Travel has always been part of Maayan Ziv’s life. Born with Muscular Dystrophy, she grew up loving to travel and still does today, often for work as Founder and CEO of AccessNow. But as she shares on Disability Rights, and Wrongs: The David Lepodcast by Accessible Media Inc., that love for travel has always come with barriers, especially with air travel.
In the episode, Maayan speaks openly about the plenty of barriers she experiences when flying: not being able to board with a personal wheelchair, having to use a seating style that doesn’t meet her needs, navigating systems that remove independence long before the plane even takes off, and countless more issues. Many of these barriers are invisible and incredibly complex – hours are spent on the phone coordinating with airlines, filling out forms, the anxiety of handing over her mobility to a stranger, or knowing that using the washroom mid-flight simply isn’t an option.
She also reflects on the moment that pushed her to speak out more publicly. Despite following all guidelines and rules to ensure her wheelchair would be kept safe, including a thick layer of airport bubble wrap, Maayan landed from an international flight and immediately saw that her wheelchair had been severely damaged.
With years of lived experience and a growing platform, Maayan used a vulnerable moment to highlight a larger truth: airline accessibility isn’t just about inconvenience – it’s about dignity, safety, and the right to move through the world independently. Air travel should not be this complicated for people with disabilities. From this was born the #Rights on Flights movement, and the valuable work being done with Canada’s first ever Accessible Air Travel Forum.
“The world is filled with barriers. If you want a chance at a good life, or a meaningful life – or a life where you can seize your own potential – you’re going to have to advocate.” – Maayan Ziv, (5:11)
🎧 Listen to the full conversation on Disability Rights, and Wrongs: The David Lepodcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
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