Justin Skeesuck is an adventurer, and he’s on a quest to make the world more accessible for disabled travelers through The Disabled Traveler. Justin, a graphic designer who has a progressive neurological disorder, is also the star of an upcoming documentary, I’ll Push You– a 500-mile journey between two best friends. The movie details his pilgrimage to travel the Camino de Santiago in Spain via wheelchair and, as the Beatles sang, with a little help from his friends.
The inspiring journey is detailed in a video for his Kickstarter project, which you can see here– it is a double-dose of inspiration in matters of the human spirit, and who couldn’t use a little more of that?
How did your journey on the Camino de Santiago come to be?
In the spring of 2012, on a nondescript Saturday afternoon, I was rapidly flipping through the channels (which is kind of therapeutic in some weird type of way), and I stopped on PBS. On the channel was Rick Steves, a European travel TV host, and he was talking about Spain and the Camino.
Something in what he was saying really resonated with me and I thought to myself…“I wonder if I could do that 500-mile pilgrimage in my wheelchair?”
A couple weeks later, my best friend Patrick was visiting me in San Diego (where I lived at the time), and I asked him what he thought.
To my surprise, he said, “I’ll push you.”
I knew he was serious the moment he said it, so from that point on we set off planning and preparing!
What was the best part of the trip?
Well, that’s a loaded question! There were a lot of parts of the trip that were absolutely amazing, but if I really had to choose…I really loved the times where we had communal meals with fellow pilgrims from all around the world.
You meet these people as you are walking slowly across the Spanish countryside. Some of them speak English. Some of them don’t. But that doesn’t matter…
And when you have time to share a meal together, it’s chaotic and beautiful at the same time. I believe sharing a meal is the core of how we interact and love each other as humans. Regardless of your background.
What was the worst part?
The worst part for me was being apart from my wife and kids. It’s the longest I had ever been away from any of them, which was a total of about six weeks. Even though we did some Skype sessions together, it was still not the same as being together.
I can only imagine what it’s like to serve in the military and be gone for much longer than that. My respect goes out to those who serve!
The most memorable?
Again, a super loaded question! I think one of the most memorable parts of the journey was Day 1 where we went over the Pyrenees mountain range. It has to be the most incredibly physically draining, emotionally draining day I’ve ever encountered.
It was 13.5 miles of nearly constant ascent with a short descent at the end. We are going up, and up, and up for hours on end, going over rocks, water, over boulders, through 8-10 inches of mud, etc. Plus, some sections of the trail were a 30% grade, which is super steep!
It took us over 13 hours that first day but we made it!
Were you ever scared and, if so, how did you conquer your fear?
There were moments where it was a little “hairy.” One day in particular, we were taking a “country road,” but what we didn’t know was the major freeway was closed down and all of the semi trucks and traffic were rerouted on the road that we were on. They were literally whizzing 3-5 feet from us at 70-80 mph!
In those moments, you just hunker down and try to get through it. Safely of course. It’s literally taking one step at a time and moving forward.
What’s the one simple change the world of travel could make that would have the biggest single impact on travelers with physical disabilities?
Traveling with a disability is super challenging and difficult. That’s a very simplified way of putting it. There are two major obstacles that people with disabilities encounter when traveling:
- Getting there
- Finding the right type of accommodations
One simple change that would improve the face of traveling for people disabilities is allowing them to board a plane WITHOUT having to get out of their wheelchair or mobility device (like a scooter). Just roll right onto the plane!
Flying with a disability is daunting especially if you’ve never done it before, plus airlines aren’t exactly careful with a device on which you are dependent upon to get around.
Now, this is easier said than done…which I understand, but it would be AWESOME if that could be the case.
How has your disability changed your career as a graphic designer?
Living with a progressive neuromuscular disease has drastically changed my career path. I was a graphic designer for more than 20 years, and it was a career that I absolutely loved. And still do!
I feel I was “born” to be a graphic designer, but my life has taken a different path.
A few years ago, I had to do a lot of soul-searching, and through a few serendipitous conversations and events, The Disabled Traveler was born.
My design career has served me well and still does to this day. The skill sets I have learned, both design-related as well as business, help me immensely.
I’m not reliant upon others for creating my own brand or creating a quick brochure for an event I will be speaking at.
Change is hard –any tricks you’d like to share for making it easier?
My life IS change. I live it all the time!
I think change is a part of life that can be beautiful if you learn how to accept it. It’s never going to be easy in the beginning, but it does get easier the more and more you accept change in your life. It’s kind of like a muscle you need to keep flexing. You become stronger and more adept in it.
I mean, I never would have gone on the Camino or would’ve been able to help people with disabilities learn how to travel if I never accepted the change in my life!
How do you get people around you to embrace change?
I’m not sure, but I think it comes down to living it out. I do my best to be authentic and real with my close friends and loved ones or anyone who I come in contact with.
I have bad days and good days, just like everyone else, but it’s a constant drive to move forward in life, which is what I strive for.
I believe life is a journey with hills and valleys. It’s not a straight line either… And, it takes a change in direction from time to time plus a whole lot of faith!
If you could change one thing in the world right now, what would it be?
I’m typically not a political individual or get into political arguments, but it would be great if our government would be willing to come together and collectively move our country forward! I think it’s time to put personal interests aside and work towards the betterment of the United States and its people.
What are you reading right now?
I typically read things that I’m super interested in and they happen to be more on the informational or historical side. Right now, I’m reading and researching a lot on disability etiquette to find best practices. Not exciting to most people, but I find it to be.
Listening to?
Oh, music! I love music…Some of my favorite bands are Kings of Convenience (Norway), Mackintosh Braun, Emancipator, Elbow, Switchfoot, Guster and one of my longtime favorites, The Ocean Blue.
I’m also particular to some of the older stuff like Sinatra and 1950s & 1960s Brazilian bossa nova. Nice and mellow.
Watching?
I’m kind of in between shows, but I was a big fan of Breaking Bad! Last winter, my wife and I even did a couple “power days” where we watched 5-10 episodes in a day because we were watching it from the very beginning and there are about a billion episodes. Definitely not healthy!
Who inspires you?
People who live in the motivational and marketing worlds: Frank Kern (amazing!), Brendon Burchard and sometimes Tony Robbins.
They have all helped me in some way shape or form move forward in life and in my business.
Favorite color?
This is not one of those Monty Python questions, right? I’m not going to fly off a cliff if I answer it wrong?
Okay, I will proceed with caution…
My favorite color: navy blue
Why? I’m not sure, but I've always liked it since I was young.
Rock, paper, or scissors?
Definitely rock. Paper is flimsy and can be ripped. Scissors can break and don’t really serve a purpose except for your 5-yr old daughter who is constantly cutting her hair off! (Don’t ask.)
Rocks are solid, sturdy and take years of work in progress to get where they are.
Who are you following online?
Well, like above, I follow Frank Kern mostly. He has amazing training and insight on marketing and business. Other than that, not much except just the typical Facebook cyber stalking :-) Admit it. Everyone does it to a certain degree!
What’s one question you’d like to ask yourself – and answer?
Good question! I think I’d like to ask myself “How do you do it?”
Believe it or not, I ask myself this question all the time! And, I’m not sure how I do it. And what I mean by “it” is living with a progressive neuromuscular disease, managing and building a new business, being a good husband who is constantly present, and a father of three children with three unique personalities.
I think my answer will be as simple as: “It’s my relationship and foundation in Christ that is the rock and core of it all.”