Joy, Courage, and the Realities of Accessible Travel
By Meagan Pedneault
I was born with a condition called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which causes my bones to break very easily. Doctors told my parents that I would never be able to play like a normal kid and that I would have to be carried around on a pillow. Basically, I had to be bubble-wrapped my whole life. I’m so glad my parents didn’t listen to that advice.
When I was fifteen, I was sitting around the campfire with my family and some friends when I eagerly blurted out that I wanted to go to Ecuador with a school group. The comment stunned everyone in the group, but my parents were not surprised. I had the courage to try something new at such a young age, in a place where accessibility is often overlooked. Luckily, my parents and the teachers leading the trip were fully on board with my plans for a summer of adventure. They made every effort to make things as inclusive and accessible as possible.
My first trip to Ecuador completely changed my life and my view on accessibility and inclusivity. I figured out I am capable of so much more than I realized, that my disability does not define me, and I will not let it limit me.
I also learned this world has so much to see, and I wanted to experience more of it. There may be more struggles when it comes to travelling as a disabled person, but the joy that travel brings is so worth the effort.
This trip ignited a passion in me; I had caught the travel bug and couldn’t wait for my next adventure. Since then, I have returned to Ecuador for a second time, and I have travelled to other places, such as Mexico and Cuba.
These trips have brought me so much joy, even amidst the struggle of being disabled. As a full-time wheelchair user, travel is a lot harder to navigate. There are so many extra hoops to jump through, and there are always the scary “what-if” thoughts. Like, what if my wheelchair doesn't make it to the destination in one piece? What if there are no accessible washrooms available for hours? These are valid worries, and it is always a gamble, but the struggle and the what-ifs are worth it!
To travel with a disability, you have to be open-minded and ready to go with the flow. Things can change, plans don’t always work out, and things aren’t always accessible in the way they should be. For me, these obstacles are part of the adventure, part of the thrill of travel that most others don’t experience. I try to look at every negative situation and turn it into a positive experience.
For example, on a trip to Mexico, my husband and I requested a wheelchair-accessible room. When we arrived, all the accessible rooms were full, and we were placed in a room on the third floor. During our stay, the elevator stopped working. We ended up getting to use the service elevator and saw some behind-the-scenes of our resort. Who gets to say they got to experience that?
Meagan in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where police officers helped carry her up a steep set of stairs to see a lighthouse with her family.
After my first life-changing trip to Ecuador, I returned two years later with my family to explore more of the country and to visit my friends. On our first day in Guayaquil, we wanted to visit Cerro Santa Ana, a lighthouse on a large hill that overlooked the city. Upon arrival, we realized the only way to make it to the lighthouse would be to climb 456 steps to the top. We had agreed that my mom and I would stay back while the rest of our group hiked the stairs. A group of police officers saw our group standing around discussing our plan and offered the unthinkable. They carried me, in my wheelchair, up the 456 steps and then all the way backdown, so that I could experience the lighthouse with my family. They weren’t required to do this; it wasn’t part of their job description.
They did it out of the kindness of their hearts so that I could have this experience. I will forever remember this. During the same trip to Ecuador, we visited Casa Del Arbol near Banos de Agua Santa, also known as the “Swing at the End of the World.” This swing was at the top of the side of a mountain cliff, 2600 meters above sea level. Not accessible at all. Our tour guide and my dad pulled me up the side of the cliff so I could have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I remember our tour guide asking if I was just going to watch the others in our group swing off the cliff. I said, “heck no, I am doing this!” His eyes went wide. Not only did I swing off a cliff in the “Gateway to the Amazon,” but I was also the first one in our group to let go and spread my arms. It was such a thrilling experience! My mom captured a picture of my wheelchair with me swinging in the background. She said, “This is proof that your wheelchair does not limit you.
We visited so many other places in Ecuador that were deemed inaccessible. We challenged so many barriers, and I experienced so many things that I wouldn’t have if I were not open to a little adventure. Another highlight for us was visiting the Pailon Del Diablo waterfall. Again, this was deemed inaccessible. I am so glad that we were all willing to get through some of the tough terrain and navigate some stairs to be able to see the waterfall. It was absolutely incredible!
During our trip to Ecuador, my family was willing to make the impossible possible for me, so I could experience the many wonders this world has to offer and the joy of travel. Even though I had a broken leg and we faced challenges, this trip to Ecuador truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I did not let my wheelchair get in the way of me enjoying every moment of it.
My wheelchair has never held me back emotionally. I have always had a mindset that I can do whatever I put my mind to, even if I have to find a different way to do it. Physically, I face limitations regularly due to my chair. In 2024, my husband and I took another trip to Mexico. We had seen online that there was a chance of encountering wild sea turtles around the beach at our resort. I remember getting up at the crack of dawn, watching the sunrise as we got our snorkel masks and flippers on. As soon as I got into the ocean, I felt free.
Because I have broken my legs so many times, I am not able to walk or put any weight on them. When I am in the water, I can move freely without pain. Swimming with the wild turtles was such a core memory for us. We were able to encounter them on three different occasions. It was definitely the highlight of our trip.
The ocean has such a special place in my heart; not only is it beautiful and a joy to experience, but when I am in the water, I am free from the limits of my wheelchair.
Travel has become such a huge part of my life, and I am so glad! The trips I have been on have each made a lasting impact on who I am. I am so grateful that my parents didn’t let my disability prevent me from seeing everything this world has to offer. Travelling with a disability is hard. There is so much more you have to think about and prepare for. There will be struggles along the way, but if you have a great attitude, the struggles become a part of the story and the journey.
Travel can be scary for anyone; experiencing a new place can be intimidating, especially when there are accessibility barriers. That is where courage comes in. Have the courage to travel and try something new, and you will experience things you never thought were possible. Travel brings me so much joy; it is what I live for. To experience the world, to break barriers, and show people that I can do things they think I can’t.
Travelling with a disability is challenging, but it is so worth the adventure!
About the Author
Meagan is an avid traveller but calls Southern Manitoba home, where she lives with her husband Dustin. She works as a travel agent, having graduated from the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors. She specializes in South and Central American destinations – both in inclusive and accessible travel.