Accessibility Funding

Coopetition: TravelAbility’s New Word for Driving Change

November 7, 2025 by lkarl

By Jennifer Allen

“Competing is not hating, it’s actually putting appreciation into action.” ~50 Cent

This is what we learned through the friendly coopetition – cooperation and competition – at the TravelAbility Summit. Pure Michigan’s announcement that they have more track chairs than any other state may be pushing Travel Oregon to top that number, but no one’s complaining. Coopetition is a force for positive change.

On that token, I dare you to outdo these initiatives.

Visit Mesa sends weekly emails with simple, practical things partners can do to be more inclusive.

Oregon is the first Accessibility Verified state – involving all seven tourism regions, covering accommodations, attractions, hotels, and restaurants, with information for visitors with both visible and non-visible disabilities.

The TravelAbility Playbook is launching an AI companion to help destinations create accessibility solutions on the spot.

Southern Oregon, North Alabama, and Discover Lancaster have offered independent Accessibility in Tourism workshops.

North Alabama published a print guide on accessible adventures, covering multiple disabilities and including sample itineraries.

Visit California launched a centralized accessibility resource site, paired with a video road-trip series by disability advocate Sophie Morgan to showcase inclusive travel experiences.

Kansas City’s MCI Airport added Aira — offering real-time visual navigation assistance via the Aira app for blind and low-vision travelers.

Tennessee State Parks recently installed eight additional adult-sized changing tables, now available in 18 parks across the state.

Clendenin, West Virginia, is building the first adaptive downhill mountain biking trails in the U.S..

Don’t be intimidated – be inspired! How will you add to the Coopetition?

September 2025 Around the Web

September 8, 2025 by lkarl

Vrbo’s New Accessibility Partnership Opens Doors to Everyone

A family gathers around a dining table for a meal, with a child in a wheelchair drinking from a cup while other family members, including children and adults, share food and conversation in a bright, welcoming home setting.

We sat down with Lorraine Woodward, CEO and founder of Becoming rentABLE, to discuss the growing importance of accessibility in the vacation rental industry. Becoming rentABLE is on a mission to make travel easier for everyone…

New Accessibility Tools Empower Inclusive Travel

Visitors with mobility aids, including a walker and a service dog, check in at a distillery's tour desk, with large wooden barrels and industrial architecture visible in the background.

Bundaberg Tourism has unveiled a suite of new accessibility tools designed to support travellers of all abilities in planning and enjoying their holiday in the Bundaberg Region, including new digital guides, audio storytelling and sensory-friendly initiatives…..

These Accessible Musicals Are for Blind People, Deaf People — and Also Everyone

A scene from the play ″Gyeon Gothic Girl″ featuring captions for deaf audience members.

As the curtain rose on Saturday’s matinee of the National Theater Company of Korea’s new Buddhism-themed metadrama play “Sammaekyung,” audio describer Seo Soo-yeon, positioned beneath the stage of the Myeongdong Theater, began painting the first scene through her microphone…

Increasing Accessible Outdoor Spaces is Good for Everyone

Two people wearing helmets ride together on a tandem adaptive bike through a tree-lined park path, smiling as they enjoy an outdoor cycling experience.

Outdoor environments, from local parks to nature trails, are vital to our physical health, mental well-being and social connection. Fresh air, spaces and places to play help us relieve stress and give us more choices to be active. Yet too many disabled people face barriers that keep them from…

Latest Airline Incident Reinforces Need for Better Accessibility in the Travel Industry

A Southwest Airlines aircraft with blue livery sits at an airport gate with a jet bridge attached. The plane is positioned on the tarmac with airport terminal buildings and infrastructure visible in the background under an overcast sky.

Earlier this week, we reported on how two blind women were the only two people onboard a flight from New Orleans to Orlando after an hours-long….

How to Attract and Retain Talent with Disabilities

A man in a wheelchair wearing a brown leather apron and white t-shirt operates a band saw in a woodworking shop. He's working at a wooden workbench while wearing black gloves, with various tools and equipment visible throughout the workshop in the background.

