Traveling with a wheelchair can feel overwhelming — especially when independence has been shaken by sudden mobility loss. In this inspiring interview, clinical research expert and wheelchair padel athlete Kristen Paskins shares her emotional and practical journey of traveling alone to Madrid for the first time. Her story offers strength, clarity, and hope for anyone navigating life with a disability.
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1. Introduction & Motivation
Please introduce yourself briefly: Who are you, where are you from, and what should we know about you?
Kristen Paskins:
My name is Kristen Paskins. I’m originally a registered children’s nurse, and today I work in clinical research as a Clinical Research Associate, overseeing clinical trial monitoring in the UK. On the side, I’m also a wheelchair padel player — currently the GB No. 1 wheelchair padel player — which means I travel quite a lot for tournaments.
You recently finished the EUPATI Program. What was it about, and what inspired you to take part?
Kristen Paskins:
The EUPATI Program was recommended to me by a colleague who has worked in patient advocacy for many years. Even though I had a background in healthcare and clinical research, I didn’t feel I had the deep knowledge that EUPATI provides.
The course goes through the entire lifecycle of drug development — from early discovery to clinical trials, regulatory processes, health technology assessments, and market access. But most importantly, it focuses on ensuring patient involvement at every stage.
For me, that was incredibly motivating. I want to make sure patient experiences shape the systems meant to serve them.
As part of the EUPATI Program, you travelled alone to Madrid for the first time with your wheelchair. What did that journey mean to you personally?
Kristen Paskins:
It was a huge milestone. I only lost my mobility in 2022 after being diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, which caused me to lose the ability to walk in about a week.
Overnight, my independence and confidence disappeared. I didn’t yet have wheelchair skills, and I barely left my house for a year and a half. The social anxiety was huge — I didn’t feel ready to answer questions about why my life had changed so suddenly.
Travel felt impossible. So deciding to fly alone was an enormous emotional step — and a sign that I was finally rebuilding confidence, identity, and independence.
2. Planning & Preparation
How did you plan for this trip – practically and emotionally?
Kristen Paskins:
I did a lot of research — especially about accessibility. A close friend from Madrid helped me understand public transport, and we realized buses would be far easier than the metro because every bus has a ramp.
Emotionally, I had to accept that things would go wrong. That’s a universal truth for disabled travelers. Over time, I’ve learned to advocate for myself more, speak up when needed, and approach challenges with resilience instead of fear.
What kind of support, tools, or information helped you the most?
Kristen Paskins:
People — supportive people make everything easier.
And tools:
Google Maps (with wheelchair-accessible routing)
Local bus timetables
Knowing where to fix a wheelchair if something breaks
Staff at my hotel, who were incredibly helpful each morning
Those practical supports reduce stress enormously.
What were your biggest concerns before the trip – especially regarding accessibility?
Kristen Paskins:
Airports. Flying is consistently the hardest part of traveling with a wheelchair.
You depend entirely on mobility assistants — strangers who physically transfer you into an aisle chair and take your wheelchair away. If they don’t show up, you can’t board. I’ve been stuck on planes for over an hour waiting for assistance.
There’s also the fear of damage:
wheelchairs are often lost or end up on the baggage carousel instead of plane-side. Without your chair, you have zero independence.
Because this is such a widespread issue, I always encourage people to report their experiences — both to the airline and to campaigns like Rights on Flights, which collect global data and push airlines to reform outdated, unsafe practices.
Do you have any idea what people could do to speak up…?
Kristen Paskins:
Yes — always report accessibility failures to the airline. Those reports become part of the internal statistics that drive organisational change. And on top of that, the Rights on Flights campaign allows disabled passengers worldwide to report problems. Sophie Morgan uses this data when meeting airline executives, advocating for better training, safer handling, and modern aircraft design that finally accommodates wheelchair users with dignity.
Rights on Flights – Why Air Travel Must Change
Kristen Paskins:
In the UK, we have an incredible advocate, Sophie Morgan, who founded the global campaign Rights on Flights. Anyone from any country can report their air-travel accessibility issues on the Rights on Flights website. Sophie brings these lived experiences directly to airlines and industry leaders, pushing for structural improvements in how disabled travellers are treated.
One of her major objectives is future aircraft design that allows wheelchair users to remain in their own chairs on the plane — eliminating transfers, reducing injury risk, and preventing damage or loss of essential mobility equipment.
She also highlights shocking realities uncovered through research, such as the fact that only around 80% of aircraft carry an aisle chair — meaning some wheelchair users cannot access the toilet during a flight at all.
