A Wheelchair Traveler
Welcome to Miyo Tatsuya’s Blog
Hi, I’m Miyo Tatsuya. I traveled around the world/in a wheelchair/by myself. I visited 42 cities/in 23 countries.
When I was 18,/I got injured/in a motorcycle accident. Because of that,/I couldn’t move my arms and legs. But I never gave up. After rehabilitation,/I was able to use my arms again.
When I was 23,/I traveled alone/to Hawaii. I was impressed/with the barrier-free facilities. Also,/people living in Hawaii/were kind to me. I became interested in foreign countries. I wondered/how accessible other countries were/for wheelchair users. So/I decided to travel around the world.
Traveling in Italy
In Florence,/an accident happened. I was moving my wheelchair/on a road/made of stones. Suddenly,/the right-front wheel came off. The wheelchair would not move/at all. I was at a loss.
Just then,/someone asked,/“Trouble?” I saw an Italian man/with his family. He looked at my wheelchair/and said,/“One screw is missing. You also need a wrench/to fix it.” His wife found a wrench for me. His two kids started/searching for the missing screw. Soon,/they screamed,/“We found the screw!” All of the family helped me,/and my wheelchair was finally fixed.
I said,/“Grazie ! ”/and tears came out of my eyes. Thanks to their kindness,/I was able to continue my trip.
Traveling in Greece
I had a special experience in Greece,/too. Traveling in Athens,/I met a man/from India. He was kind enough/to take me to the Parthenon. At that time,/the wheelchair lift was broken. I almost gave up,/but he asked a Spanish man nearby/for help. Then/they carried me up/in my wheelchair. Finally,/we were able to reach/the top of the Parthenon.
I asked the Indian man,/“Why are you so kind to me?” He said,/“We all live on Earth together:/men and women,/young and old,/disabled and non-disabled. I’m happy/that I helped you.”
From this trip,/I noticed/that the world is full of kind people. They are willing to help others.
A Reflection on My Trip
Receiving help from many people,/I was able to travel around the world. I noticed/that kind people did not hesitate/to speak to someone/in trouble.
Let’s imagine/that you are on a crowded train. A passenger nearby looks sick. What will you do? You may hesitate,/but I hope you ask,/“Are you OK?” It is important/that you have the courage/to talk to people. I believe/that this courage can change the world.
As I experienced during my trip,/ “barrier-free” is not only about facilities,/but also about people’s mindset. Anyone can contribute/to creating a barrier-free society.
Welcome to Miyo Tatsuya’s Blog
Hi, I’m Miyo Tatsuya. I traveled around the world/in a wheelchair/by myself. I visited 42 cities/in 23 countries.
When I was 18,/I got injured/in a motorcycle accident. Because of that,/I couldn’t move my arms and legs. But I never gave up. After rehabilitation,/I was able to use my arms again.
When I was 23,/I traveled alone/to Hawaii. I was impressed/with the barrier-free facilities. Also,/people living in Hawaii/were kind to me. I became interested in foreign countries. I wondered/how accessible other countries were/for wheelchair users. So/I decided to travel around the world.
Traveling in Italy
In Florence,/an accident happened. I was moving my wheelchair/on a road/made of stones. Suddenly,/the right-front wheel came off. The wheelchair would not move/at all. I was at a loss.
Just then,/someone asked,/“Trouble?” I saw an Italian man/with his family. He looked at my wheelchair/and said,/“One screw is missing. You also need a wrench/to fix it.” His wife found a wrench for me. His two kids started/searching for the missing screw. Soon,/they screamed,/“We found the screw!” All of the family helped me,/and my wheelchair was finally fixed.
I said,/“Grazie ! ”/and tears came out of my eyes. Thanks to their kindness,/I was able to continue my trip.
Traveling in Greece
I had a special experience in Greece,/too. Traveling in Athens,/I met a man/from India. He was kind enough/to take me to the Parthenon. At that time,/the wheelchair lift was broken. I almost gave up,/but he asked a Spanish man nearby/for help. Then/they carried me up/in my wheelchair. Finally,/we were able to reach/the top of the Parthenon.
I asked the Indian man,/“Why are you so kind to me?” He said,/“We all live on Earth together:/men and women,/young and old,/disabled and non-disabled. I’m happy/that I helped you.”
From this trip,/I noticed/that the world is full of kind people. They are willing to help others.
A Reflection on My Trip
Receiving help from many people,/I was able to travel around the world. I noticed/that kind people did not hesitate/to speak to someone/in trouble.
Let’s imagine/that you are on a crowded train. A passenger nearby looks sick. What will you do? You may hesitate,/but I hope you ask,/“Are you OK?” It is important/that you have the courage/to talk to people. I believe/that this courage can change the world.
As I experienced during my trip,/ “barrier-free” is not only about facilities,/but also about people’s mindset. Anyone can contribute/to creating a barrier-free society.