Although 1 in 4 adults in the United States has a disability, Disabled individuals remain underrepresented in the workforce. In 2024, the employment-population ratio was 22.7% among those with disabilities, compared to 65.5% for those without….

“Shakedown” lawsuits Over Website Access Torment St. Louis Restaurateurs

Portrait of two men smiling at the camera in what appears to be a restaurant setting. Dave Bailey, left, wearing a light blue button-down shirt, and Kevin Nashan, right, wearing a white chef's coat, are among the restaurateurs who've received legal notices from a Kansas City law firm.

It is seldom good news when your business hears from a lawyer you don’t know, and so it was for Kevin Nashan this past spring. The James Beard-winning chef, who owns Sidney Street Cafe and Peacemaker Lobster & Crab, got a letter from a Kansas City-based attorney representing a blind man….

How Can Beaches Be Made More Accessible to People with Reduced Mobility?

An older man in a beach wheelchair holds hands with a woman sitting on the sand beside him, with the ocean waves in the background.

In Belgium, the Inter agency launched the “Sun, Sea… Carefree” programme in 2006, to improve access to the coastline.

With her granddaughter in her lap, Monique is enjoying a trip to the North Sea in a…

Brain-Computer Interfaces in Accessible Tourism

The emergence of brain–computer interface technology is gradually influencing various aspects of human society. However, this innovative technology has yet to be meaningfully introduced into the field of tourism studies…

The Americans with Disabilities Act at 35: Recognizing the Important Work to Promote Equal Opportunity for People with Disabilities

A man wearing a navy OEM shirt speaks with a person in a wheelchair inside a shelter, where several people are resting on cots and Red Cross blankets.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990, providing a legal framework to ensure people with disabilities have access to the same facilities and resources as the rest of the…

Have Wheels, Will Travel: Paralyzed Individuals Reveal Challenges when Hitting the Road

A person in a wheelchair looks out at a lake and mountains from a wooden dock, with travel map graphics and location pins overlaid above. Text reads, “Have Wheels, Will Travel — Paralyzed individuals reveal challenges when hitting the road.”

Shaun Castle cannot imagine a life without travel….

How to Tell if You’re Really in a Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room

A cozy log cabin bedroom with a large bed covered in a patriotic quilt, wooden furniture, and windows with white curtains letting in natural light. A sliding glass door opens to a deck with views of pine trees.

Thanks to modern technology it’s now possible to share your travel photos with friends and family with just a few swipes and a tap or two. And I absolutely love seeing those smiling faces enjoying cruises, beaches and luxury resorts…

Selma Blair Says She Is Often ‘Misunderstood as Difficult or Drunk’ Due to MS

Woman with short blonde hair, wearing a white collared shirt with black trim and a gold chain necklace, smiling in front of a lavender backdrop with partial event text visible.

Selma Blair is opening up about the challenges she faces traveling with multiple sclerosis.

“I have dystonia, which is often misunderstood as difficult or drunk,” the Legally Blonde actress…

First Disabled Athletes to Cross the Alps in Manual Wheelchairs

Two people in wheelchairs wearing matching bright yellow shirts that read “Wheelchair Across the Alps,” sitting on a path by a river with mountains and trees in the background, smiling at the camera.

On the banks of Lake Geneva in late June, Ben Spencer and Peter Smorthit looked out towards the Alpine peaks. Over the next 18 days, the friends would embark on a 262 mile-journey across one of Europe’s most extreme landscapes, reaching heights of…

Behind the Oscar-Winning Captioning Revolution: Intention

Black background with white text reading 'Behind the Work' in large serif font. Below is a simple white illustration of a person sitting in a chair with a question mark above their head, facing a computer monitor on a desk. At the bottom is a closed captioning symbol followed by the text 'Caption with Intention' with an underlined yellow accent

FCB Chicago’s Bruno Mazzotti says new ‘Caption with Intention’ system, created with Rakish Entertainment and the Chicago Hearing Society, gives inclusive design a long-overdue starring…

Triple A provides 11 Ideas for Aging Travelers Taking to the Road

Soon, summer will come to a close, and many Idaho families will resume the usual Fall schedule of school and activities closer to home. But for seniors, the fun may be just beginning. Today, AAA shares 11 of the best vacation ideas for seniors this year…..

