Things have been a little quieter than usual here on the Have Wheelchair Will Travel website over the last few months, but for good reason. I’ve been working on a new project which I’m super excited about.
Today I’m thrilled to finally be able to share the details. We’ve just co-founded a disability specific magazine, Travel Without Limits. While I champion inclusion in mainstream media and write an accessible story in each issue for Family Travel magazine, I also recognise the limitations in this medium. I believe accessible travel deserves space to provide detailed and specific information which will help people achieve their travel dreams. A dedicated magazine will allow us to do that.
This project is personal for me. When BJ was little, I looked at travel brochures and magazines and didn’t see stories or images which reflected our family life or addressed our challenges. I found it isolating and it made me feel excluded. I had a young toddler and I was searching for information which would prove to me he wasn’t going to miss out on all that I’d hoped for him. I didn’t see anything which reassured me.
Since then, social media and the sharing which happens across the globe has bridged some of the divide, but I think we can go further. Why not have a travel magazine which is tailored to sharing accessible information for the varied needs and challenges faced by people travelling with a disability. With almost 20% of the population living with a disability it makes sense.
The first issue of Travel Without Limits magazine was a tester and is available to read online. The subsequent issues will be over double the size and available via subscription on the Travel Without Limits website.
As with all things, this is a team effort and to my family and friends who were there to listen and back me through the process. A huge thanks goes to all the contributors and to our Have Wheelchair Will Travel community members who shared photos. I am passionate about having real people in our magazine as much as possible. I’d have loved to use them all, but we received so many it wasn’t possible.
We hope you’ll support this venture by sharing the link to the magazine with disability organisations, friends and therapists. We’d like to prove to the world that there is indeed a need for this publication.
I’d love your feedback so please let me know what you think and share any tips for stories for future issues.
Congratulations Julie! Looking forward to hearing all about on 2rph Travel Time
Hi Yvonne
Thank you.
I’m looking forward to our chat.
Julie
Hello Julie, I Think that this is a wonderful idea and would happily contribute copy content if you need help.
Best wishes,
Michael Holden
Hi Michael
Thanks so much. We’ll definitely be keen to have a range of contributors.
Julie
Is there a way to subscribe to the magaZine, either hard copy or digitally?
Hi Alison
We’re working on it. You can read it online now but we are working on a subscription.
Julie
You’re such a clever woman Julie with a clever team around you. I look forward to reading such welcome information in a mag form.
Congratulations on the launch and a successful future.
Thanks so much Leanne. Teamwork made it happen. Very happy to be finally sharing it with you all.
Julie
FANTASTIC NEWS!! Well done Julie, i am so proud of you. you have worked so hard at getting your idea up and running and now your message is out.
am passing it on to as many people i can. Congratulations my friend..
Thank you. All those chats we’ve had always motivate me. Thanks for your support.
Julie
Great idea for a magazine. I am currently looking for accessible holiday accommodation for my daughter & her own 2 carers close to beach from brisbane. She won’t travel long distance so sunshine coast is too far. my problem has been – no accommodation with electric bed. There is 1 place at the gold coast but are asking $5000/wk.
I’m sure if they were to put these beds in accessible accommodation they would be satisfying a big community of disabled people.
Hi Bronwyn
Have you thought about hiring an electric bed to use at the accommodation. I think I know the property you are talking about. It’s ideal for groups or large families but expensive for smaller groups.
Julie
Where will this mag be available ??😊
I have a Married daughter in a WheelchAir in Qld but often in sdyNey ..
Jan
Hi Jan
We have printed copies of the magazine which I will be distributing to many disability organisations for their clients. We are just working on a mail out subscription for those who have asked. I’ll get back to you about it as soon as it is available. In Sydney I’ll be sharing them at the NAPA Centre, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Allambie, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Ryde and RIDBC to start.
Julie
this is a great step for disabled people to move around and gather information about wheelchair transportation companies.
Would like to subscribe to your magazine – is it actually published for mailing please. no lower case to write my email address
Hi Christine,
We have printed copies of the magazine which I will be distributing to many disability organisations for their clients. We are just working on a mail out subscription for those who have asked. I’ll get back to you about it as soon as it is available.
Julie
Thank you for creating a magazine that will help lots of families. How do I get a copy?😊
Hi Monika
We have printed copies of the magazine which I will be distributing to many disability organisations for their clients. We are just working on a mail out subscription for those who have asked. I’ll get back to you about it as soon as it is available.
Julie
Hi Monika
Thank you for your interest, we are in the process of creating a page where you can subscribe to Travel Without Limits easily online. In the interim, we can process your request manually if you email through your postal address and contact phone number and what level of subscription you’d like. The email is [email protected]
Once we have this information we will put a copy of issue #1 in the post for you and send you an invoice that can be paid online. If you select 12 or 24 month options you will automatically receive the subsequent issue(s) in September & March (the magazine is bi-annual).
Pricing is:
$7.95 for a single issue
$15 for a 12 month subscription (2 issues)
$28 for a 24 month subscription (4 issues)
Thanks.
Julie
Hello! A student who was in one of my study abroad classes posted a link to Your piece about the magazine. I woild be interested in learning more about it and, if you are inteRested, share info about my program. I can be reached at [email protected]. I look forward to hearing from you. ALexis
Hi Alexis
Feel free to email me information about your program at [email protected]
Julie
Hello,
We are the association Antenne Handicap (photo page 18) and we thank you for your publication in the magazine. Would it be possible to have the article page 17-18 please ? We would like to add it to our press articles and be able to transfer it to our social networks with your agreement of course.
Thank IN ADVANCE,
BEST REGARDS.
Hello
Yes, of course. I have it ready for you if you send me your email address. My email address is [email protected]
Julie
Congratulations! Can’t wait to read your publication. My husband is not restricted to a wheelchair but has had Parkinson’s disease 21 years. Travel is so difficult. It needs to be easier for Family to experience travel with their disabled loved ones.
Hi Merryl,
The magazine is aimed at people of all abilities. Not just those using a wheelchair.
I hope you enjoy it.
Julie
I am looking at down the track for my son to go to melb to VISIT his bro he is in a Wheelchair 24/7 so travel is not that easy i hope he can soon thanks gina
HI Julie,
ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS DI, BOUGHT ONE OF OUR CARS AND TOLD US ABOUT YOU MANY YEARS AGO.
My husband Justin and I own Integrity Car SAles And rentals. WE specialise in selling and hiring wheelchair access vehicles in brookvale sydney. WE have just extended our rental platform out to Adelaide and Sunshine Coast and are close to extending further to Penrith, central coast, newcastle, taree, dubbo, Port Macquarie.
Today I’ve been reading some your blogs and seen some of the wonderful adventures you’ve had!
WE love your work and would love to have your magazines at our head office in Brookvale and if you’re interested we would like to talk to you about the possibility of advertising our services in your magazine.
Hope to talk soon,
Hi Julie – this is awesome congratulations. With 1 in 5 Australians diagnosed with a disability, this magazine is bound to be a success and help loads of people to get out more. If you need ideas please feel free to contact me – we help this community too at http://www.Thescubagym.com.au providing scuba therapy and a great day out for those who thought their “condition” prevented them from this sort of activity. Looking forward to chatting one day,
Thanks Lyndi, I’ll email you.