Meet Jennifer Allen | Founder of Wonders Within Reach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Allen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Comically, the root idea came from a spam email. I had signed up for a giveaway the subscribed me to several email lists. One of them sent an invitation to a masterclass on getting paid to travel. That sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? So, I signed up. The class was run by a travel couple showing how they galivant around the globe in fancy clothes taking pretty pictures and making hundreds of thousands of dollars for posting those pictures. We’re not those people. We’re working parents of three young kids. I took their idea and morphed it, thinking I could connect with all of the other people like us who can’t just leave on a whim, but still want to show their families the world.

I started my travel blog and Instagram account the very next day. It only took me about two days to realize I wasn’t the only one with the idea of a “travel family.” There were hundreds of accounts already doing this. It only took me a few more days, however, to realize none of those families looked like ours. I didn’t see anyone else traveling with a kid in a wheelchair. When I stopped to think about it, I realized the only other place we do see kids in wheelchairs is at the hospital. It’s tough to navigate a world full of barriers with a wheelchair, and many parents stop trying.

I realized that if I shifted directions to a disability travel blog for families, I could make a real difference for other families like ours. I’m not just showing my son in a wheelchair that the world is his, I’m inspiring and enabling other parents to do the same – and raising awareness and improving accessibility in the travel industry along the way!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Wonders Within Reach is a travel blog for families with disabilities.

When we first found out that our middle child would never walk, we had to do some mental adjusting. At first, I envisioned the five of us being trapped in the playroom for the rest of our lives. After I got over the initial shock, I was determined to stop focusing on the perceived problem and find solutions. It’s funny, looking back, that the first thing that comes to mind is not the Paralympians, or the wheelchair travelers, or the hundreds of other wheelchair users leading successful, fulfilled lives. Somehow, we’ve learned that a wheelchair is a limitation. Apparently, it’s a notion that’s hard to shake.

The more we get used to adventuring in a wheelchair, the more we’re aware that we don’t see many other families doing the same. It’s tough enough trying to get around in an inaccessible world, without everyone around you assuming you can’t do it. As we learn, we share. As we struggle, we encourage. As we discover man-made barriers, we raise our voices. As we find places that are truly welcoming to all people, we raise our voices even louder in celebration.

I’m constantly being reminded of the balance of changes that need to be made, and of the progress we’ve already made. I do an emotional pendulum swing of thinking it’s hopeless and the world will never treat wheelchair users as equals, to feeling like we can live and explore the same as everyone else – but the truth will always lie somewhere in the middle. There is much work to be done, but there is always hope.

I want the world to see us and welcome us. I want the world to know that a person is not defined by what his legs can or can’t do. I want the world to get to the point where they interact with a person in the same way, whether they’re standing or seated. Accessibility and inclusion are rooted in attitudes and awareness – much more than in building codes and ADA. That’s my mission! It’s not just inspiring and enabling families with disabilities to travel – it’s making a difference along the way, so that at some point these families won’t need inspiration to get out into the world, because the world will be ready and welcoming.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Amish Country, in Lancaster PA. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m pretty sure the community is built around food. Eat all the things. Shady Maple is the largest buffet in the country – and it’s still all delicious. Fox Meadows Creamery has been named the best ice cream in the state, but I dare you to find better in the country. You can eat in a train at Casey Jone’s, in the catacombs at Bube’s Brewery, or in a horse stable at Horse Inn. I promise none of them serve green eggs and ham, and it’s all delicious! My also have hundreds of coffee shops and cafes. Folklore is one of my favorites.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Instagram travel community. Not only were they my original inspiration, but the entire community has really come alongside me to help me in my efforts. Families without disabilities are sharing my content to help me raise awareness and sending me notes about how their own perspectives have shifted. They’re reaching out to places that aren’t accessible, and encouraging them to make improvements. These people that I’ve never met have banded together as allies in a cause that is not their own. This is what is going to make the greatest difference! It’s not me posting a picture and sharing how accessible some place is or isn’t, it’s the hundreds of people sharing the information and taking steps to make a difference. I think about @famtravelfolio, who shared my information with you, and @frugalforluxury and @suitcaseinseattle who are always sending me messages about things they find that would be great for our family. There are hundreds more – and it’s because of them that we’ve made it this far and that we will continue to make a difference!