NY State Now Offering Discount Offers for PwD’s, Most with Free Tickets for Caregiver

Three people walking away on a paved path or small road through green countryside. One person pushes a stroller while two others walk alongside. The scene shows rolling hills and trees in the distance under a partly cloudy blue sky.

A trip to New York State is both accessible and affordable thanks to discounted rates for visitors with disabilities and free companion/personal care attendant admission at many sites. From world-class museums and historic….

Seattle Airport Offering Support for Travelers with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

Busy airport terminal interior showing travelers in motion with luggage. A large electronic flight information display board is mounted on a central column, showing departure and arrival information in white text on a dark background.

One in three older adults in the United States dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia — a staggering number that reflects the growing impact on families and communities…

August 2025 Around the Web

August 1, 2025 by lkarl

I’m Obese and Refused to Give Up My Second Seat on a Plane for a Toddler

A plus-size woman wearing a face mask sits in an airplane seat near the window, occupying part of the adjacent seat, with an oxygen concentrator next to her and empty seats nearby.

A woman has faced criticism online after revealing she refused to give up the second plane seat she had bought so that a fussy toddler could sit next to his mom.

The 34-year-old passenger said she had booked two seats on the domestic flight due to previous experiences of being uncomfortable in one….

Touch2See Increases Accessibility for Blind Sports Fans

In a sporting arena, fans sit in bleachers. Centered in the middle of the folder is a man with glasses cheering with one hand cupped around his mouth and the other following the game on his touch2see device.

As accessibility becomes a bigger focus for leagues and teams looking to increase convenience for all fans, Toulouse, France-based Touch2See is bringing its tech to the U.S. for visually impaired and blind fans….

What is Beep Baseball? Boston Team of Blind Athletes Plays America’s Favorite Pastime

The Boston Renegades baseball team plays beep baseball, an adaptive version of America’s favorite pastime, designed specifically for blind and visually-impaired athletes…

This Airline Was Named No. 1 for Wheelchair Accessibility in 2025

A person in a wheelchair waits at an airport terminal, with an airplane taking off visible through the large windows in the background.

If you are planning on flying with a wheelchair, there’s one airline with a higher approval rating than its competitors.

A new study by InsureMyTrip ranks which airlines are great with wheelchairs…

Houston Charity Gifts 66 Wheelchair-Accessible Vans to Needy Families

Five people pose in front of a row of new black and white vans adorned with red bows, part of a fleet of 66 wheelchair-accessible vehicles being unveiled in Houston to expand accessible transportation.

More than 60 underprivileged children will now have wheelchair-accessible vans thanks to a nearly $4 million giveaway by the Houston Children’s Charity on Tuesday….

What Makes Torino Europe’s Smartest Travel Destination?

Panoramic view of Turin, Italy, showcasing the iconic Mole Antonelliana with its tall spire rising above historic buildings and red rooftops, with a hot air balloon floating in the distance under a blue sky.

What makes Torino Europe’s smartest travel destination isn’t just its baroque palaces or chocolate heritage—it’s how the city is blending innovation, inclusion, and sustainability to reshape what a city break can be in 2025…

Best Travel Tips from Sophie Morgan

The travel industry has made great strides in accessibility recently, which is great, but there’s still so much more that can be done. Here are the companies and destinations I’ve found to be leading the way, whether you’re craving luxury, adventure or just a stress-free trip…

August News from the TravelAbility Community

July 31, 2025 by lkarl

This summer is HOT with TravelAbility community action! From camping to flying, this community is shaking up the very foundations of travel. Check out the latest achievements and well-earned accolades from your fellow changemakers.

Jan Bonnville | Recapturing that Special Outdoor Feeling

A smiling woman reclines on a three-wheeled adaptive recumbent bike on a beachside trail, wearing sunglasses, a gray beanie, green vest, and black pants. Next to her sits a large Bernese Mountain Dog with its tongue out, also appearing to smile. An orange safety flag extends from the back of the bike. The dry, sandy terrain and open sky evoke a sense of freedom, adventure, and companionship in the outdoors.

