One of the most common questions children get asked as they are growing up is, ”what do you want to be when you grow up?”
Some may say a doctor, others may say they want to Play next song be like their parents and do what they do, while the rest say something in between.
But what about the children who know exactly what they want to be when they grow up?
I started writing and creating stories when I was seven or eight years old out of construction paper, ribbons and shoelaces. I called them mini books. I created the illustrations myself and bonded the book together before presenting it to my family. Ever since then, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I wanted to be a writer.
When I got older and began to understand that I was different than my peers, I also began to realize that although I have an incredible support system, there are people who navigate the uncertain world of disability on their own, without the support of others.
That is when I came up with the idea to begin this blog. My hope in the beginning of this journey was that by sharing my experiences with others, I would be showing them that they are not alone on their journey. I wanted to not only share the real and raw realities of what living life with a disability is like, but also showcase accessibility while traveling as a wheelchair user.
I started this blog in 2021, a year into the pandemic when traveling was at a stand still and people were quarantining in their homes, including me. I had no earthly idea what I was doing. All the travel content I had was from years prior and none of it showed accessibility. I wasn’t used to talking about my life and so I was nervous, but decided to do it anyway.
This is a ‘revamp’ of my old website with the same name. Since 2021, I have had the privilege of working with three amazing companies who gave me the chance to showcase their incredible accessibility. Those posts are coming soon.
Although I do not find my life unique in the traditional sense, I feel as if I have a unique perspective of what it is like to live differently than my peers. I know what it’s like to have to adapt to your surroundings when they aren’t accessible. I know what it’s like to live life with uncertainty due to my disability and how scary the disability world can be.
I decided to revamp Ashley’s Vantage because, if I can help one person feel less alone as they navigate down the path of living life with a disability, then it makes it all worth it in the end.
Thank you for visiting. 🙂