I've Traveled to 44 Countries and All 7 Continents in a Wheelchair — Here's What It's Like

For Travel + Leisure’s column Traveling As, we’re talking to travelers about what it’s like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. We chatted with accessible travel advocate Cory Lee, who runs Curb Free With Cory Lee, about his passion for travel — and how he’s helping fellow wheelchair users experience the world. Here’s his story… 

At the age of 2, I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a form of muscular dystrophy. It basically means I have overall muscle weakness. By 4 years old, I was not able to walk at all and had to use a power wheelchair full-time.

The first trip I remember going on was to Walt Disney World with my family when I had just become a wheelchair user. It was a really fun trip. I’m still kind of a Disney addict because the parks are so accessible, and I’m able to stay in my wheelchair on a lot of the rides, which is amazing.

At 15, I traveled internationally for the first time to the Bahamas, trying new foods and experiencing a different culture. That’s when the travel bug really bit me.

Growing up in the southeastern U.S, we would go on road trips, but once I started going further, it showed me you really have to get out there to understand cultures and the ways of life for different people. I’ve found that people everywhere are friendly and helpful, and there's so much empathy.

But there were — and still are — many challenges traveling in a wheelchair. It seems like at least one thing will go wrong on every trip. Some of the initial challenges were around navigation, like finding accessible taxis and public transportation.

The first time I went to New York City, I got trapped underground in the subway for four hours while trying to get to a Broadway show. The elevators weren't working at multiple accessible stops, so we rode to the next one and it was the same. At one point, we even talked to some policemen about possibly carrying me up the stairs. But my wheelchair weighs about 400 pounds, so it was nearly impossible.

Eventually, we found an elevator that was out of the way. Once on the street level, we got a taxi, but I almost missed the show. I haven't been back in the subway since then, and I only use taxis when in New York now.

Then, on my first trip to Europe, we plugged my wheelchair charger into the wall with a converter in Munich. Sparks flew and it blew up the charger. Fortunately, we found a repair shop the next day. Things like that in the beginning were a struggle, but they prepared me. Now, I try to stay positive and have a good attitude, knowing it'll work itself out in the end.

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When I was about to graduate from college with a degree in marketing, I was sending out job applications and not getting many responses. One day, a company in Pittsburgh called and said if I could get myself there the next day, they would interview me for the job.

So, I flew from Atlanta to Pittsburgh the next day, and as soon as I rolled into the hiring manager's office, he looked me up and down and said, “Well, this job involves traveling, so you're definitely not the best fit because you use a wheelchair.” He shut me down, even though I traveled to get there.

That same week, I was planning my college graduation trip to Australia. I noticed there was so little information about accessible travel. Between those two things, I decided to start a blog, Curb Free With Cory Lee in December 2013.

It was a different world at the time. There were many destinations I couldn't have visited 10 or even five years ago. It seems like every week there's a new tour company that focuses on accessible travel or a transportation option that opens. I'm grateful the world is realizing the need for accessibility and there are many more possibilities for me now.

For instance, I’d wanted to visit India ever since I saw a picture of the Taj Mahal when I was a little kid. Unfortunately, there were zero accessible transportation options in the entire country until 2018, when Enable Travel started there. As soon as I learned about them, I immediately booked a trip. It was incredible, and the tour company did a phenomenal job with an adapted vehicle that took us to all the accessible sites. And I finally was able to see the Taj Mahal.

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There have been so many pioneers and disability advocates that fought so long to make the world more accessible. I was born in 1990 — the year the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. My generation is now fighting for inclusion in all aspects of life, and it's the whole community of people with disabilities that has made this possible.

Here in the U.S., in recent years, many state parks are getting all-terrain wheelchairs that you can borrow on a complimentary basis, opening up the outdoors and trails to wheelchair users for the first time. I’ve seen them in Tennessee, Michigan, and Minnesota, so I'm able to now explore the outdoors.

I've also noticed a huge change on the beaches in the U.S. within the past few years. Many now have mobility mats, so I'm able to roll out on the sand and stay in my wheelchair. They also have beach wheelchairs to go in the water or out on the sand further.

I would have loved to see all of this much earlier, but it's exciting it's finally being done. And it feels like a huge shift within the travel industry, so I'm happy the next generation of wheelchair users will have a more accessible world than I did growing up.

When I was little, if I went to the beach, my mom had to physically pick me up out of my wheelchair and carry me down to the sand — that was not an easy process at all. The fact that kids who use a wheelchair nowadays can visit the beach like any other person is incredible. 

As for flying, booking a flight is a fairly simple process. I'm pretty loyal to Delta Air Lines because I'm based near Atlanta. I’m able to input the dimensions of my wheelchair and its weight. Then, I call them in advance of the flight to make sure they have the information they need and are prepared for me to arrive. It’s a bit of a process. and I would love for flying overall to be easier for people who use a wheelchair, but it's slowly getting there.

I'm able to stay in my wheelchair until I get to the door of the plane. There, I have to transfer into another narrow wheelchair from the airline that squeezes down the aisle of the plane. They then have to physically pick me up and put me in the seat. The airlines do provide assistance for transferring me into the plane seat. Hopefully, we'll see a shift and be able to stay in our wheelchairs during the flight.

In 2018, I started hosting Curb Free group trips where my followers could join me in different destinations around the world. I look forward to traveling with other wheelchair users because we learn so much from each other during these trips.

Our first trip was to Morocco, a destination you may not think is wheelchair accessible. But there we were, four wheelchair users rolling through an alleyway in Marrakech. We got a lot of stares and questions. I believe we're really changing perspectives when people see us out in the world on these international trips.

When I was in India, many people were taking photos of me as they had never seen a powered wheelchair before. I'm completely OK with that because I hope they learn more about people with disabilities. Hopefully, it gave them a new perspective that I was able to get out there in the world and explore despite using this mobility device.

That said, I kept hearing from my audience that the trips I was going on looked incredible, but there are so many financial barriers for people with disabilities. So, in 2022, I started The Curb Free Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides travel grants to wheelchair users for their dream trips.

I wanted to be able to open up the world to those who could otherwise not afford to have these experiences traveling. So far, we have sent people to Disney World, the Caribbean, and soon Morocco. A few months ago, we even sent an 80-year-old wheelchair user to the beach for the first time in his life. He had just been admitted to a nursing home, but got permission to leave for a week to visit Tybee Island. We've provided some incredible experiences through the foundation and it's my favorite thing I've ever done.

As a wheelchair user, I can stay at home and be comfortable for the rest of my life. But when you get out there in the world, maybe things don't go as they're supposed to, but you’re gaining so much insight. Travel teaches empathy.

I always have to travel with a companion because I do need assistance throughout the flight or going to the restroom or transferring into bed at night or showering.

But I love that feeling of being pushed out of my comfort zone and being able to experience something new. The general public of able-bodied people need to see wheelchair users living these amazing lives and traveling around the world, and it will really change perspectives.

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