“In the past, travelling was often a spontaneous affair for me – I would just decide where to go on the spot. “These days, travelling requires meticulous planning, as well as plans B and C in case things don’t go according to plan,” says Ayleen Walter from Marburg. She is a model and spokesperson who uses a wheelchair. She regularly commutes between her hometown and Berlin. “For me, there’s no such thing as ‘travelling light’. I always carry my devices with me because I can’t do without them.”

Ayleen is describing what everyday life is like for many people with disabilities. Travelling requires careful planning, flexibility and the ability to improvise. People who rely on devices or accessibility often encounter obstacles when travelling that others don't even notice. They may face additional bureaucracy when booking a trip or encounter inaccessible accommodation or a lack of devices after a flight.

A new Europe-wide survey confirms Ayleen's experience. 84 % of people with reduced mobility have had negative experiences while travelling [I]. In the USA, the figure is as high as 96 % [II]. In September 2025, Ottobock will launch its global “Invisible Class” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of these barriers and highlight potential solutions.

The invisible travel class

“This concept refers to what is effectively a travel class ‘booked’ by 1.3 billion people with disabilities [III], whether they want to or not, which makes travelling more difficult for them. This can take the form of lost or damaged wheelchairs at airports, inaccessible transport and accommodation – and also due to the insecurity and unawareness of employees and fellow travellers who often do not know how to help or react appropriately," explains Martin Böhm, Chief Experience Officer at Ottobock. “With the ‘Invisible Class’ campaign, we are continuing to tell the story of the media-effective ‚Unofficial Discipline‘. By using our global reach to create a platform for social discourse, we are encouraging people to rethink structural barriers.”

Powerful voices, visible in the heart of Berlin and online

Ottobock will be raising awareness of the issue of travelling with barriers in Berlin’s cityscape: the medtech company will be using 84 digital advertising spaces in busy railway stations as well as more than 4,000 posters distributed throughout the city. Images with slogans such as “From: Wanderlust – To: Wanderlost” or “From: All inclusive – To: You’re excluded” and a QR code encourage people to learn more about the Invisible Class. The images can also be seen in Göttingen.

The campaign is also running online in over 15 countries on Google, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Using #InvisibleClass, 50 global Ottobock brand ambassadors and influencers share their personal experiences of overcoming challenges, provide travel tips and encourage people to share their ideas on social media channels.

From barriers to solutions: tips, life hacks and community knowledge

Through its campaign, Ottobock aims to raise awareness of issues and demonstrate the potential that arises from sharing knowledge, challenging established structures and making experiences visible.

Invisible Class takes a deliberately constructive approach. As well as presenting obstacles, it focuses on solutions and life hacks. It also provides testimonials, interviews, travel tips and recommendations for barrier-free locations, all of which are provided by people with disabilities. The community plays a crucial role in this, as sharing information about accessible places, attractions and services helps others with disabilities to plan their journeys more easily.

Ottobock makes the content available via a digital campaign hub at ottobock.com/invisible-class.

The voices behind the campaign

Martin Böhm explains: “With Invisible Class, we aim to demonstrate that mobility can be experienced in many different ways and highlight the importance of recognising barriers in order to break them down. By raising awareness with our users worldwide, we are encouraging change together to create a more barrier-free future.”

Three of these voices are at the heart of the campaign with their moving life stories:

• Ayleen Walter

  (Germany) has been paralysed from the waist down due to a chronic spinal disease. As a model and spokesperson, she campaigns for greater visibility and the empowerment of people with disabilities.
  “In the past, travelling was often a spontaneous affair for me – I would just decide where to go on the spot. Nowadays, travelling involves meticulous planning. However, it's not impossible – with enough preparation, courage and the confidence that you will always find a solution, it's entirely possible.”
  (Instagram 22k Follower)

• Davide Morana

  (Italy) is a Paralympian and the 2022 Italian champion in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprints. He had to have both his legs and arms amputated at the age of 24 due to meningitis.
  "Going through airport security with a prosthesis can feel like being treated as a security risk rather than a traveller. You get used to the extra checks, but it still feels uncomfortable being stared at or singled out."
  (Instagram 422k Follower)

• Zainab Al-Eqabi

  (United Arab Emirates) lost her left leg when she was seven years old due to injuries sustained in a bomb blast. She is now an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, working as a TV presenter, influencer and model.
  The first time I ever faced a security checkpoint that forced me to take off my prosthesis, I cried a lot. My prosthesis is my leg. It’s a part of me. It felt being stripped off something precious part of my body and put in the scanner in front of all the other passengers.”
  (Instagram 1,7 Mio. Follower)