Jim Teneycke "Find a good travel ally"

I have had the pleasure of knowing Jim and his family for nearly 15 years since our kids first became friends.

- Samantha Rayburn—Trubyk

I have always known him to be someone who is kind, knowledgeable and passionate about advocacy.

Jim Teneycke was born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita (SEDC), a form of dwarfism. He lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada and is married to Tracy with whom he has a 19-year-old son. Jim shares his experiences, challenges and triumphs exploring the world as a little person.

Having encountered inconsistencies with airlines handling his mobility device, Jim understands the importance of preparation, the need for self advocacy and resilience in the realm of travel. The advocate also nurtures these skills in his son, Caden, a YouTube influencer with over 300,000 followers.

Travelling as a person with dwarfism comes with its unique set of challenges, particularly regarding the acceptance and treatment of mobility devices by airlines. Jim and his son, Caden, who was also born with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita use a Segway as their mobility device, but Segways are not often viewed by the able bodied as a mobility device people with disabilities would use. This causes them a lot of frustration during travel.