One of many things I’ve had to learn is that travelling can go wrong. Obviously, things can go wrong for anyone; being disabled just makes things more complicated.

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Lifts break, assistance doesn’t turn up, and you can’t find any random wheelchairs that are occasionally roaming free around an airport. Once you’re on holiday, there are the difficulties of bus timetables, getting taxis or finding your way around a destination. Sometimes things look straightforward when you book them but can turn out to be the opposite.

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I’ve had enough experiences where getting annoyed is normal, but deep down I know it won’t change anything. There have been a lot of times when I’ve had to alter my plans at the last minute, assistance doesn’t turn up, or I’m made to change seats, or things just go “wrong”. 

 

As someone who has never enjoyed being out of control, this has been hard to get used to. I have to consider things that can change at the last minute: extra distances to walk, finding a seat if I need one, planning extra time for things to go wrong and, if there’s something John can’t help with, what’s the likelihood of finding someone who actually can.

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Of course, the opposite is true. I’ve also learned that other people can make a huge difference. A member of staff who does appear with a wheelchair, or, if someone doesn’t, another person notices that I’m struggling and takes the time to listen or, sometimes I can work out another way of doing something, can completely change an experience.

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When you’ve planned something carefully and then find yourself standing around waiting for someone who was supposed to help, it’s difficult not to wonder why you bothered planning it in the first place.

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That’s travelling; things go wrong, there are unexpected problems, but you can try to find a solution and enjoy your holiday.