When I was 16 one of my biggest dreams was to road trip it, preferably across the country, and preferably an old-school red Mustang convertible.  Six years later, at the near completion of yet another one of my trips back to college (in a van, not a convertible) I can say, beyond a shadow of doubt, that road trips are nowhere near as awesome as I had imagined. I drive back to school every year because my disability means I have a lot of equipment: two wheelchairs, a transfer assist, and a shower chair, not to mention my crip fashionista wardrobe. I know I'm privileged to be able to have all the equipment I need, but getting from place to place can be a challenge. I have to bring the equipment to and from school every year because I need it when I'm home. Also, there's no way I would take the risk of flying with my power chair/; this means I have to road trip it.

Road tripping as a chair user is certainly an adventure, and reminds me how complicated issues of accessibility still are. From a lack of accessible bathrooms, to the challenge of finding accessible hotel rooms, road tripping certainly makes me long for universal design. I'm reminded of the work we have to do with accessibility when stopping to use the bathroom is an option for my brother and sister, but not necessarily for me. I'm reminded of the work we have to do with accessibility when I have to choose between accessibility and a place to stay. Road trips makes me grateful for my natural creativity born out of necessity. Road trips makes me grateful that on a daily basis I live in a pretty accessible environment.

Road trips remind me of the continued importance of fighting for access to all places, no matter what form it takes. As I travelled across the vast expanses of our country, I couldn't help but think about how lucky I am to live in a country where access is a civil right, even if it isn't perfect. Yes, there are challenges, and yes I will continue to fight to make sure they are less of them, but I am so lucky to live in a country where I have the legal right to access.

Last night, my mom and I were talking about The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), or the disability treaty and why it is important. As I saw much of the East Coast from the window of my car, I couldn't help but think about how the CRPD would change access the rest of the  world. I couldn't help but think about how important it is for the United States to be an example. The CRPD may not change things on our soil, but ratification does matter. Ratification says that the United States believes that the rights of disabled people here and abroad are important. It allows us to share our expertise . It allows us to share our knowledge, to show people first hand how to implement disability policy. It allows us to take a stand, and be an example, it allows us to to acknowledge the necessity of fighting for equal rights and equal access for disabled people.

Road trips certainly have their challenges, but I'm grateful to live in a country where road tripping to college is an option for me as a young disabled woman. I understand that there are so many factors that play a role in me having  this opportunity, but I know that one of them, without doubt is the fact that people before me and fought to give me access and give me opportunity. As I travel down my beautiful coast, I can only hope that our country understands the importance of seeing that that opportunity doesn't end at our borders.