The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast
Welcome to the podcast from Back Up, the spinal cord injury charity. We inspire people affected by spinal cord injury to get the most out of life.
Back Up and Thriving is an accessible travel podcast about travelling with a spinal cord injury. Hosted by Back Up’s Head of Services, Sophie Elwes, who sustained a SCI herself in 2011. She interviews a range of guests, all of whom have a spinal cord injury and have experienced Back Up's life-changing services.
The Back Up and Thriving Accessible Travel Podcast
Dr Grace Spence Green on Life, Medicine and Travel After Spinal Cord Injury
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What does it take to rebuild your life after a spinal cord injury while pursuing a career in medicine?
In this episode of Back Up and Thriving, Sophie Elwes speaks with junior doctor and disability advocate Grace Spence Green, who sustained a spinal injury in 2018 while at medical school. Grace shares her remarkable journey of returning to medical studies as a wheelchair user, becoming a trustee at Back Up, and her mission to improve disability representation in healthcare and society.She reflects on navigating the media spotlight, the importance of visibility, and the value of community support. Grace also opens up about radical acceptance, self-compassion, and how travel has shaped her perspective — from her first daunting trip to Venice to recent adventures in Georgia and Azerbaijan.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How Grace returned to medical school after her injury and the challenges she faced
- The role of visibility and representation for disabled people in healthcare and society
- Practical travel tips and confidence-building advice for wheelchair users
- Why community and peer support are vital for recovery and identity
- The philosophy of radical acceptance and how to apply it to daily life
Key Moments:
00:00 - Introduction to Grace Spence Green
02:39 - The accident and early rehab journey
05:34 - Returning to medical school as a wheelchair user
08:39 - Media coverage and taking back her story
11:39 - Training as a doctor and career in paediatrics
14:29 - Building confidence and taking space
16:43 - First post-injury travel experiences
19:54 - Accessibility, travel hacks and learning balance
23:06 - Favourite trips and solo travel
25:44 - Advice for newly injured travellers
27:47 - The role of social media and community
30:16 - Challenging misconceptions about disability
32:54 - Radical acceptance and unpicking ableism
35:19 - Gratitude, resilience and new perspectives
38:59 - Independence, care and dignity
40:36 - Grace’s future plans and next steps
41:59 - Final advice on living well with spinal cord injury
🌍 Ready to plan your next adventure with confidence?
If you’re looking for accessible travel advice or want to connect with someone who’s been there, Back Up is here to help.
Reach out to the team and get the support you need to travel confidently today:
👉 www.backuptrust.org.uk/support-for-you/back-up-and-thriving-accessible-travel-toolkit
These resources are proudly supported by the Motability Foundation.
Credits:
This episode was hosted by Sophie Elwes, Head of Services at Back Up and produced by Phonic Content.
Back Up is a national charity for everyone affected by spinal cord injury. Join us on Instagram, Facebook, X and Linkedin.