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The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Accessibility Champion of Change

15 TravelAbility Partners Named to Forbes Accessibility 200 List

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The Forbes Accessibility 200 highlights the biggest innovators and impact-makers in accessibility, from juggernauts like Microsoft to VC-seeking startups. Based on more than 700 interviews and input from an expert advisory board across all sectors of business and society, the list highlights companies, individuals, and organizations that make the world more available to everyone.

This year’s list features 15 TravelAbility partners and community members who have earned the right to this notable recognition. Congrats, change makers!

  • 360 Direct Access 
  • Access Trax 
  • Aira
  • AirBnB 
  • Be My Eyes 
  • Fora Travel  
  • Google  
  • Lotus Laboratories 
  • Making Space 
  • Samaritan Partners 
  • Sign-Speak 
  • Squirmy & Grubs 
  • Waymo 
  • We Hear You 
  • Wheel the World 
See the full list here

Accessibility Champion Kristy Durso Ties the Knot by Creating Inclusive Wedding Venues

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When Kristy Durso, TravelAbility’s ambassador and full time wheelchair user, began planning her daughter Gavilan’s wedding, she expected the usual details: flowers, food, music, seating charts.

What she didn’t expect was how often accessibility still falls completely outside the conversation.

That realization became the foundation for what is quickly growing into one of the most exciting new inclusion initiatives in the travel and events space: accessible weddings.

The idea first began taking shape after Durso’s inclusive vow renewal at Beaches Turks & Caicos, where she saw firsthand what happens when accessibility is intentionally integrated into a celebration centered around family, connection, and joy.

“There’s this assumption automatically that it’s selfish to plan a destination wedding,” she said. “Or that the disabled person just isn’t going to be able to go.”

Kristy Durso

“Nobody’s doing this,” Durso said. “And I can’t think of a single other life event that is more family-oriented and should be more inclusive than a wedding.” Studies repeatedly show weddings as one of the top reasons for travel among the aging population, where we have the highest rates of disability.

Yet too often, accessibility is treated as optional. Or worse, it’s considered too late.

“How often does it end up being, ‘Well, grandma’s not coming because it’s not accessible?’” she asked.

Durso remembers consulting with a travel advisor planning a destination wedding in Mexico when online comments immediately questioned why someone would host a destination wedding if disabled family members couldn’t attend.

“There’s this assumption automatically that it’s selfish to plan a destination wedding,” she said. “Or that the disabled person just isn’t going to be able to go.”

That mindset is exactly what she wants to change.

Accessibility Starts Before the Venue Tour

One of Durso’s biggest frustrations is that many venues market themselves as “accessible” while only considering part of the experience.

“The inside facility where the reception happens may be accessible,” she explained. “They may have what they think is an accessible restroom. But that doesn’t mean they thought about accessibility for the wedding itself.”

Outdoor ceremonies remain one of the biggest barriers.

“How many weddings are in a forest, on the beach, or in the grass?” she said. “There’s no way for the wheelchair user to safely get there.”

And the issue extends far beyond wheelchair users.

“It affects the aunt who’s had a stroke, the grandfather who uses a walker, the child who uses a wheelchair, the athlete who’s on crutches that week,” Durso said. “Accessibility should be thought of from the very beginning.”

Because several guests had environmental allergies, the wedding used silk flowers instead of real arrangements. Durso also discovered that many smaller caterers still lack a true understanding of food allergies and cross contamination.

“Your destination is known for weddings,” she said, “and it may be known for accessibility,but is it known for accessible weddings?”

Kristy Durso

“They think they can sanitize equipment and use the same equipment,” she said. “What they don’t realize is they’re getting lucky.”

In her view, many guests with severe allergies are quietly adapting rather than speaking up.

“They’re either incredibly lucky, eating before the wedding, or bringing their own food,” she said.

“I want accessible weddings,” she said. “I want accessibility to be a question from the get-go.”

The Questions Nobody Asks

Some of the most important accessibility solutions, Durso says, cost absolutely nothing.

