BIG Things Are Happening with the TravelAbility Advisory Board

This month’s board meeting was a series of mic drops as advisors shared the monumental projects they’re working on. Here’s what’s in the works.

1. Steve Nelson from Alaska Airlines detailed his initiatives, including testing autonomous wheelchairs and autism rehearsal flights as well as an overview of their Seattle pilot including testing autonomous wheelchairs and developing programs for individuals with autism. Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines will continue testing the autonomous wheelchair in Seattle through July and explore further rollout options
2. Alan Fyall, from Rosen College of Hospitality Management, discussed how accessibility has ignited passion with their students and partner and he was looking forward to expanding the offerings.
3. Chris Maher from Samaritan Partners shared insights on their social impact fund focused on disability investments and the establishment of an Accessibility Lab in collaboration with Travelability and The Schoolhouse Hotel in West Virginia.
4. Nick Nerbonne from Travel Michigan provided updates on local accessibility initiatives, such as the introduction of four autonomous wheelchairs at Detroit Metro Airport and the creation of accessible pathways in state parks and posited that Michigan was the state with the highest number of Action Trax wheelchairs.
5. Dr. Josh Loebner, Global Director of Accessible Design, VML. presented a project aimed at connecting songwriters with blind communities to create lyrics that describe Tennessee tourism experiences emphasizing the need for evocative imagery.
6. Mike May, ambassador for American Printing House for the Blind, shared his insights on accessible navigation and advising startups, and mentioned an upcoming event focused on blind-specific travel in Austin.
7. Alison Brooks announced a new grant program through Visit Mesa to assist small businesses in becoming autism certified.  They will fund at least five small businesses to become autism certified in the next few months.
8. Meg Raby Klinghoffer highlighted her work with Kulture City on sensory accessible training specifically for nine beaches in Fort Lauderdale and improvements to sensory rooms at Salt Lake City Airport, including plans for a sensory tunnel.
9. Todd Brook founder and CEO of Unchained, provided an update on his work creating an AI companion for the Accessibility Playbook with a focus on developing a roadmap for organizations to adopt AI technologies to enhance accessibility. Todd will switch to a database-driven approach for AI accessibility tools within 5 to 10 days.
10. Kathleen Harvey from Destination British Columbia shared insights on the tourism landscape and the growing interest in accessible tourism events.
11. Laura Skufca from AARP presented findings from their 2025 travel trend study, indicating that many older adults face mobility challenges they travel and a partnership with TravelAbility to provide content for the next Playbook with tips for the aging traveler
12. Jake Steinman introduced the concept of the accessibility disability trifecta, highlighting that whatever content is created for visitors with disabilities is basically a down payment for baby boomers aging into a disability with the side benefit of the accessibility attributes, features and amenities will also be used by the 17% of residents who have a disability as well as a series of “Cultivating Accessibility Leaders” tentatively planned for Orlando, Myrtle Beach, and Lansing.
13. Mark Jones, who leads accessibility for Disney Orlando, shared that Orlando is becoming a popular travel destination this summer, with new offerings from both Disney and Universal. He detailed upcoming attractions at Magic Kingdom, including themed lands and new stage shows, as well as a ride based on Encanto at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Additionally, he announced that all Walt Disney World buses will be equipped with the Quantum automated restraint system to enhance safety and reduce driver injuries.
14. Alexander Hauerslev Jensen from Google highlighted several new accessibility features from Google, emphasizing the integration of AI in technologies like TalkBack on Android and facial gesture controls for Chromebooks. He also introduced expressive captions, which enhance traditional captioning by conveying emotions and ambient sounds. Additionally, updates to Google Maps include more detailed walking instructions for screen reader users and expanded information on wheelchair accessibility for over 50 million
15. Ron Pettit shared that he has left Royal Caribbean to pursue new opportunities while remaining in the accessible travel and hospitality sector. He highlighted his past contributions to making vacations more accessible for people with disabilities and mentioned Rob Harris as the interim manager of the Global Accessibility Team.
16. Houston Vandergriff and his mother Katy talked about their Oregon trip, highlighting their pleasant stay at Mount Hood Resort and their plans to return with Wheel the World.
17. Makiko Healy from New York City Tourism provided updates on her collaboration with the DMO group and introduced ELLIS an AI assistance tool that improves accessibility information on their website and social media.
18. Greg Evans discussed Simpleview’ s role in enhancing digital accessibility for over 900 DMO websites and their recent acquisition by Granicus. He noted the significance of Title II legislation and the need for local governments to improve their digital accessibility efforts. Evans also mentioned the launch of a new business toolkit by Visit Britain aimed at gathering ADA information from local businesses to better serve travelers.
19. Chelsea Bear discussed her work as a social media influencer in accessible travel, noting her recent acquisition of a new scooter and her plans to engage with destinations for partnerships. She has over 800k followers on social media platforms.
20. Sophia Hyder Hock, Chief Impact Officer, Destinations International, discussed the continued partnership in marketing the Accessible Playbook to their members along with ongoing inclusion efforts.
21. Camilo Navarro, co-founder of Wheel the World, shared that they have surpassed 120 active destinations and are improving their homepage to provide more information about verified locations. He also mentioned the upcoming release of an API to help destinations integrate accessibility information into their websites.
22. John Morris discussed his evolving role at Wheelchairtravel.org, emphasizing a shift towards solo and family accessible travel. He recounted a recent trip to Europe with Steve, which provided valuable insights for disabled travelers. Additionally, he announced upcoming group tours in Greece, where he plans to spend significant time this year, and expressed excitement about collaborating with destination marketing organizations.
23. Ivor Ambrose, executive director for ENAT,highlighted the enforcement of the European Accessibility Act starting June 28, which mandates accessibility in ICTs and public buildings. He also invited participants to the World Summit on Destinations for All in Torino, Italy, from October 5-7, expecting around 400 attendees.
24. Lynn Osmond, former CEO of Choose Chicago, is working with TravelAbility and Wheel the World to introduce an end-to-end solution for the 1.1 million visitors and their companions who are expected to attend the World Cup events in North America next year.
25. Kristy Durso, Travelability’s ambassador to the industry and a travel advisor who specializes in accessibility,  announced that this year she was a keynote speaker at ITB in Berlin, and has already presented at five events this year.  She’s working with Alan Fyall on training workshop and tools for travel advisors.