ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author talks about Ronnie Harris's story, about his life with his fiancee Denise and about his unfulfilled wish to travel overseas with her. Ronnie told the author that he applied to the VOICES project to be supported to reach out to his family and express his desire to travel. While identifying the exact reasons behind Ronnie's inability to travel as he chooses was surprisingly complex, three interlinked factors play a major role: the financial dependence on his family, the lack of external support and the prevailing doubts about his ability to travel and live independently. Paternalistic attitudes stand in stark contrast with the human rights-based approach to disability promoted in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which aims to abolish the stigma and resulting discrimination against people with disabilities. From his point of view, the inability to travel poses a significant dilemma that negatively impacts on his relationship with his fiancee.