While speaking with a DJ during the wedding planning process, she encountered a question she had never heard asked before.

“He asked if there would be anybody there who had epilepsy and if he should leave the strobe light at home,” she said.

When she later asked whether that was a standard question for all weddings, the answer was no.

“He asked because I specifically said we were planning something accessible.”

For Durso, that moment perfectly illustrates the gap between awareness and infrastructure.

“That should be a standard question every single time,” she said. “It’s a two-and-a-half-second question. There’s no cost to asking it, but the cost of not asking it could be great.”

Building the Blueprint for Inclusive Weddings at the 2026 TravelAbility Summit

For destinations already investing heavily in accessibility, Durso believes weddings represent a massive untapped opportunity.

“Places like Tampa or Huntington Beach are already popular wedding destinations,” she said. “If they’re already investing in accessibility, this is the next link they haven’t explored yet.”

Durso is now working to help the wedding industry create practical systems that make accessibility easier to implement from the start.

As part of her efforts, she’ll be presenting at the 2026 TravelAbility Summit to help destinations create better accessibility intake forms, build relationships with accessibility suppliers, and connect them with the tools and equipment that can make any wedding welcoming for all.

One question, she says, should already be on every destination’s radar:

“Your destination is known for weddings,” she said, “and it may be known for accessibility,but is it known for accessible weddings?”

Accessibility Does Not Exist in a Vacuum

At the core of Durso’s work is a larger philosophy that extends well beyond weddings.

“If we continue to talk about accessibility as its own topic in a vacuum, then we’re going to continue to fail people with disabilities,” she said.

That idea has become central to her broader advocacy work and perfectly aligns with TravelAbility’s mission of connecting accessibility across every aspect of life and travel.

“When we talk about sports tourism but don’t include accessibility, we fail people with disabilities,” she explained. “When we talk about the wedding industry and don’t include accessibility, we fail people with disabilities.”

For Durso, accessibility is not a niche topic.

“It exists in all areas of life,” she said. “No event should exist without the thought of accessibility.”

Visit Mesa Launches Food Inclusivity Program Removing One of the Greatest Barriers in Accessible Travel

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With the mission to become one of the most accessible states in the U.S., there’s always something new coming from Mesa, Arizona. In this article, Alison Brooks shares about the latest initiatives that are changing the approach to inclusion in travel.

Food as the Overlooked Barrier in Accessible Travel

Food safety is often overlooked in conversations about accessibility, but it should not be. Food allergies affect an estimated 32 million Americans, including millions of children. Even if it is not something you personally experience, it is highly likely that someone you are traveling with does.

When you think about accessibility holistically, it is not just about physical infrastructure or sensory considerations. It is about whether someone can fully participate in the experience. If a visitor does not feel safe eating in your destination, that limits their ability to engage, explore, and enjoy their stay.

This is why food inclusivity matters. It is fundamental, not optional.

Introducing the Food Inclusivity Program

Visit Mesa’s food inclusivity program is a natural evolution of the work we’ve already been leading in accessibility. 

As the first Autism Certified City in the country and the first destination verified by Wheel the World, we’ve spent years building a foundation that prioritizes inclusion across the full visitor experience. That includes initiatives like Aira for blind and low-vision individuals and adoption of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program across the city.

As we evaluated the full travel journey, one gap became very clear: food. No matter who you are or how you travel, everyone has to eat. For visitors with food allergies, sensitivities, or dietary restrictions, that part of the experience can create anxiety and uncertainty, often limiting where they feel comfortable going.

Our food inclusivity program was designed to address that gap directly. At its core, it focuses on education, preparedness, and awareness across the hospitality community. In partnership with the Kyah Rayne Foundation, we are providing free, on-demand food allergen certification training for anyone who comes into contact with food, whether at a hotel, restaurant, or attraction. The goal is to ensure staff understand common allergens and, just as importantly, know how to respond in the event of an emergency.

