Back in 2011, Rhonda Raven Neuhaus traveled to Turrialba to embark on an adapted canyoning adventure with Serendipity! Since then, she has been back to meet with us and, on her last visit, she shared valuable insights into accessible travel in Costa Rica and what we can learn from the global disabled community.
Please can you introduce yourself?
I am Rhonda Raven Neuhaus. I am a Disability Rights Attorney and Advocate, which I did for over 20 years. And my primary work right now is that I have a healing practice. As a channel for medical intuitive, energy work, body, mind, spirit, etc.
Where do you live in Costa Rica?
I live in Pérez Zeledon, which is three hours south of San Jose, four hours from the airport, which confounds a lot of my friends that I’m that far from an airport. But to me Pérez is paradise.
How did you hear about Serendipity Adventures?
I wear two prosthetic legs. I was born missing my legs, so it’s all I know. And I messaged maybe half a dozen companies that do travel and tourism and adventure. And I said, I wanted to do canyoning or do something like that. I’ve done rafting, I’ve done other things, but I can’t get my legs wet, and I can’t walk through rivers.
Serendipity was the only outfit or the only organization that said, ‘Come! We want more people with disabilities. We’ve actually been talking about it. This is Serendipity for us as well, because you could help us learn how to be more accessible, how to talk about access and inclusion, and how we can make trips accessible for our clients’.
What was your experience with us like?
Serendipity actually said, we’ll gift you the tour and then you can teach us. It was this beautiful exchange of a day. I took the bus from San Jose. We did the canyoning and the whole team came on the trip, it was me and the Serendipity team, it was wonderful.
There’s always a great team here. I found that whether it is the first, second and third time it is now. And I know it’s not just for me. It’s for every client. It’s for everyone who comes through here because I see who you all are and you’re beautiful people.
What advice can you give to companies working in accessible travel?
You just ask questions and be curious. Honestly, that’s the first thing. Everyone doesn’t have to know everything. You have a ramp outside your office, that’s a huge step to begin with and that you’re asking these questions is a big step.
Then to know what hotels accessible and what attractions are accessible. There are so many things that I do here, and in the world, I’ve been to 65 different countries hundreds of times with repeats. And you’re just conscious of how inaccessible things are when you’re aware of it.
People don’t even realize that everyone’s disability is different. You could have two wheelchair users or two people with prosthetic legs and our access needs are different. To be able to accommodate and just ask the questions to say, okay, what do you need in a trip?
What is it like being part of the disability community in Costa Rica?
I have to tell you; the global disability community is one of the most amazing communities in the world. There are communities of people, centers for independent living, and growing movements around the world.
Where I live in Pérez, it was actually the very first independent living center in Costa Rica was created in Pérez. Now, I’m not sure how many, like six, seven, eight now in the country, there could be 50. In the U. S. there’s many in each state, so it’s still growing here, but it’s growing.
There’s now actually a career path for personal care attendants in Costa Rica and I’m affiliated, it’s called Centro Morpho, and they’re it’s a wonderful organization in Pérez.
Have you seen much progress in accessibility in Costa Rica?
Yes and no. Definitely in high tourist areas, restaurants, places that are geared for tourists. There’s a lot more. You’re seeing bathrooms, you’re seeing ramps, you’re seeing more access. In the local communities even in the U.S., things, there’s a long way for us to go everywhere.
What would you like to see in the next 5-10 years regarding accessible travel?
I would love to see everything accessible in the entire world! I would love all people with disabilities to know that they can come to this beautiful country or do whatever it is that they would like to do in their life.
I wear artificial legs, so I can hop into a bus or a cab. There are other disabilities that need different accommodations. I have my things that I need accommodating for. There are resources everywhere. There are people who have this as their passion everywhere in the world and it’s a vibrant amazing community including here in Costa Rica, so I encourage you all to connect with the organizations in Turrialba and San Jose and Pérez and with everything that’s happening here.
Any final words for our audience?
For whoever’s listening who might want to visit Costa Rica, it’s an amazing place and Serendipity wants to make it happen. I’m excited to go again!
