TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Accessibility

Insights from TravelAbility’s Winter Advisory Board Meeting

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This month we’re thrilled to welcome three new members to our Advisory Board:

Megan Kimble smiles in a professional headshot against a textured gray background. She has long light brown hair worn straight and wears a sleeveless patterned top, looking directly at the camera with a friendly expression.

Megan Kimble| United Airlines

As the manager of customer strategy and innovation, Megan is moving United forward towards welcoming all. She’s currently focused primarily on accessibility and wheelchair travel with mobility devices, though she’s learning about what the travel experience looks like across multiple disabilities, and she’s working for better solutions. She’s excited to make travel better for all.

Austin Whitney smiles outdoors while wearing yellow-framed sunglasses and a leopard-print button-down shirt. He has short light pink hair and a beard, standing in front of a white slatted wall in bright sunlight.

Austin Whitney | Accessibility Live

As the founder of Accessible Festivals, Austin has provided accessibility services for over 150 major events. His focus is on bringing events beyond ADA to become truly welcoming.

Karen Morales smiles confidently in a studio portrait. She wears a navy blue dress with black detailing, standing against a dark neutral background.

Karen Morales | FORA Travel

As a luxury travel specialist at FORA Travel, and the lead of their accessibility division, Karen booked $100 million in accessible travel in 2025 (out of over a billion each year). She’s working to democratize the travel industry.

News from the Team

The new year is full of promise. We’re reminded of this when we look at all that our advisory board members accomplished last year, and at all that’s already been initiated for the new year. Here are some highlights from our winter board meeting.

Ivor Ambrose | European Network of Accessible Tourism

Continuing to lead on a global scale through the European Network of Accessible Tourism, gathering and sharing best practices across destinations worldwide. Actively advancing conversations around ethics and accessibility, hosting a major global summit with more than 400 participants, and partnering with UN Tourism on a new manifesto for accessible tourism that helps define what “destinations for all” truly means.

Curt Cottle smiles in a professional headshot against a light background. He wears a dark blazer over a light-colored shirt and has a full gray beard, looking directly at the camera with a friendly expression.

Curt Cottle | National Travel and Tourism Office

Momentum is building at the National Travel and Tourism Office with the appointment of new director Robert O’Leary, who is highly receptive to accessibility and inclusion and eager to deepen engagement in this work.

Alison Brooks smiles in a professional headshot against a dark background. She has long blonde hair worn down and wears a sleeveless patterned top, looking directly at the camera with a warm expression.

Alison Brooks | Visit Mesa

Love on the Spectrum is coming to Mesa! Alison continues to spotlight inclusive adventure travel and has launched a food inclusivity program designed specifically for travelers with food sensitivities.

Chris Maher smiles in an outdoor photo wearing a navy quilted vest over a collared shirt. He stands in front of a glass surface with trees reflected behind him.

Chris Maher | Samaritan Partners

Accessibility moved up from the sidelines at CES, the most powerful tech event in the world. 180 people came early specifically to participate in a disability round table.

Camilo Navarro sits in a purple chair in an office setting, smiling at the camera. He wears a dark Columbia quarter-zip pullover with a “Wheel the World” logo, with wooden bookshelves and a softly blurred workspace in the background.

Camilo Navarro | Wheel the World

Wheel the World closed 2025 with 130 accessible destinations worldwide. They’re moving into 2026 better funded and ready to scale access globally.

Steve Nelson smiles in a selfie taken near an airplane doorway beside a blue sign that reads “Welcome aboard.” He wears a dark blazer over a black shirt and stands inside the aircraft entrance area.

Steve Nelson | Alaska Airlines

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have opened their most accessible building to date, while continuing critical work on aircraft lavatory designs aimed at creating fully accessible restrooms, even within narrow-aisle aircraft.

Rob Harris poses in a professional headshot inside a modern office setting with large windows in the background. He wears a dark suit jacket over a white dress shirt, with neatly styled hair and a trimmed beard, looking confidently at the camera.

Rob Harris | Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Group is embedding accessibility into its culture by installing Accessibility Ambassadors across all ships and fleets. Core accessibility training has been redeveloped, with active work underway to scale and deploy it globally.

