I Was Rescued from a Chinese Orphanage. My Friend Wasn’t. The beginning of Ming’s journey started with these words;
In an interview by Human’s of New York, Ming said, “I want to make life easier for people in China who have disabilities. I know what it’s like, because I lived in a Chinese orphanage until the age of ten, and I wasn’t able to go to school because I couldn’t walk. But that’s just a small part of who I am. I want to be a diplomat and travel, and do all sorts of things that have nothing to do with being disabled. I don’t want people to pity me. I don’t want to be another ‘poor her.’ I don’t want to inspire people. ‘Inspiration’ is a word that disabled people hear a lot. And it’s a positive word to you. But to us, it’s patronizing. I’m not living a wonderful life for a disabled person. I’m living a wonderful life, period.”
She has accomplished much more since that interview. Ming is pursuing that dream by launching, “Traipsin Global On Wheels!” Where their mission is threefold; create a space where individuals with disabilities know how to access information and inquire about fitness. Introduce products that help you travel in style and with ease. We hope to nurture and cultivate a group of healthy, worldly and informed advocates that will accept, and perhaps even embrace their disability, and advocate for equality and justice for people with various disabilities.
“Traveling is my absolute passion. After traveling to five continents, 14 countries and traveling to the majority of these locations solo, I feel that it’s time that I share my experience and make traveling easier for others like me. Traveling is wonderful, but being able to be free and mobile in nature is even more fabulous.
Ming Canaday earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon in 2013, where she triple-majored in International Studies, Chinese, and Asian Studies. After graduating, Canaday moved to New York City where she pursued a certificate at the City University of New York in Disability Studies to better advocate for individuals with disabilities. She also completed a summer internship at Human Rights Watch, assisting with research on issues related to China’s policies towards people with physical, mental, and developmental impairments. In the 21st century, no group should be treated as second class citizens, especially individuals with disabilities.
In her spare time, Canaday enjoys swimming, exploring new neighborhoods, traveling, reading, and practicing her ukulele.
