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Learners and Makers

Packing… with a disability

Published about 1 month ago • 2 min read

Hi from Anthony and Jodie! We are the Learners and Makers. Traveling the world full time since 2022, we empower families and people with mobility disabilities to travel confidently, their way.

Waves lapping against sea islands, birch leaves rustling in a breeze, bread and cheese: We’ve been delighting in Finland these past few weeks. We’re also getting ready for a few weeks of faster travel.

Throughout August, we’ll be “travel taste-testing” Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. With only a few nights in each spot, it’s a departure from our usual slower pace. One of the things that makes it easier? Packing light.

There’s a saying that the more you travel, the less you pack. There’s a lot of truth to that. Each of us travels with a backpack, and we have one medium-sized rolling suitcase that we share. The more we’ve traveled, the more we’ve learned, and the less we pack—not to mention the more we realize we can rely on our destination to get things if we really, truly need them.

But there are also non-negotiable travel items, especially when you travel with a disability.

Since Jodie is an above-the-knee amputee who uses a prosthetic leg, we travel with things that she has to have, such as an extra prosthetic liner and a pair of folding crutches.

That’s the thing, though: Understanding your must-pack, will-use items frees you up to leave the other stuff behind. It might be nice to have, but it’s not essential after all. We hope that comes in handy for whatever you’re packing for travels this summer and beyond.

​What to pack as an amputee:
9 items make trips easier with my prosthetic leg​

What to pack as an amputee is critical to my quality of life.

SPONSORED

​Make more than dumplings​

Laughing while trying to cinch up a soup dumpling with its 18 classic folds in Taiwan.
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Wandering the grounds of a centuries-old hilltop winery in Portugal.
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Enjoying the cookies we had just baked while gazing at an ancient medina in Morocco.
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Many of our family’s favorite travel memories came from classes or small group tours.
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As much as we love to travel independently, we typically book at least one class, tour, or other organized activity wherever we go. We can engage with our guide or teacher. By getting hands-on with a class or exploring an area with someone who knows it deeply, we gain so much more understanding from the activity at hand, and from the destination’s broader culture.
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Whether a trip this summer or the travel you’re still dreaming of, Viator brings together activities from all over the world, for any interest and any traveler.

As for us? We have a long way to go on our dumpling folds. But our cooking class was a fun way to spend a rainy morning.

Thank you for using our links! Using our links supports our work, keeps us traveling, and helps us put together advice and stories for you.​
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More about traveling with a disability

Accessible Travel at Ancient Sites - tips from an amputee

Prosthetic leg at the ocean: How amputee travelers can enjoy the beach

Travel skills for amputees: 8 tips from a prosthetic user

Thanks for reading! See you next time, and happy travels

Anthony & Jodie

P.S. Before you go, check off your trip to-do list here

✔︎ Stays Booking | VRBO | Expedia | Airbnb | Agoda | More

✔︎ Tours, activities & more Find experiences​

✔︎ Services & gear for your trips All our fave travel resources​

What travel questions or ideas are on your mind? Hit reply and let us know!

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