Stories of Disability

Jean

 

I’m a polio survivor who has lived in Kona since 1989. I know the difference between accessible and just a “helping hand”.

My background as a college instructor in Communications and as a missionary has allowed me to travel to 32 countries. I’m familiar with the challenges of traveling alone internationally, as well as arranging my own transportation, housing, touring, entertainment and other events: “how many stairs?”, “I need a seat on the aisle”, “is there an elevator?”

I often missed out on doing things I felt I could not do – no one encouraged me to ask questions or negotiate alternatives. In 2007 I was crew on a British Tall Ship outfitted for disabled voyagers. We sailed from London across the North Sea to the Netherlands on a 3-masted, 18 square sailed ship. I returned home convinced that adventures were open to me that I had considered closed.This blog is my gift to you gleaned from my long-time experience as a mobility-limited person.

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…