A Wheelchair Adventure in London
Who Said Quadriplegics Can’t Travel?

"England on a Roll: A Wheelchair Adventure in London and West Country" begins with the adventures of author Carole Carsey, a quadriplegic tourist, and her husband Willie.

At first glance,the book might seem to be a straightforward story of a quadriplegic woman’s two-week trip to England, written for disabled people who are interested in traveling abroad.

"More than just a fascinating chronicle of my trip, however, the book includes a resource section with helpful addresses and phone numbers for other disabled travelers," Carsey said.

Told in first person, with a healthy serving of pathos and humor, Carsey offers an upbeat travelogue, describing her sightseeing experiences across "the pond." With a sense of vigor, "England on a Roll" recalls anecdotes from Carsey’s childhood and early adulthood, which make for a mixture of autobiography and travel advice. The book provides a powerful and poignant glimpse into the lives of Carsey’s parents, and details how they instilled in her the belief that she could go almost anywhere in a wheelchair, including travel to far-flung countries.

"The story of our trip offers an upbeat, interesting travelogue describing our sightseeing in London and the West Country, making it a book for anyone who delights in the allure and adventure of foreign places," Carsey said. "I think my report of our experiences will bring you many warm chuckles and a few belly laughs, and you may be moved with many emotions as I share the thoughts and feelings that were part of the adventure of planning and taking this trip."

This book is, as the title suggests, an adventure story. A woman in a wheelchair, using a respirator, gets lost from her husband in central London, causing her to miss the last wheelchair-accessible bus that would take her back to her hotel. In the West Country, the adventure continues with Carsey’s harrowing ride and minor accident on a narrow English road.

Spanning about a year, this story is essentially a microcosm of Carole Carsey’s life – with examples of the determination and independence that brought the trip into being. Offering a window through which the reader can see Willie, her loving husband of 25 years, the book describes how they support each other, and solve problems together.

Above all, "England on a Roll: A Wheelchair Adventure in London and the West Country" is a very personal story of joy and empowerment that captures the human spirit of adventure.

Carsey, a social worker at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research from 1965 through 1968, recently attended a book signing for TIRR employees and guests. A life-long Texan, Carsey currently lives with her husband Willie near downtown Dallas. She is a native of Greenville, Texas, and was afflicted with polio at age 12. She has used a respirator and a wheelchair since that time.

Carsey’s disability did not deter her from pursuing her education. She graduated with a degree in psychology from Southern Methodist University. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Dallas Mayor’s Committee Disabled Person of the Year in 1981 and the Pilot Club Disabled Professional Woman of the Year in 1991. Carsey has served as president of the Dallas Association of Individuals with Disabilities, and in 1987, received the Grassroots Organizing Award from the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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