Travel Without Limits: Leandre Casselman’s Lessons from Exploring the World
By
Tiffany Lin
Travelling to more than 30 countries after a spinal cord injury, Leandre Casselman knows that exploring the world is possible—with the right planning, preparation, and confidence.
His passion for travel began before his injury, when he spent summers working as a rickshaw and pedicab driver in Ottawa, Toronto, and Key West, Florida. Conversations with travellers from around the world inspired him to see more of it himself.
“I had the benefit of working with a lot of people who had travelled,” says Leandre. “Hearing their stories about their travel and their adventures is really what inspired me to want to travel.”
In his late 20s, a recreational gymnastics accident resulted in a spinal cord injury. Leandre later became involved with SCIO as a peer support volunteer, sharing his experiences with others adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury. He eventually joined SCIO’s staff and has now worked with the organization for nearly 19 years.
Today, as SCIO’s Development Coordinator, Leandre helps organize events and fundraising initiatives. Outside of work, his passion for exploring the world has continued, taking him to more than 20 countries.
Research Is Key to Accessible Travel
When Leandre first started travelling after his injury, he worried about navigating destinations where accessibility standards differed from those in Canada. Early on, he relied on specialized travel companies, guides, and drivers. As he gained experience, he became more confident travelling independently and learned how to adapt when challenges arose.
One of his most important lessons is to research ahead—and not rely solely on what a booking website says.
“I used to use TripAdvisor as my tool for finding hotels, but you don’t actually book through TripAdvisor. It was my research tool,” says Leandre. “What I would do is call the hotel directly, confirm that they’re accessible, and then do the booking myself.”
That extra step matters. During a trip to Vietnam, Leandre found that some hotels described online as “wheelchair accessible” still had stairs or inaccessible entrances.
Expect the Unexpected
Even careful planning can’t prevent every challenge. Leandre has encountered inaccessible bathrooms, difficult transfers, and damaged mobility equipment while travelling.
His advice is to prepare for the unexpected. Bringing spare wheelchair parts, basic tools, and other essential supplies can make it easier to handle repairs or adjustments along the way.
He has also found destinations that made getting around much easier. In New Zealand, for example, Leandre was able to rent an accessible vehicle and considers the country one of the most accessible places he has visited.
Leandre’s Accessible Travel Tips
Research accommodations and transportation before booking.
Contact hotels directly to confirm that accessibility features meet your needs.
Pack spare wheelchair parts, basic tools, and essential supplies.
Stay flexible and be prepared to adapt when plans change.
The Connections That Make Travel Memorable
For Leandre, travel is about much more than seeing new places. It’s also about the people and cultures he encounters along the way.
Cambodia holds a particularly special place in his heart. He has visited several times and met his wife there. Their relationship began long-distance, and they have now been together for more than 10 years.
“I’ve met all kinds of interesting people, interesting cultures, seen wonders in the world, tried all kinds of foods,” says Leandre. “It’s a tremendous learning experience to travel.”
Now, Leandre is sharing what he has learned through SCIO’s upcoming Peer Connection: Travel with Leandre event. He’ll discuss accessible travel planning, assistive devices, lessons from his own experiences, and strategies that can help others feel more confident planning their own adventures.
For Leandre, travelling with a disability may require extra preparation and flexibility, but that doesn’t mean adventure is out of reach.
Join Leandre for the Travel with Leandre Peer Connection event on August 17 to hear more of his experiences and learn practical tips for accessible travel.
