An Irish para-archer who travels a lot by herself says Ireland is probably one of the best countries to grow up in with a disability.
Kerrie Leonard, who is a huge advocate for farm safety after suffering paralysis in a fall from a tractor when she was six, has never let her disability stop her in her life.
However, the 31-year old from Culmullen in Co Meath, says visits to many beautiful places in Europe have been complicated because of accessibility issues.
Read More: 'Vast majority' of parents in Ireland to benefit from childcare provider fee freeze
She is just home from a trip to Porto in Portugal and says that although she and her friends were concerned about the reported long airport queues, she didn’t experience any delays in Dublin.
She explained: “There is a lot of fast-tracking at airports for chairs so I wasn’t concerned.
“I very rarely use the disability card but this was a good opportunity to get through the airport without any delays.
“Porto was beautiful but it is not accessible for chairs unfortunately, and I found Copenhagen in Denmark the same when I visited last November.
“I try to visit a new country each year and often travel on my own and figure it out as I go.
“I drive myself so I’m used to taking down my chair which means I can use any taxi or transport when I get to my destination.
“Mostly, people are very good and helpful and don’t pass any remarks of me in a chair, but I do get stares from people, just for being out in the world.
“Berlin is probably the best European city for accessibility that I’ve visited so far but I have to say Ireland is one of the better countries to grow up in if you have a disability. I feel we are more obligated to be inclusive and more apologetic when we exclude anyone.
“Once places have accessible bathrooms, I tend not to worry about anything else, until it becomes an issue.
“The one thing in Ireland that I have a problem with is listed buildings which are often inaccessible to chair users.
“If that building is used as a public service, the onus is on them to make it accessible to all their customers and if they can’t, they should consider moving to a different location.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Kerrie’s accident but she says she is grateful for the life she has built and is looking forward to competing in the next Paralympics in Paris in 2024.
She says: “Look, life has had its ups and downs over the last 25 years and not only on me but on those around me who have worried but have equally supported the decisions I’ve taken and we have been able to celebrate or console the outcomes.
“There are always moments where I wonder if things would have been different if I had chosen door number two but then I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“I’m surrounded by friends and family I love, I’ve achieved goals I set myself without any idea of how to get there and there are so many more things I want to achieve.
“For anyone who worries for your loved ones or yourself and the life that you think they may be missing out on, just stay the course and remember to look up at the stars every once in a while it’s a lovely view!”
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
