Two LEEP members share practical, lived-experience tips on preparing to travel with MS, from booking to boarding.

In this first episode of a two-part series on travel and MS, host Jeremy Henderson is joined by MS Australia Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP) members Rachel Fallis and Deanna Renee. Rachel, a former NSW Police detective sergeant, and Deanna, an artist diagnosed with MS at 17, share their MS journeys and what travel means to them: freedom, adventure, connection and memories that aren’t centred on medical appointments.

Topics covered:

• Preparing before you book and before you go – Rachel explains how she shapes trips around her energy, with one priority activity a day, rest days, longer stays and accommodation close to transport and restaurants. Deanna discusses heat sensitivity, airport assistance and learning that resting is not a failure.
• Advocacy and policy: making the whole journey accessible – From a coin-operated station toilet in Italy to long walks between airport gates, the guests share what can go wrong and what travel and transport systems need to do better, including dedicated disability contacts and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Jeremy also outlines MS Australia’s advocacy on the Whole Journey Guide and Aviation Disability Standards.
• Preparing for the realities of travel – Practical tips for the lead-up to departure: travelling with medications and doctors’ letters, checking destination rules and travel insurance, timing trips around treatment, packing light, and building in recovery time after long flights. Plus, how to prepare mentally for the unexpected, because, as Deanna says, ‘waves are meant for surfing’.
• The last word – Advice for anyone with MS who wants to travel but doesn’t know where to start: start small, ask questions, speak with your healthcare team, and give yourself permission to rest and travel your own way.

Part two, MS on the Road, will be published in 2027. This conversation is general in nature and should not replace individual medical, legal or travel advice.

Guest bios:

Rachel Fallis is a lived‑experience leader and MS advocate from Newcastle, New South Wales. She blends her personal journey with Multiple Sclerosis and her background as a former NSW Police Detective Sergeant to drive national work on safety, early identification of unmet need, and improving the quality of care across the MS pathway.

Rachel has been part of MS Australia’s Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP) since it was first created, helping shape how lived experience informs policy, research and service design from day one. She contributes across multiple advisory groups, including the AMSCT Lived Experience Advisory Group, the AMSLS Women’s Health Advisory Group, the Hunter New England MS Patient Advisory Group, and the PrevANZ Data Management Committee. She also works internationally as a patient reviewer for EB Brain Health, supporting global MS research and patient‑centred approaches.

Alongside her advocacy work, Rachel is a keen traveller who has explored more than 24 countries — and she refuses to let MS dull her sense of adventure. She recently returned to scuba diving in Buka Buka after 20 years out of the water, recently had an entire plane to herself flying from Greece to Belfast, and once even snuck into Ashford Castle in Ireland by pretending to be an actress. Her approach to travel is practical and honest: plan smart, ask questions, build in rest, and stay flexible when MS changes the plan.

Rachel has co‑authored papers published in the International Multiple Sclerosis Journal, including research on family screening for MS and a photo‑elicitation study exploring the walking experience of people living with MS. She is a regular speaker at MS events, advocating strongly for early access to high‑efficacy treatment and a health system where people with MS have a strong voice and where life with MS still includes adventure, humour and the freedom to explore the world.

Deanna Renee is an artist, advocate and content creator who uses creativity, humour and storytelling to help people living with MS feel seen, heard and less alone. Diagnosed with MS at 17 and known for her ethereal MRI mandalas created from MRI scans, floral motifs and digital collage, Deanna turns confronting experiences into work that highlights beauty, grief, resilience and representation. Since launching her social media presence in 2020, her videos have reached millions across TikTok and Instagram. A LEEP member since its inception, Deanna shares insights on young diagnosis, employment, mental health, MS representation and the power of community connection. While Deanna primarily uses her own MRIs to create her ethereal work, she has made custom pieces for other people living with MS, has created cover work for MS Australia’s pre-budget submissions and has commissions open for members of the community using individuals’ MRI scans for a personalised piece of art. To contact Deanna, visit Instagram @circularblooms or email circularblooms@gmail.com for more information.