{"id":39832,"date":"2024-08-26T10:12:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=39832"},"modified":"2024-08-26T10:12:17","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:12:17","slug":"bachich-accessible-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/bachich-accessible-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m a Wheelchair User\u2014and Despite the Obstacles, I Love to Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">Navigating the world with a spinal cord injury has given me a distinct perspective on my chosen field: hospitality<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>Nina Bachich \u201919<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">What do you do when your life completely changes in an instant? You adapt and redirect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From a young age, I was determined to become a Hotelie. As a little girl, I would practice my sommelier skills during my parents\u2019 dinner parties and worked my first \u201creal\u201d job at 16 as a chambermaid at my hometown\u2019s local motel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was more than thrilled when I was accepted to the <a href=\"https:\/\/sha.cornell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nolan School of Hotel Administration<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"848\" height=\"1002\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A.jpeg\" alt=\"Nina Bachich holding a cocktail\" class=\"wp-image-39834 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A.jpeg 848w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-254x300.jpeg 254w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-768x907.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-632x747.jpeg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-316x373.jpeg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-400x473.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-200x236.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/nina-with-her-drink-A-100x118.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 848px) 100vw, 848px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between classes, I TA&#8217;ed Food Service Management, Theory, and Practice\u2014the legendary culinary course\u2014and worked at Statler\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/statlerhotel.cornell.edu\/food-drink\/regent-lounge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Regent Lounge<\/a>. After graduating, I moved to Miami to pursue my dream job with Royal Caribbean Group, where I could combine my passion for hospitality with the travel industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In October 2021, a normal night out with friends changed my life. After a horrific incident (whose details I prefer not to share), I went from complete normalcy to a total loss of movement and sensation. I was paralyzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I was hospitalized for months with a spinal cord injury and faced my new reality as a paraplegic and full-time wheelchair user. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"515\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A.jpeg\" alt=\"Nina Bachich in a wheelchair with a group of women wearing dresses\" class=\"wp-image-39867\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A-632x424.jpeg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A-316x212.jpeg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A-400x268.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A-200x134.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/4E0F1AF9-7F2B-469B-9D71-14AE04082864_1_105_c-A-100x67.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Attending the wedding of her sister\u2014fellow Hotelie Natalie Bachich \u201913, BS \u201914\u2014in Guatemala.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>My daily routine changed from having a 9-5 corporate job and hanging out with friends to weekly hospital visits and daily intense physical therapy sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although I am lucky to have regained some function in my legs and am able to walk assisted for short distances, I still use a wheelchair as my main method of navigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Forced to adjust my lifestyle to accommodate my new limitations, I began confronting challenges most people never imagine\u2014and facing the inherent inaccessibility of our communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Forced to adjust my lifestyle to accommodate my new limitations, I began confronting challenges most people never imagine.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>After the initial shock of my new life set in, I quickly discovered that the vacations I had planned were no longer feasible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I turned to Facebook groups focused on accessible travel and learned that many people with disabilities face significant barriers when traveling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Common issues included fears of inaccessibility and a lack of adequate resources, even in the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"A hand waving, seen in a mirror above a sink\" class=\"wp-image-39865 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-1185x1580.jpg 1185w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-593x790.jpg 593w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-296x395.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-375x500.jpg 375w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-188x250.jpg 188w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A-94x125.jpg 94w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/66B6B704-04F1-4F08-BFC0-2907C91F4F7B-A.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><figcaption>Her view in the bathroom of an \u201cADA compliant\u201d hotel.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>My feed was filled with distressing accounts of hotels advertising wheelchair-accessible rooms that failed to meet ADA standards and wheelchair users struggling with inaccessible airplane restrooms. Easy travel seemed impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the challenges, I was determined not to let my new reality prevent me from traveling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My first trip after becoming paralyzed was a weekend visit to my mother\u2019s homeland, Guatemala, for my sister\u2019s wedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although I had visited Guatemala many times before, this trip was different. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I couldn\u2019t stay at my grandparents\u2019 house due to its numerous steps, so I opted for a hotel that listed wheelchair-accessible rooms. I soon learned how reliable the accessibility features were: while there was a ramp to my room, it was too steep for me to ascend alone, and the shower had a step, making it impossible to bathe without assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We even had to hire a driver to transport me across streets, since the roads were cobblestone and the sidewalks lacked curb cuts. Despite the difficulties, I managed to make the trip a success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While I recognized that accessibility laws in Guatemala differ significantly from those in the U.S., I soon found that American hotels also faced similar issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I began documenting my travel experiences and the accessibility challenges I encountered. Time and again, I found myself entering hotels that failed to meet basic accessibility needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Time and again, I found myself entering hotels that failed to meet basic accessibility needs.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Although I understand that perfection is unrealistic, it is particularly disheartening when establishments advertise ADA-approved access but fall short of complying with the regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These barriers have inspired me to advocate for change and ignited a passion for improving disability services. I am committed to championing better and more transparent accessibility and ensuring our communities are fully inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>In August 2024, I began studying public policy at Georgetown University, with plans to attend law school afterward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My aim is to combine my love for hospitality with my dedication to disability rights, working toward a more inclusive industry and addressing issues of accessibility misrepresentation and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am passionate about advocating for a fairer and more equitable world for disabled individuals, particularly in the realm of travel. <\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"769\" height=\"766\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A.jpeg\" alt=\"Nina Bachich using a walker while on a trip with her family\" class=\"wp-image-39881 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A.jpeg 769w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-632x630.jpeg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-316x315.jpeg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-400x398.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-200x199.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/08\/E7BA3151-E6F6-4715-8E19-AB380E0AD022_1_105_c-A-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 769px) 100vw, 769px\" \/><figcaption>Visiting Istanbul\u2019s Blue Mosque with her parents (dad is Joseph Bachich \u201981, MPS \u201985) and grandmother.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Since becoming a wheelchair user nearly three years ago, I have explored four continents and visited countries around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By sharing my travel experiences with the disabled community, I hope to inspire others to embark on their own journeys\u2014and demonstrate that travel is indeed possible for those with disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>New Jersey native <strong>Nina Bachich \u201919<\/strong> spent the past five years living in South Florida, immersing herself in its vibrant hospitality scene. Her career journey has taken her through a variety of roles in hotels, restaurants, and travel. In July 2024, she was featured in a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/regent-senior-cocktails\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cornellians<em> story<\/em><\/a><em> on the tradition of Regent Lounge senior cocktails.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(All photos provided.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Published August 26, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Navigating the world with a spinal cord injury has given me a distinct perspective on my chosen field: hospitality<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":39831,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[37989,38552,33912],"footnotes":""},"categories":[639],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-39832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perspectives"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - 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