Not all disabilities can be seen, and hidden ones cause just as much anxiety when trying to get from A to B. When the two overlap, it makes travelling harder still.
Steph can vouch for that. She has Crohn’s disease, hypermobility and she developed osteoarthritis after breaking her leg. She uses a variety of mobility aids to get about, including a scooter that collapses down to fit in the boot of her Motability Scheme car.
Managing conditions knocked Steph’s confidence at first, but being able to drive herself around gives her one less thing to worry about.
“I haven’t used a train for a long time. Without a disability, you can just go about your day, but since breaking my leg, I need to plan everything. On top of this, I have Crohn’s disease. So, not only do I have a lot of pain in my joints, there’s also mental stress. You need to know where toilets are all the time – and in my case, accessible toilets.
“Calling taxis, as I did before I got the car, was really stressful. Sometimes they would send a taxi too small for my wheelchair, and I was left waiting for another to come, knowing I was going to be late. I don’t like relying on other people.
“Now with my car, I can get myself to appointments. With therapy and time, I have been able to walk with my crutches. If I need to go to the doctors, I can drive myself and park in a disabled space. Most journeys I make are short, but having the car makes such a difference.”
World IBD Day
Crohn's Disease is a type of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) - an invisible lifelong condition that affects 500,000 people in the UK.
Today marks World IBD Day and Steph’s story highlights how conditions like Crohn’s can affect everyday travel - both physically and mentally