Hello all! My name is Ellie, and I am a 2022 Watson Fellow. As I write this, I am sitting in the car next to my fiancée, driving to Atlanta. Tomorrow, I am embarking on a yearlong journey. My first stop: Sweden! I have so many exciting things planned, but I am most excited for the unexpected. There will be an intro post later this week once I get settled, so be on the lookout!
Now that I am all packed, I am able to reflect on all the prep work that my support systems and myself completed. Packing in two bags for a whole year is DIFFICULT, y’all. Especially with a disability. Half of my backpack (which is a large hiking backpack) is full of diabetes supplies! And it was anything but easy to have my prescriptions filled. The rest of this post will be focused on the accessibility of international travel, a case study of my own experience. If you have also had a difficult experience making sure that you have everything you need to be you, I am proud of you for continuously advocating for yourself.
Our saga begins two years ago. Sophomore Ellie walks into her endocrinologist’s office with one burning question: “Can I travel abroad with my disabilities?” My doctor was so excited for me and said we would work through it. A few months later, I was accepted into my DREAM study abroad program in Stockholm! All set to go, and then the COVID Pandemic hit. My plans of traveling were thwarted.
But we must not dismay! I held onto my wanderlust and applied to every program that would let me explore the world. Time and time again, they were cancelled due to COVID*. My senior year comes around, and I decide to go for the Watson Fellowship. If you don’t know much about the fellowship, I will add a bit about it here on my blog. In March of 2022, the fellows were released and my name was there! There were a conglomeration of emotions running through me, but my main worry was about my insulin. How do I keep my temperature-sensitive medication good while I traverse the globe?
**I have a team of advocates on my side that heavily involves my parents and my fiancée. When I say “our,” or “we,” I am referring to those who help me get what I need.
Our first call was to the endocrinologist. She told me that they had no idea how to guarantee my access to insulin for a whole year, but encouraged me to reach out to my insurance company. My insurance company advised us to talk to my pharmacist. My pharmacist sent me to call my insulin manufacturer, who then pointed us back to my endocrinologist. We were in an endless loop in which NO ONE KNEW how I could possibly get insulin in another country. I was frustrated, to say the least. One night, I had just finished ranting about the lack of accountability in my health care team and my mom said, “there has to be an answer, we just have to keep asking.” So we did. Our family switched to different health insurance, and after weeks of phone calls and endless information regarding my medications, the insurance company approved 6 months of supplies! WOO!
Obstacle two: how do we keep my insulin safe and cold? Insulin is temperature-sensitive and can stay effective for a year when refrigerated. Once it becomes room-temperature, it is only good for 30 days. I couldn’t put the insulin in my checked bag since it might break, so we needed a solution that could fit in my carry-on.
Cue my mother, who had been researching for the past four months. She had multiple options because she is a ROCKSTAR! She had a yeti cooler, which would keep everything cool for about 3 days, long enough for me to get to Auckland from Stockholm in a few months. The issue is that the yeti took up most of my backpack. We were tight on space, but then master organizer and problem-solver Debra swooped in with Frio Refrigeration packs. They are gel, which can be allowed on airplanes if they are medically necessary. She also had gotten this portable cooler that can keep insulin cold for 7-9 hours on it's own, but when plugged in functions as a refrigerator. We really are living in a high-tech world, people!
Since I am travelling with a pretty large volume of medications, I made sure to receive letters from all my doctors. I also have letters from the Watson Foundation explaining the basics of the program, just in case TSA or customs is curious!
The most infuriating part of this entire experience was definitely researching international health insurance. The majority of companies who offer it will not cover pre-existing conditions. Therefore, the people who rely on consistent medication to function are left in the dust and often, in debt. Healthcare is not as expensive where I am headed, but charges add up when you are chronically disabled. Thankfully, my current insurance plan would cover a portion of my expenses. I fussed about the lack of international support for disabled persons for WEEKS and I won’t stop any time soon. International Accessibility is not just about mobility, but it is about widening support systems to include all body minds.
Anywho. . . I feel confident that I will be able to problem-solve with my disabilities. In a way, I feel like my Watson year started early. I got a crash course in international inaccessibility before I even left the States!
If you have any questions about the terms I used, shoot me a message on the Contact page. I will also be compiling a few resources if you want a background of disability sensitivity and awareness! That’s all for now, I think. I will write more later this week 😊
Ellie
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