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Todd Brook smiles while speaking at a podium on stage. He wears a dark blazer over a white dress shirt and stands behind a clear lectern with a microphone, set against a dark background with stage lighting.

Todd Brook | Envisionit and Unchained

Building the Playbook Companion AI into a powerful accessibility assistant designed to function like an employee that can support basic communication, coordination, and administrative tasks for users.

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Mark Jones smiles in a selfie taken outdoors in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World. He wears black-framed glasses and a black collared shirt, with the iconic castle and park walkway visible behind him in bright daylight.

Mark Jones | Disney

Disney continues to elevate storytelling and craftsmanship. Accessibility updates can be found on the Disney website.

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Patty David smiles in a professional studio headshot against a light gray background. She wears a black cardigan over a white top, with short layered blonde hair styled neatly around her face.

Patty David | AARP

AARP is driving future-focused research on accessible travel, including surveys exploring what travel will look like in 2030 when every baby boomer has reached age 65.

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Danica Gonsalves smiles in an outdoor headshot with trees and greenery in the background. She wears a black blazer over a red top, with her long brown hair styled down and parted to the side, standing in bright natural sunlight.

Danica Gonsalves | Paralyzed Veterans of America

Paralyzed Veterans of America is developing a practical resource for hotels focused on achieving best-in-class accessibility, including guidance on how AI tools can support and enhance accessibility efforts.

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Meg Raby Klinghoffer stands in front of a white background with straight dark hair, wearing a black shirt, and smiles slightly at the camera.

Meg Raby Klinghoffer | KultureCity

KultureCity has launched new training for hotels and travel agencies, completed airport training initiatives, and certified nine beaches.

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Carol Giuliani smiles outdoors in front of a historic stone castle wall. She wears a white coat with a teal and green scarf, and the setting appears to be a scenic travel destination.

Carol Giuliana | Senior Travel Companion Services

Celebrating her 150th trip as a senior travel companion, Carol is responding to growing demand by building a “companion army” to support travelers who need one-on-one assistance.

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Kristy Durso is sitting in her wheelchair on the beach, smiling over her shoulder with the beautiful turquoise ocean in the background.

Kristy Durso | TravelAbility Ambassador

Leading a new initiative to create an accessible wedding planner guide for venues and destinations.

asha Blair-Goldensohn faces the camera in a close-up headshot. He wears round brown eyeglasses and a dark top against a plain white background, with a neutral expression.

Sasha Goldenstein | Google

Google now offers verified accessibility information for more than 50 million places worldwide. Later this year, Google will open an Accessibility Discovery Center at its New York City offices.

Laurel Van Horn smiles in an outdoor headshot surrounded by green foliage. She has long brown hair worn down and wears red lipstick, dark earrings, and a patterned scarf draped around her shoulders.

Laurel Van Horn | Open Doors Organization

The Open Doors Organization celebrates its 25th anniversary as a pioneer in accessible travel. Current efforts are focused on aviation, with the 10th annual Access in Aviation Conference approaching and ongoing research into boarding methods, neurodiversity, and wheelchair user experiences.

Houston Vandergriff stands smiling in the middle of a city street, holding a Nikon camera with both hands. He wears glasses and a rust-colored button-down shirt with a camera strap over his shoulder, with storefronts and parked cars softly blurred in the background.

Houston Vandergriff | Downs and Towns

Houston completed ten paid accessible-travel collaborations in 2025 via TravelAbility, appeared on the cover of the Charlottesville Visitor’s Guide, and attended an international travel market in London where accessibility was underrepresented. He was just selected by the National Park Service as an artist-in-residence for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Chelsea Bear smiles at the camera while standing on a beach promenade at sunset. She wears a bright blue sweater and a black crossbody bag, with the ocean, beachgoers, and a colorful sky behind her.

Chelsea Bear | Influencer

Refining her business structure to take on more travel partnerships consistently. After recently moving back to South Florida, she’s excited to highlight more local destinations while seeking new travel partnerships globally. She was recently quoted in major travel media covering accessible travel from AFAR and Travel Pulse.

Lived Experience: 5 Myths About Accessible Family Travel with Amy Tarpein

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By Amy Tarpein

Amy Tarpein poses in a professional portrait against a light background. She wears a royal blue blazer over a black top, with long straight hair worn down and a warm, approachable expression.

