From Here to There: Accessibility on the Camino de Santiago

From Here to There: Accessibility on the Camino de Santiago

Managing rural and urban travel on the Camino de Santiago with my set of abilities. Roots, dips, inclines, Roman roads, elevators. falls. We did 170 miles (I did 70). A hoot and a half.

I’m back. What an adventure along the coast of Portugal and Spain to Santiago de Compostela. I have hours of material that I will produce over the next few months. Today, a very brief episode about accessibility. Remember, I have Multiple Sclerosis, which affects my stamina, balance, and vision. I can stand, I can walk. Unless I’m in a small room, I need forearm crutches for walking or an electric wheelchair. I can fold my wheelchair, roll it, and assist in getting it in and out of the car. I am not wheelchair dependent. I walk a minimum of 3500 steps a day, every day. Not all at once, but in segments. I fatigue, but I can recover relatively quickly. I manage my double vision, most of the time. I can hear with hearing aids, sometimes too much. I can breathe, talk, eat, and toilet unassisted. My disabilities and pain levels are mostly moderately annoying. I describe a personal adventure with my extended family and those I’ve met along the way. Clearly, your adventure would be different. People with all ranges of abilities travel the…