (everything is uneven), with lots of cobblestones and hindrances left, right, and center, is a challenge.
Gothenburg prides itself on being an accessible city, and we are, in many respects. Buses and streetcars are accessible. But the devil hides in the details. Public transport does not announce stops verbally, and the screens inside aren’t always working. The ramps to get on streetcars aren’t always operable, and figuring out which button to push when to operate the ramp out and then in again isn’t easy. We got yelled at by both drivers and passengers (it takes a minute), and that is not an experience I wish on anybody.
It is enlightening for a non-disabled person to travel with someone disabled.
We have had guests for years, and depending on the level of disability, we will recommend a private vehicle (usually a specialized taxi with ramps). The most important difference we can make as a tour guide is just being there to help navigate a foreign city. We can book an expert in sign language to follow along, make sure to book a restaurant that is accessible, and explain what the view is, even if you can only smell it or feel the wind on your cheeks. It is easy to avoid crowds if that makes you uncomfortable, or to take a break when it all becomes too much.
Be comfortable in Gothenburg.
To book a trip is the dream of many of us. Some of us might only get to do it once in a lifetime, and we want to make the most of it. And even if you don’t travel alone and have someone with you who is used to assisting back home, doesn’t that person deserve a little break, too?
It is really sad when the lack of accessibility or the fear of “putting everyone out” keeps people from making the most of a vacation. And while we can take a few extra precautions, open communication and a trustworthy partner will help you feel comfortable making that trip. We are here to help navigate the shoals of accessibility in a world primarily designed for able people. Sweden and Gothenburg are aware of their shortcomings and have come far in working toward an accessible society. Welcome to experience for yourself!
