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Ten years ago, I lost my leg in an accident. At the time, I could never have imagined that I would one day lead such an active and adventurous life. For a long while, my concerns were simple but overwhelming: walking, maintaining balance, driving, being in social spaces, and continuing my professional career the way I always had.
But life unfolded in ways that exceeded my fears. I immigrated, changed my field of study, attended college, and launched my professional career. I work as a software developer, yet my true passions lie in traveling, writing, and photography. Writing gives me material for reflection; photography gives me material for expression. Together, they fuel my creativity and help me see the world in new ways.
With immigration and later a Canadian passport, the doors to travel opened wide. With my husband, our journey began close to home, exploring the natural beauty of British Columbia. Long weekends became opportunities for road trips, gradually revealing more of Canada’s cities and landscapes, and later international adventures. Travel has taught me patience, forced me out of my comfort zone, and demanded adaptability. Every trip is an achievement, I discover strengths I didn’t know I had, and I also learn the limits imposed by my physical condition.
Accessibility often requires large-scale planning like elevators, ramps, and specialized facilities, but there are also steps within our own control. I focus on what I can do to make each journey enjoyable and memorable, shaping my experiences around what I can achieve and savor.
We have built countless memories, learned lessons that only travel can teach, and are always planning the next adventure. Traveling with a disability is full of challenges, but it is equally full of rewards. The best days of the year are the ones spent on the road or in the sky, exploring the world alongside my golden iron leg and my partner, my greatest companion.
There are so many ways to describe the City of Ottawa. For some, it is the centre of government, with Parliament Hill in the downtown core. For others, it is Silicone Valley North, with people creating all those apps and techie things that make our lives better. (I love that it is highly accessible and thrives on being so.
Sara Banaeirad