@ElijahsBabyBucketList
Writer and Content Creator✈️
Travel Writer 🎗Lissencephaly Family
Sharing our journey to encourage others and share Elijah’s joy with the world
Total followers across platforms: 500,000

Amy Tarpein is a vibrant figure in the world of accessible family travel, renowned for her dedication to providing inclusive travel information for all. As the founder of Elijah’s Baby Bucket List, which received the Evergreen Award for Best Accessible Family Travel Blog in the United States in 2025, she has paved the way for families to explore the world without barriers. Her passion for travel and inclusivity was deeply influenced by her terminally ill son, Elijah, whose lively spirit inspired her to create a platform where every family, regardless of their unique challenges, can experience the joys of travel. She has built an online community of over half a million followers worldwide.

A best-selling author and esteemed travel writer, Amy skillfully weaves stories of adventure, resilience, and heartfelt family moments in her work, captivating the hearts and imaginations of millions worldwide. As a globally recognized public speaker, Amy captivates audiences with her compelling narratives and infectious enthusiasm, motivating others to embrace life’s journey and advocate for a more inclusive society. Her efforts continue to inspire countless families to embark on their own adventures, equipped with the knowledge that the world is accessible to everyone.

Learn how to work with Amy here.

The following is an excerpt from Amy’s latest blog post. Are you a destination contributing to this myth, or debunking it?

5 Myths About Accessible Family Travel

Two children sit on a boat, smiling as they enjoy a scenic lake surrounded by forested mountains. One child uses a wheelchair, and both children appear joyful as the boat moves across the water in bright sunlight.

Myth 2: There are Limited Destinations

Many believe that accessible travel options are limited to just a few places. On the contrary, numerous destinations worldwide emphasize accessibility. A 2019 study by Tripadvisor found that 72% of travelers want to know about accessibility features before booking. This demand has encouraged many family-friendly destinations to prioritize accessibility.

We have done things like swimming with penguins, riding mountain coasters, and watching Old Faithful. Locations like Tanganyika Wildlife Park, beautiful beaches, and expansive national parks are continually improving accessibility. They are now offering wheelchair rentals. Guided tours are tailored to families with varying needs.

More hotels and resorts are adopting universal design principles to accommodate guests of all abilities. This ensures that everyone can experience the joy of travel together. The possibilities for unforgettable family adventures are vast. They range from interactive exhibits at science centers to accessible hiking trails. These experiences facilitate lasting memories.

Read Full Article Here


What’s New for 2026: TravelAbility’s Next Wave of Accessibility Initiatives

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As the accessible travel industry approaches a major demographic shift, TravelAbility is rolling out a set of initiatives designed to help destinations, venues, and vendors move from intention to action. These programs focus on practical solutions, clear information, and scalable tools that make the transition from ADA compliance to welcoming easier to implement and to sustain.

Here’s what you have to look forward to this year:

  • TravelAbility Operation 2030: A long-term strategy preparing the travel industry for 2030—when all baby boomers will be over 65 and an estimated 50.1 million Americans will be living with a disability. The goal: future-proofing travel through proactive, inclusive planning.
  • Plug-and-Play Accessibility Catalog: A vetted collection of innovative technologies and products that venues can easily integrate to solve specific accessibility challenges.
  • DAC Pilot Programs: The following will take place in collaborative testing environments led by the Destination A11y Club to validate new accessibility solutions.
    • Accessibility Travel Information Day: A DAC initiative that helps uncover, consolidate, and promote clear accessibility information by refreshing accessibility pages, engaging local partners and disabled reviewers, and amplifying those updates through a coordinated national awareness day on July 27.
    • Accessibility Leaders Masterclass: A pilot education program for local stakeholders that combines expert masterclasses with hands-on technology showcases.
  • TravelAbility Approved Convention Centers: A formal accreditation for venues that meet rigorous standards for inclusive infrastructure and comprehensive staff training.
  • Travel Industry Vendor Partnerships. Help travel industry vendors to bundle the Accessibility Playbook and starter kit into their new business and renewal proposals, making accessibility part of the sales conversation from day one

Accessibility Playbook Quiz: Do You Speak Accessibility Fluently?

