Diverse Destinations: A new presentation series for disabled world travellers

This article was created for Victoria Foundation, and produced independently by Capital Daily. It was approved by Victoria Foundation before it was published.

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Ean Price has been using a power wheelchair and respirator for most of his life, but he hasn’t let that stop him from travelling the world. BC-based nonprofit, Technology for Living (TFL) has made these adventures possible for Price and hundreds of others with physical disabilities in BC.

TFL is headquartered in Vancouver and provides services throughout the province. The organization started in 2006, and since then, it has offered equipment for independent living free of charge for people with physical disabilities.

Now TFL is organizing a presentation series this summer to educate and encourage people with physical disabilities to travel and explore the world more. TFL’s Diverse Destinations series helps people safely navigate the outside world through practical travel tips. The Victoria Foundation has provided a $17,500 grant to contribute to funding the events.

Price, TFL’s peer program manager and innovation strategist, has worked with the nonprofit for 12 years and is one of the event’s speakers.

Price has been using a power wheelchair and respirator since the age of three due to a neuromuscular disorder, and has “firsthand experience of how important it is to have that independence at an early age,” he says.

He is also a passionate traveller, entrepreneur, and educator who has visited more than 12 countries and taken numerous road trips throughout Canada. Price says he enjoys educating people who use assistive technologies to explore the world and be more independent.

At the upcoming events, Price will educate others with physical disabilities on using equipment to travel safely and enjoy the experience. Before travelling, there are numerous logistics to work out. For example, when travelling by air, Price must check beforehand that the aircraft’s cargo hold can accommodate his wheelchair. He also needs to ensure he has enough batteries for his respirator to last four hours before the flight, during the flight, and four hours after landing at his destination. While planning requires some creativity and problem-solving skills, Price says it’s all worth it.

“I love to be a trailblazer. ​​I think it’s important for people to see that even though I am very high maintenance, that it is possible, and it just takes a little bit of patience and ingenuity,” he said.

He adds that some countries are far more accessible than others, such as the train system in Japan, which is absolutely wonderful. Then there are other places, such as Cambodia, where wheelchair-accessible taxis or vehicles are not readily available for a large wheelchair.

“If you’re in a manual wheelchair, it’s easy; somebody can assist you to transfer into a regular taxi or a tuk-tuk, but that wasn’t an option for me. I had to have a custom ramp built in Cambodia, and then we rented the van and ripped all the seats out,” Price recalled.

TFL currently has around 1,000 members in BC. The nonprofit provides equipment to members free of charge on a long-term lease. Once they no longer need the equipment, they can return it to TFL. Most members are referred by their respirologist, occupational therapists, or other healthcare specialists.

TFL’s Diverse Destinations presentation series begins in Greater Victoria on June 13, with two more events in July. To learn more and register, visit technologyforliving.org.