“After my car accident in 2012, I was told that I’d no longer be able to travel. Since then, I have taken 689 flights and visited 30 countries and destinations all around the world.”
– John Morris, Founder, WheelchairTravel.org
Growing up, John Morris loved to travel right from a young age. After earning his masters in history from Florida State University, he joined the Teach for America program to help educate children in low-income public schools across America.
A horrific car accident in 2012 threw his world completely upside down and brought his life to a standstill. Refusing to let go of his love for travel, John travels all around the world defying all odds and beliefs.
This is a story of traveling the world with one hand, a passport, and a power wheelchair.
Overcoming Challenges
In 2012, a car accident resulted in John sustaining third- and fourth-degree burns across his body. John was in a coma for several days and doesn’t have any recollection of the accident. The severity of injuries ultimately resulted in the amputation of both his legs and right hand. He was bedridden for over a year. “I was told that I’d no longer be able to engage in my favorite hobbies: travel and exploration,” John recalls.
However, after a spate of surgeries—39 till date—John made his first trip as an individual with a disability in January 2014. Since then, he has taken over 689 flights, visited 30 countries and destinations across the world. It wasn’t easy at all; each of these travels presented their unique challenges to accessibility. He says, “Whether it’s meeting rescue elephants in Cambodia, riding a cable car to Table Mountain, visiting the tallest buildings across the world, sitting atop the Great Wall of China, or exploring the Kremlin, I continuously shine a light on possibility and opportunity.”
Sharing His Knowledge
John traveled for over a year across the world before he launched his website WheelchairTravel.org. On his website, he writes about accessible travel, places he has visited, and his experiences in these places.
John shares, “I have overcome my own physical limitations and have created a resource that others like me can rely on for information on the possibilities that remain.” With his website, John aims to provide his readers the tools to travel around the world despite their disabilities. He shares tips, information, and resources to help plan a vacation accessible in wheelchair.
John lives his dream despite his disability and he wants to empower others to do the same. A true traveler and explorer at heart, John exhorts, “Don’t listen to what they say. Go See.”