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(No trick questions… just real-world moments.)

Take the Quiz!

How’d you do?

If any of these made you pause (or rethink a phrase you’ve used), you’re exactly where you should be. Find the correct answers and more on disability language in this TravelAbility Playbook snippet.

COMMUNICATION GUIDANCE

Part of what makes communicating challenging is that people with disabilities are not a homogenous group. A good practice is to ask how someone prefers to describe themselves and, if you inadvertently offend someone with your language, apologize and ask them to share with you their preferred language. There are generally two ways to approach this: person-first or identity-first. Neither is right or wrong; we should simply honor an individual’s preference.

Person-first language: Person-first language emphasizes the person first — their individuality, their complexity, their humanness and their equality.

Example: “A person with a disability” Identity-first language: Identity-first language emphasizes that the disability plays a role in who the person is and reinforces disability as a positive cultural identifier.

Example: “Disabled person”

TIPSUSEDO NOT USE
Emphasize abilities, not limitationsPerson who uses a wheelchairConfined or restricted to a wheelchair, wheelchair bound
Person who uses a device to speak Can’t talk, mute
Do not use language that suggests the lack of somethingPerson with a disabilityDisabled, handicapped
Person of short stature Midget
Person with cerebral palsyCerebral palsy victim
Person with epilepsy or seizure disorderEpileptic
Person with multiple sclerosis Afflicted by multiple sclerosis
Emphasize the need for accessibility, not the disabilityAccessible parking or bathroomHandicapped parking or bathroom
Do not use offensive language Person with a physical disabilityCrippled, lame, deformed, invalid, spastic
Person with an intellectual, cognitive, developmental disabilitySlow, simple, moronic, defective, afflicted, special person
Person with and emotional or behavioral disability, a mental health impairment, or a psychiatric disabilityInsane, crazy, psycho, maniac, nuts

Avoid language that implies negative stereotypes		Person without a disabilityNormal person, healthy person

Facing FOMU (Fear of Messing Up): Turning Risk Into a Business Advantage

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By Brittany Martin Déjean

Do you ever find yourself feeling uneasy interacting with people with disabilities or hesitating to discuss disability altogether?

When it comes to disability inclusion, many leaders and professionals face FOMU—the Fear of Messing Up. It is a common human experience fueled by misconceptions, assumptions and lack of confidence. Combine this with the fear of the potential “blowback” from a mistake, and you have a recipe that normalizes avoidance and denial as default reactions. When we let our fear lead to silence or inaction, we inadvertently stall the very progress we hope to achieve. 

The Problem with Avoidance

Avoidance might feel safe in the short term, but it’s not a strategy. It prevents genuine connection and empathy required for true inclusion. If we are too afraid to speak or act, we can’t grow. More importantly, we can’t foster an environment where others feel safe to learn from and with us. 

From Punishment to Accountability

Many good people want to do better, but don’t know where to start. Mistakes often feel threatening because of the fear of shame or punishment for errors. Fostering growth is not about avoiding or overlooking mistakes, but about practicing empathetic accountability. This looks like: 

  • Acknowledging Harm: Validating the experience of those affected by the mistake.
  • Educating: Providing the training and knowledge to course correct.
  • Creating Psychological Safety: Making a conscious effort to ensure people feel safe enough to be imperfect. 

Striking the Balance

Inclusion isn’t about getting an “A” on an exam, it’s about awareness and human connection. Have an open mind to learn more about people whose lives, backgrounds and experiences are different from your own and challenge any preconceived notions and assumptions. Transform mistakes into opportunities for growth. Cultivate a culture in your business that welcomes imperfection. 

Real change happens in the small, daily decisions to prioritize empathy over fear. As we look toward 2026, commit to dismantling FOMU and embrace the lessons that only come through honest, imperfect action. It’s a great way to strengthen your business and amplify your impact. 

Brittany Martin Déjean smiles in a professional headshot against a light background. She has short curly brown hair and wears a black blazer with turquoise drop earrings, looking directly at the camera with a warm, confident expression.

Brittany Martin Déjean is a Keynote Speaker and Inclusion Expert who helps non-disabled people get comfortable with disability, mitigate hidden risk, and improve business outcomes. To learn more about her offerings, connect with her on LinkedIn.

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