About Me

        Oh, hey! Nice to meet you! I’m Kimberly and I have muscular dystrophy! I’ve had muscular dystrophy since I was born, but don’t know what type it is. But it’s ok, I’ve learned to not need to know. I’m 20 years old and live in a very small town where everyone knows everyone. Except for me. Well, I’m not saying that no one knows me; quite the opposite really. Everyone seems to know me, but I don’t know a third of the town! 

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        Because of my weak muscles, I use a ventilator and power wheelchair (and a few other gadgets and gizmos). And since you’re on my disability travel blog I assume you may be disabled, know someone disabled or maybe love to travel just like me. My love for traveling started when I was 8 and my family and I went to France! We went as a religious pilgrimage before I began a series of surgeries needed to correct my scoliosis. I was too young at the time to understand that part. I just loved the different cultures! I loved the language! I actually tried to learn some of it, but that didn’t work out very well. I would love to go back someday. 

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        I understand that people who are in my position are already aware of the struggle of using public space while living with a disability. For you, I hope to share my experiences and let you know what works for me and what doesn’t. This may be helpful to you when you have a trip to take. I would also like this blog to help bring awareness to those who would otherwise not think about these issues. You may have the opportunity to help someone in need if you just know what to look for.  Sometimes even trips around your hometown can be a challenge.  Just today I went to the public library and there was a sign that said we had to use the backdoor. Unfortunately,  there was no accessible way to use the backdoor, which we found out after walking around the building.  Luckily, they let us use the accessible way in; the front door. This is just one example of how people not in our situation aren’t aware of the need for accessibility. So again, I would like this blog to bring more awareness to those kinds of situations.  Also, my long term goal is to get big enough that businesses want to hire me to review their products or locations for accessibility. That would be really cool! Royal Caribbean, I’m talking to you!

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        Since my first travel experience, I have gone to Texas for visits with family. We’ve also been to Florida, South Dakota, Colorado and Alabama for vacation. When I was 16, I joined a school trip to the East Coast and visited Massachusetts, New York, Pennsyvania and Washington DC. This summer I have plans to go to The Lake of the Ozarks, Texas and Universal Studios Orlando. Where would you guys like to see me go? Follow me and I will tell you what I find out along the way and hopefully it will save you some unneeded stress or at least give you a chuckle. 

 

(My mom, Mary, is my travel partner.  She will be adding to this blog as well from the perspective of the care-giver.  And I don't want to leave out my dad; he's one of my greatest supporters!)

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Since starting my blog, we have now become a nonprofit with the goal to educate people of ALL physical abilities of accessible travel itineraries and of the concerns those with mobility challenges face during day to day life and while traveling.  Thank you for your support!

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