This initiative is about creating an environment where visitors can feel more confident and supported, knowing that the destination has taken intentional steps to prioritize their safety and comfort.

If You Build It…

Building it is not enough. In order to draw visitors, guests need to know that the measures in place are real, ongoing, and widely adopted across the destination. Building trust starts with consistency and transparency.

For us, that means continuing to actively communicate this initiative, both through our marketing efforts and through direct engagement with our partners. It is not a one-time effort. We are regularly reconnecting with businesses to reinforce the importance of food safety, refresh training, and encourage best practices.

Simple but meaningful steps, such as clearly labeling food at buffets, adding allergen and dietary information to menus, and making that information easily accessible on websites.

That includes simple but meaningful steps, such as clearly labeling food at buffets, adding allergen and dietary information to menus, and making that information easily accessible on websites. These actions help visitors make informed decisions before they even arrive.

Equally important is the partnership itself. This only works if our hospitality community is engaged and committed. Over time, that consistency helps build confidence.

It is also important to acknowledge that no system is ever perfect. However, as we move into the next phase of the program, adding tools like EpiPens on-site provides an additional layer of reassurance that safety has been thoughtfully considered.

Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery

Our hope is that this initiative does not remain unique to Mesa. It should be adopted, adapted, and improved by destinations everywhere. Creating safer, more inclusive environments benefits not just visitors, but entire communities.

The initiative is structured in phases to allow for both immediate impact and long-term growth.

Phase one, which is currently underway, focuses on education. Through our partnership with the Kyah Rayne Foundation, we are offering free, on-demand allergen awareness and safety certification to our hospitality partners. This ensures a consistent baseline of knowledge across the destination.

Phase two expands into preparedness. Working with the Mesa for All Foundation, a community-led nonprofit that grew out of Visit Mesa’s accessibility efforts, we plan to help equip participating establishments with EpiPens. This adds a critical layer of safety and responsiveness in the event of a severe allergic reaction.

Phase three broadens the scope of inclusivity beyond allergens. This includes integrating training around food sensitivities, cultural and religious dietary considerations, and overall awareness that supports a wider range of visitor needs.

For destinations looking to follow a similar path, the starting point is partnership. The Kyah Rayne Foundation operates nationally and provides a strong framework for training and certification. Engaging a partner like that, and then aligning your local hospitality community around a shared goal, is the most effective way to begin building momentum.

For destinations looking to follow a similar path, the starting point is partnership.

Up Next for Mesa

We recently hosted Dani from Love on the Spectrum, which was an exciting opportunity to have someone with a large and engaged audience experience Mesa and share our accessibility efforts with their followers. Moments like that help amplify the work in a very authentic way.

We also signed a four-year agreement to host the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Championships at the Arizona Athletic Grounds. This is a significant opportunity to collaborate with partners like Wheel the World and others to ensure the experience is seamless from the moment athletes begin planning their trip to the time they are on the court competing. It is about removing friction at every stage and creating an environment where people feel welcomed and supported.

At the same time, the work does not stop with new initiatives or major events. A key focus moving forward is continuing to refine what we have built and making sure people are aware of it. That includes not only visitors, but also the residents and businesses who bring these experiences to life. One cannot succeed without the other.

1 Million Impacted: Meg Raby and KultureCity Create Sensory Inclusion One Bag at a Time

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By Jennifer Allen

While most people are familiar with the five senses, KultureCity teaches about eight. Then they introduce a powerful ninth: the sense of belonging.

Some leaders build programs. Others build belonging.

TravelAbility’s Advisory Board member Meg Raby Klinghoffer is doing both. As Chief Koji Officer at KultureCity, sensory training developer and trainer, writer, speaker, and autistic self-advocate Meg’s default setting is “world changer” – on and off the clock.

KultureCity is the nation’s leading nonprofit in sensory accessibility and inclusion, serving the one in four individuals with invisible disabilities or sensory sensitivities. While most people are familiar with the five senses, KultureCity teaches about eight. Then they introduce a powerful ninth: the sense of belonging.