For me, the saddest part of living with multiple sclerosis and losing mobility was no longer being able to go for walks. I loved strolling in the park, marveling at the stunning diversity of foliage…

Illustrated book cover for “The Smart Marketer’s Guide to Digital Accessibility” by Sassy Wyatt, featuring a red-haired woman and a blind man with a white cane working together at a table, with a guide dog sitting nearby.

I lost my sight at 22. That changed everything. But what made life harder wasn’t the blindness itself, it was trying to live in a world, especially a digital one, that wasn’t designed with disabled people in mind.

Suddenly I couldn’t finish my degree because the platforms weren’t accessible. I couldn’t apply for jobs because the forms weren’t usable. I couldn’t even use social media in the same way as everyone else, not because I didn’t want to, but because the tools weren’t built to include me.

Two people in separate boats navigate a misty, tree-lined river at dawn; the scene is quiet and atmospheric, with dense fog obscuring the background and creating a sense of mystery and solitude.

As the demand for inclusive travel continues to grow, TripAdvisor has unveiled a new initiative aimed at providing accessible travel experiences for all. In collaboration with Visit Lauderdale, the site has introduced a dedicated landing page that focuses on accessible destinations and…

Children explore a brightly lit, interactive museum space featuring a large circular color mixing machine, colorful light installations, and various hands-on exhibits designed to engage sensory play and learning.

California’s attractions are designed for everyone to enjoy, including neurodivergent travelers and individuals with autism or sensory-processing sensitivities…

Graphic showing a desert landscape with tall cacti in the foreground and a hazy city in the distance. Centered in the image is the official IBCCES Certified Autism Center (CAC) seal. A yellow ribbon below the seal reads “Certified Autism Center.” Curved text above and below the seal reads: “Congratulations Grant Recipients!”

We’re excited to announce the inaugural recipients of the Mesa For All Autism Certification Grant Program!

The Mesa For All Foundation received 10 applications from Mesa-based businesses eager to become Autism Certified. After careful review, the board selected three outstanding recipients. The grant application opened in April 2025 in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Month and closed on June 16…..

In 2020, filmmaker Taylor Leigh Aguilar suddenly and unexpectedly lost her sight. She took a leave of absence from film school at Loyola Marymount University to attend the Colorado Center for The Blind…

An older man in a power wheelchair rolls along a beach access path, holding a large black umbrella for shade and carrying plastic bags on the chair’s handles, with a crowded beach scene in the background.

Travelers looking to plan an accessible getaway may have a new first stop at TripAdvisor. The site, in partnership with Visit Lauderdale, introduced a landing page for accessible destinations and experiences, where reviews from fellow…

Years ago, Lee and his wife, Ginny, were planning the trip of a lifetime: a safari in South Africa. But just weeks before, everything changed — Lee got sick, and ended up losing all four of his limbs. The trip never happened. Until now.

Watch Here

Sunflower Lanyard Program | Wings of Wonder: Accessibility for all Who Want to Travel

A box filled with green sunflower lanyards, symbolizing hidden disabilities, sits on a table with the words “Hidden Disabilities” printed on the front, alongside a sunflower graphic and a QR code.

The Rapid City Regional Airport partnered with local organizations for Wings of Wonder. The event’s goal is to help people with disabilities easily navigate the airport from the moment they park their car until they find their seat on the plane…

Two yellow-orange tents are set up in a peaceful forest clearing, with tall pine trees casting long shadows as golden sunlight filters through the trees.

The rising costs of accommodations can be one of the biggest barriers to taking more trips. One way to keep travel more affordable is to consider the many campsites available across the U.S….

A sunlit forest trail winds through towering sequoia trees, with a few visitors visible in the distance, and wooden fences guide the accessible path through the dense, majestic landscape.

The sense of peace is palpable along the Big Trees Trail in California’s Sequoia National Park. All around my family, 2,000-year-old giant sequoia trees—some of the world’s oldest and largest—stand in quiet solitude in a mountain landscape suited….

