Guest Voice: Fear of the unknown as a disabled traveler
While trips can go wrong in many ways, they can also go breathtakingly right
Despite challenges presented by living with FA, Brittany Sommerfield loves to travel, including to fundraising events like Philadelphia’s rideATAXIA in 2023. (Courtesy of Brittany Sommerfield)
Traveling from my home in Canada is stressful, expensive, and exhausting. It pushes me outside my comfort zone, and it is, more often than not, an absolute gong show.
Brittany Sommerfield counts a 2022 trip to Ireland among her travel experiences. (Courtesy of Brittany Sommerfield)
It’s not easy with my Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), but it’s also one of the most rewarding things to do. Without a doubt, I find it absolutely amazing.
After high school, I decided to pursue a career as a travel agent. That’s desk work and is fine to do in a wheelchair. It involves organization, geography, and learning about the hospitality and transportation industries — all things I enjoy. I spent over six years in the industry until the pandemic hit. Now, I freelance a few odd jobs, travel bookings included, but I like to consider simply having a disability as my full-time job.
My own journeys
I’ve also spent quite a bit of free time traveling myself, mostly for medical reasons, such as clinical trials, research studies, and fundraising events. And even though I have insider education about travel under my belt, I’d still admit that compared with many, I know little.
The internet offers so many travel tips and tricks; adding any of my own is next to impossible. Each trip has hits and misses, things that can’t be controlled. Each person or trip is different, too, but luckily, endless resources are online.
Learning to have a positive mindset even when things aren’t going as planned is huge. It sucks, but disrupted plans happen more often than not. Go with the flow and make adjustments along the way, though that’s easier said than done. Trust me, I know. Take a deep breath and, especially with a disability, give yourself ample time.
A mountain in Kananaskis in Alberta, Canada, makes for a beautiful backdrop as Brittany captures another travel memory in 2023. (Courtesy of Brittany Sommerfield)
Traveling can be scary even without a disability, but don’t be afraid. Ask for help and remember to advocate for yourself. Customer service does exist. Some places go above and beyond. I’ve even had hotel staff take doors off hinges to help with room accessibility.
The world is breathtaking in a good way. My travels, international or domestic, short or long, expensive or cheap, have all been special in various ways. Even with the harder journeys, I thrive when I come out on the other end. I always love the new adventure.
FA makes life hard, vacations included. But we are strong, and we can MacGyver almost anything to make something work.
“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” — usually attributed to Jimmy Dean, singer and TV host
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Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.
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