“Yes, there are tools that are needed. Yes, there’s training that’s needed,” Meg says. “But that foundation of curiosity and empathy toward guests, patrons, and your own staff is essential for actual accessibility and inclusion to happen.”

That ninth sense of belonging is what Meg champions every day.

Leading with Curiosity

If it seems like Meg’s work and life blur together, it’s because her passion is deeply personal and woven through every part of her story. As a child, and an autistic rule-follower, she wore a back brace 23 hours a day for her scoliosis. She had many diagnoses and exceptionalities, but living in constant physical discomfort while navigating life with autism sharpened her empathy early.

It also shaped the advice she now shares with partners across the country: “It’s all about having curiosity about one another.”

In her trainings, she encourages staff to assume guests are well-intentioned. To pause before reacting. To wonder what kind of morning someone may have had. To consider what unseen challenges might be influencing behavior. “It’s not just a cliche phrase, it’s completely truthful: no matter who it is, or how averse to a person you may feel, we have no idea what’s going on in someone else’s life.” When we operate from curiosity instead of judgment, everything changes.

That same empathy extends beyond trainings and boardrooms.

In 2019, Meg published My Brother Otto, a children’s book celebrating neurodiversity and sibling connection. The book has become a powerful entry point for conversations about autism, difference, and belonging.

She also serves as the autistic maternal voice for Scary Mommy, where her honest, often humorous essays on parenting and neurodiversity have reached thousands of readers. Through storytelling, she does what she does best: makes invisible experiences visible.

Turning Passion into Impact

Meg wears many hats at KultureCity. She oversees Koji, the organization’s free AI communication tool within the app. She co-develops and delivers more than a dozen sensory accessibility trainings, including specialized modules for environments like zoos, aquariums, and museums. She leads customer success and partnership engagement. She also helps guide the organization’s growing footprint in travel alongside TravelAbility.

With more than 3,000 certified locations and over one million sensory bags distributed, KultureCity now partners with organizations ranging from local businesses to NFL and NBA venues. Super Bowl host stadiums are required to be trained. Airports across the country are embracing sensory inclusion. Entire cities are exploring certification.

For Meg, success is simple: someone walks into a space, goes to a game, or boards a plane and thinks, They thought of me.

What Keeps it all Moving

When asked about the KultureCity’s fast and steady expansion, Meg brings it back to personal connection and story. There’s always some connection to someone with a need, and that’s what will continue to fuel passion and growth. For example, moved by the story of a coworker’s autistic son, the Salt Lake City International Airport didn’t stop at installing a single sensory room — they built three, thoughtfully spaced throughout the facility. They paired them with staff training and sensory bags for travelers.

When an artistic river tunnel connecting terminals began causing dizziness and migraines for some seniors with dementia, the airport reached out again, asking what more could be done.

Of course KultureCity was ready with suggestions: strobe-reduction glasses, noise-canceling headphones, clear signage, and sanitizing stations on both sides of the tunnel so travelers can borrow tools as they pass through.

“That’s when you know a partner is all in,” Meg says. “When they ask, ‘What more can we do?’”

Creating Cohesion in a Fragmented Space

“There’s so much out there, so many options that it can put you into freeze mode, and you don’t know where to begin,” Meg explains. “The issue with all things disability is there are not a lot of go-to resources with cohesion.” You may look at dozens of options, and they’re all good options, but how do you know which one will make the most difference?

The KultureCity symbol has become a widely recognized sign of welcome for those seeking sensory-friendly spaces. “Our goal is not to be a monopoly, but to be a symbol — that all who see it will think, ‘Oh my gosh. They thought of me, or of my child, or mother, or brother, or sister.’” 

That symbol matters. Because visibility matters.

“We’re in this to make the world better for those who feel unseen,” she says. “It doesn’t have to take much money or much time, and the impact is immeasurable.”

For organizations hesitant to begin, she offers reassurance.

