Planning pressure

• Scanning for step-free routes, accessible rooms, toilets, and transfer options adds hours of admin.
• “Accessible” often means partial access, which creates uncertainty right up to arrival.

Transport realities

• Trains: gaps and short dwell times, booked assistance that sometimes does not appear, crowded carriages, tight luggage space.
• Buses and coaches: limited wheelchair bays, steep steps, variable driver knowledge.
• Cars and taxis: transfers in and out, stowing mobility aids, parking close enough, blue badge limits in busy areas.
• Flights: long corridors, security queues, transfers to aisle chairs, risk of damaged mobility aids.

Fatigue and pacing

• Extra walking, standing, noise, and temperature changes drain energy fast.
• Timetables do not respect fatigue, which makes even short delays feel bigger.

Mobility and balance

• Uneven surfaces, cobbles, kerbs, and escalators increase fall risk.
• Wet floors and rush hour crowds remove the safe space you usually rely on.

Spasticity and pain

• Long static positions trigger tightness, cramps, and swelling.
• Sudden jolts on buses or during landing can spike pain.

Arm or hand changes

• Handling tickets, phones, and luggage together is tricky.
• Lifts and doors that need two hands slow you down and raise stress.

Cognition and communication

• Fast-moving announcements, platform changes, and complex signage can overload memory and processing.
• If aphasia is in the mix, asking for help or explaining needs takes more time and confidence.

Toilets and personal care

• Finding an accessible toilet exactly when you need it is not guaranteed.
• Changing places facilities are rare, so longer trips need precise planning.

Medication and routines

• Dose times, refrigeration needs, and airport liquids rules interrupt normal rhythm.
• Fatigue and stress make it easier to miss doses or hydration.

Sensory load and anxiety

• Crowds, alarms, and fluorescent lighting increase tension.
• Not knowing if assistance will turn up creates background worry.

Weather and temperature

• Heat worsens fatigue and swelling. Cold tightens muscles. Rain makes surfaces slippery and slows everything.

Money and insurance

• Accessible rooms and adaptable taxis often cost more.
• Travel insurance questions around pre-existing conditions can be draining to complete.

Dignity and attitudes

• Stares, unsolicited touching of your chair or arm, or being spoken over to your companion can knock confidence.
• Staff training quality changes by location, so you cannot rely on consistency.

Back-up and breakdowns

• If a lift is out, your route may fail completely.
• If a mobility aid is lost or damaged, the trip can stall until you find a repair.

For families and friends

• Carers juggle luggage and your kit, advocate with staff, and hide their own fatigue.
• Children feel the schedule strain and the unpredictability, which can add guilt for everyone.

You are not the problem. The system still expects one pace and one body. When we name these pain points, we can design our own ways through them, step by step, and keep travel possible rather than scary.