Packing up my luggage, I felt a wave of fear. Maybe tomorrow's flight would be 1 and I didn't have to go after all — I 2 hoped. It was May 2022, and I'd 3 my job in London to begin a year-long journey around the world.

I loved to travel and had been 4 to visit many countries with friends and family. This time, I'd be travelling alone, which was pretty 5 for a woman with a disability, though I have learnt to 6 life in a wheelchair since I was 7.

Accessibility isn't much of a(n) 7 in some countries, but my first 8 on my solo trip was Bali. Although I'd ensured my hotel wouldn't be a problem, I couldn't 9 any risks.

"If it doesn't 10 , you can always come home." my parents 11 me. But I wasn't going to give up without a 12 .

In Bali, the hotel where I stayed was 13 by a kind woman who made sure I had 14 to the shower and anything else I needed. With her help, I made it to a mountain 15 and saw most of the island's sights. As 16 , the view from the top was thrilling.

After that, I made the trip up as I went, staying in a country until I got 17  and moved on to the next. Wherever I went, such as Africa and Asia, I was greatly impressed by the 18  of strangers helping me.

19 , I'd visited a total of 66 countries on my own by February 2023. Now, I'm fully 20 that a disability doesn't have to stop a person from getting out there and seeing the world.