“People will think, ‘I have to change so much.’ And there’s something gentle and inviting about partnering with KultureCity.” It’s accessible and comprehensive — meeting organizations wherever they are on their inclusion journey.

Inclusion doesn’t require perfection. It requires intention.

Accessibility Superstar Spotlight: Toni Bastian

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Toni Bastian with dark brown hair smiling at the camera

TravelAbility’s Accessibility Superstars are individuals who don’t just influence their destinations: they reshape them. Each honoree has led the kind of change that lifts an entire community, creating a culture where accessibility is woven into everyday decisions.

Toni Bastian of Visit Richmond has done exactly that. Under Toni’s leadership, Richmond has become a model for inclusive tourism, launching the Accessible RVA strategic plan, training a network of Accessible RVA Champions, and expanding disability-inclusiveness training for frontline staff. Through quiet determination, practical tools, and a steady belief that everyone deserves to feel welcome, she has helped transform the way Visit Richmond understands and delivers inclusion.

“Everyone deserves to feel welcome and comfortable when they travel.”

When asked why this work matters so deeply to her, Toni goes straight to the heart of it.

“I care about inclusion because everyone deserves to feel welcome and comfortable when they travel,” she says. “Once I stepped into this work, I realized how many small changes can completely transform someone’s experience. That’s what motivates me.”

She’s watched the local mindset shift—not from pressure or mandates, but from genuine learning and shared moments.

“Seeing our community move from treating accessibility as a task to treating it as part of who we are has been incredibly encouraging,” she says. “When a visitor tells us they felt at ease here, or a tourism partner shares something they learned that changed how they operate, it’s a reminder of why this work matters.”

One of those moments still stands out. A historic home in town completed VisitAble’s disability training. What they learned pushed them to take on a challenge that would have seemed daunting before.

“That experience pushed them to work through the process of getting a permit to add a ramp to a previously inaccessible entrance, while still preserving the home’s historic character,” she says. “Now they’re welcoming guests who use wheelchairs, but also anyone who benefits from a ramp. It’s a small change with a huge impact.”

Creating Momentum: “Keep the work simple, practical, and free of pressure.”

Culture change doesn’t happen by accident. She’s spent years figuring out what truly brings partners and leadership on board.

“What’s helped the most is keeping the work simple, practical, and free of pressure,” she explains. 

‘Partnering with VisitAble to offer disability training gave businesses a clear, approachable place to begin. Providing access to disability training gave our tourism partners something concrete to start with, and that made it easier for them to get on board.”

But education alone isn’t what moves people, it’s stories.

“Sharing traveler feedback or hosting disability content creators for familiarization tours and letting partners hear real stories helped leadership understand the impact on a personal level,” Toni says.

Those firsthand accounts shifted mindsets.

“Over time, people began to see accessibility not as a checklist but as a way to welcome more travelers with dignity and warmth,” she notes. “That shift in thinking is what created momentum.”

Advice to Other Destinations: “Start with education… celebrate the small steps.”

Her recommendation to others hoping to build an inclusive culture is clear and actionable.

“I feel that when a destination can help cover the cost of disability etiquette training, it creates a gentle way to start the conversation about reducing barriers and creating equitable travel experiences,” she says. “Beginning with education builds the ‘why’ and moves us away from any kind of ‘gotcha’ mindset.”

She believes the most powerful changes come from hearing directly from people with lived experience.

“Hearing directly from someone with lived experience and the barriers they face every day is what pushes businesses to reduce those barriers, often with a simple fix they may not have previously known about,” she says.

And when partners feel supported rather than judged, everything shifts.

“When tourism partners feel supported, they’re far more willing to try something new,” she adds. “Celebrate progress, even the small steps, because those moments build confidence and keep inclusion in everyday conversations instead of treating it like a side project.”

At that point, inclusion stops being a program and becomes a mindset.

“When it’s part of how you plan, train, and talk about visitor experience, it becomes a natural piece of your culture,” she says. “And that’s when real change happens.”

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