Page 4 - The Mobility Project, 2022

New Horizons
World — in his first power wheelchair at age 4. “And there are certainly some ‘travel truths’ that I’ve learned along the way. “The number one thing, in my opinion anyway, is to keep
a positive attitude... no matter what. I’ve had my wheelchair
damaged during flights, arrived at hotels to be told that they actu- ally didn’t have an accessible room, and I’ve even been hospital- ized after fracturing my skull while on a trip in New Mexico. But through it all, I’ve tried to stay positive. It’s important to always remember that for every problem, there is a solution. You just have to be willing to keep a positive attitude and be your own advocate. Being upset or angry helps no one, but by remaining calm, looking for a solution, and staying optimistic, you can still have a fun and memorable trip 99 percent of the time.”
Woodard is honest about the challenges of wheelchair travel, but believes the benefits far outweigh any hassles.
“I want to be a lifelong learner and honestly, I feel like I’ve learned more from traveling than I ever did in school, including college,” he said. “Being on the road can teach you a lot, and it’s quite literally changed my life. I grew up in a rural town in the state of Georgia, and it wasn’t until I started traveling that I real- ized just how remarkable this planet is.
“Traveling has made me a more empathetic person, and I think that empathy is the greatest asset that anyone can have. If everyone on this planet had a passport and could travel interna- tionally at least once, I really believe that we would be living in a different, and much kinder, world.”
Cory Woodard visits the Western Wall, located in Jerusalem.
Being a Prepared Traveler
Woodard has an adventurous spirit when it comes to travel, but he also has learned how to improve his chances of having a smooth trip.
“Transportation is always the first thing that I research when I’m planning any trip,” he said. “If I didn’t research accessible transportation beforehand, flew to a destination, and then arrived only to discover that the destination had no acces- sible transportation options, I’d be stuck at the airport for the remainder of that trip with no way to leave or get to my hotel. So, I always make sure that there are ample ways for me to get around within the destination before I plan to actually travel.
Travel Q&A with Cory Lee Woodard
Name... one non-essential item you always travel with.
I always bring playing cards or a board game with me on any trip. It can be a fun way to interact with new people that you meet on the road. Everybody loves games!
...your favorite city if you have just one day in town.
If I only had one day, I would
visit Reykjavik, Iceland. I’d start the day by exploring the city center and eating some delicious seafood for lunch. Then, I’d check out a museum or two and end the day by floating in the Blue Lagoon, which is surprisingly accessible and a literal paradise.
...your favorite recent meal.
I recently had a delicious meal at The Beach Club at Bimini, which is Virgin Voyages’ private beach
club in the Bahamas. The ribs, jerk chicken, and plantains were mouth-wateringly delicious and not at all what I expected at a cruise ship’s private island. Yum!
...your favorite thing to do when you’re visiting a city, but the weather is bad.
I’m a huge fan of live music or theater, so I’d see what shows
are happening and enjoy some indoor live performances. I think that live theater or music can really give you a deeper under- standing of that particular culture.
...the friendliest country you’ve visited.
I’ve met friendly people in every destination I’ve visited, but if I had to choose where the absolute friendliest are, I’d probably say Finland. I have been to Finland twice and both times, the Finnish people were incredibly friendly and always willing to lend a helping hand. It’s one of my favorite countries in the world for that reason!
...your favorite airport.
Amsterdam! The staff in the Amsterdam airport are always exceptionally kind, and they are well trained to assist with trans- fers on and off the plane. As a wheelchair user, I usually dread the transfer process, but not in Amsterdam. They have consis- tently proven to be a fantastic airport for wheelchair users.
...a travel habit you’ve picked up.
On the first day in any desti- nation, I always ask the locals where to eat and what to order. This has led me to some pretty remarkable restaurants and I’ve been able to try foods such as guinea pig (in Ecuador), reindeer sausage (in Finland), kangaroo steak (in Australia), and even fermented shark (in Iceland). Some were good and some were bad, but it’s all a part of the travel experience. m
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WESTERN WALL: PHOTO COURTESY CORY WOODARD