Campaigns like Rights on Flights show how collective voice can drive meaningful change, and they give passengers the tools to speak up and demand better.
Looking back, is there anything you would plan differently next time?
Kristen Paskins:
I try not to put all responsibility on myself — sometimes things go wrong no matter how much work you do.
I have learned small tricks, though:
Remind cabin crew before landing to request my wheelchair plane-side
Pre-book taxis big enough for the chair
Experience teaches you what to anticipate — but it shouldn’t stop anyone from trying.
3. The Experience – Challenges & Wins
What surprised you the most about actually being in Madrid?
Kristen Paskins:
The hills! Google Maps doesn’t show incline, and suddenly my “short walk” to the venue turned into a workout.
The metro also had fewer accessible stations than expected. But the bus network was great.
What were the biggest barriers you encountered – and how did you handle them?
Kristen Paskins:
In Madrid, the lift at my hotel broke — the only step-free entrance into reception. Staff improvised and helped me through the underground car park.
Sometimes even accessibility solutions fail, so flexibility and patience become daily skills.
Were there moments you felt especially proud of yourself?
Kristen Paskins:
That first morning, entering the EUPATI room full of patient advocates.
I was proud that I’d traveled alone — something unimaginable a year prior — and proud to be surrounded by people with the same passion for patient-centered change.
Did any person or situation during your trip leave a lasting impression?
Kristen Paskins:
Yes — especially conversations with people working in patient engagement, during a time when such roles are being cut. They encouraged me to persevere, reminding me that my skills and lived experience matter.
Meeting people who understood this mission meant a lot.
4. Growth, Confidence & Advocacy
What did this journey teach you about yourself?
Kristen Paskins:
It taught me how far I’ve come.
In 2022, I couldn’t push my wheelchair or leave the house. I had lost hobbies, identity, independence — everything felt over.
I wish someone then had told me:
“How you feel now is not how life will always feel.”
Because it’s true. Skills grow. Confidence grows. Independence grows. And community — especially through sport — changes everything.
How has this experience influenced your confidence and sense of independence?
Kristen Paskins:
It showed me that taking the leap before you feel fully ready is sometimes the only way forward. Confidence often comes after the action — not before.
How has the EUPATI Program influenced your perspective on advocacy?
Kristen Paskins:
It strengthened my belief that patient voices must shape every part of healthcare. Patients bring perspectives that no professional training can replace.
Who do you hope to support or empower with your experiences?
Kristen Paskins:
Anyone navigating acquired disability — especially those who feel isolated or overwhelmed.
I want them to know: life will not always feel as hard as it does at the beginning.
What message would you give to others with mobility challenges who dream of traveling?
Kristen Paskins:
Fear is normal — but don’t let it stop you.
Travel with someone supportive, prepare well, and remember:
You have the same right to travel as anyone else.
Your world doesn’t shrink unless you let it.
5. Outlook & Final Thoughts
What’s next for you – in life, work, or travel?
Kristen Paskins:
I’m launching a UK-wide campaign to bring disability sport information directly into hospitals and clinics. Sport transformed my life — I want others to access that support too.
Professionally, I hope to work even more in patient advocacy and policy influence.
What change would you like to see in accessibility or inclusion in the next five years?
Kristen Paskins:
Accessibility must be designed from the start — not retrofitted.
Doors must be light enough. Ramps must be realistic. Facilities must allow independent access, not just assisted access.
Society must see disabled people as independent citizens, not passive ones.
Campaigns like Rights on Flights show what’s possible when we raise our collective voices, but we still need systemic change on every level — from toilets on aircraft to accessible infrastructure on the ground.
If you could tell city planners one thing about making places more accessible, what would it be?
Kristen Paskins:
Always install a lift.
If you have money for luxury features, you have money for accessibility.
And every building must have an accessible entrance — even a temporary ramp can be life-changing.
What would you like to share with our listeners as a final thought?
Kristen Paskins:
During a difficult appointment, I once told a doctor:
“I might be ten minutes of your day, but I am every minute of mine.”
You are your best advocate. Trust your gut. Keep pushing for answers. No one knows your body as well as you do.
How and where can interested people find you online?
Farewell
Kristen Paskins:
Thank you for giving space to stories like mine. I hope it encourages others to explore the world, reclaim confidence, and know they deserve joy, freedom, and independence — especially when traveling with a wheelchair.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the listeners?
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See you soon and try to make the best out of your life,
Nele
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