A panoramic view of downtown Richmond, Virginia, featuring a mix of modern and historic buildings, a long freight train crossing a trestle bridge over the James River, and autumn-colored trees lining the riverbanks.

Incorporated in 1742, Richmond is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the oldest cities in the United States. Located along the James River, the city has been at the center of…

A group of older adults strolls along a tropical garden pathway lined with vibrant flowers and palm trees, with mountains and the ocean visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

Winter often brings a desire for cozy escapes and relaxing getaways, but as people grow older, their travel preferences and habits often shift. International trips may lose their appeal due to challenges like mobility issues, health concerns, and the complexities of travel logistics….

Travel Oregon is awarding nearly $6.2 million to 65 groundbreaking projects that it says will transform visitor access across the state while also strengthening local economies.

The 2024-25 Travel Oregon Competitive Grants Program was designed to increase access…

Travel Oregon Accessibility Grants

Travel Oregon is seeing the fruit of their awarded accessibility grants. Check out these grant-funded projects.

Prineville Golf Course Unveils Cart for People in Wheelchairs

A man drives an accessible single-rider golf cart across a scenic golf course in Prineville, Oregon, surrounded by grassy hills and clear blue skies.

Derek Shike is a 31-year-old medical coder in Portland. Golf wasn’t always his cup of tea.

“For me, golfing, I always thought it was…

Three cyclists, including one using an adaptive handcycle, ride along a dirt trail through a pine forest on a sunny day, showcasing accessible outdoor recreation.

Oregon Adaptive Sports, a Bend-based nonprofit, has received $60,000 from Travel Oregon to expand the adaptive mountain biking program and introduce an adaptive paddling program for locals and visitors with disabilities…

A cyclist rides along a gravel trail in a scenic, dry landscape surrounded by shrubs and trees, while an inset image of the "Western Oregon All Access Gravel Guide" cover shows a rider on a similar trail through golden fields with Mount Hood in the background.

Dirty Freehub, a Bend-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting gravel cycling adventures, is launching a new statewide campaign to empower and inspire people with visible and non-visible disabilities to explore Oregon by gravel bike…

A lake with a mountain in the background

Six projects and programs in Northeastern Oregon have received big state tourism grants.

Travel Oregon announced Monday, June 30, it has awarded $6.2 million….

We’re only at the beginning of TravelAbility’s lineup of events to celebrate ADA’s 35th anniversary. Here’s what’s on the schedule!

Grant News! New Mexico Tourism Department issues new accessibility grant.

July 30, 2025 by lkarl

NMTD recently announced the creation of the Destination Forward Accessibility Pilot Grant which offers up a special $100,000 fund to exclusively support the construction and installation of universal changing tables in qualified facilities.

Learn more!

Accessibility Funding

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Vrbo’s New Accessibility Partnership Opens Doors to Everyone

New Accessibility Tools Empower Inclusive Travel

These Accessible Musicals Are for Blind People, Deaf People — and Also Everyone

Increasing Accessible Outdoor Spaces is Good for Everyone

Latest Airline Incident Reinforces Need for Better Accessibility in the Travel Industry

How to Attract and Retain Talent with Disabilities

“Shakedown” lawsuits Over Website Access Torment St. Louis Restaurateurs

How Can Beaches Be Made More Accessible to People with Reduced Mobility?

Brain-Computer Interfaces in Accessible Tourism

The Americans with Disabilities Act at 35: Recognizing the Important Work to Promote Equal Opportunity for People with Disabilities

Have Wheels, Will Travel: Paralyzed Individuals Reveal Challenges when Hitting the Road

How to Tell if You’re Really in a Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room

Selma Blair Says She Is Often ‘Misunderstood as Difficult or Drunk’ Due to MS

First Disabled Athletes to Cross the Alps in Manual Wheelchairs

Behind the Oscar-Winning Captioning Revolution: Intention

Triple A provides 11 Ideas for Aging Travelers Taking to the Road

NY State Now Offering Discount Offers for PwD’s, Most with Free Tickets for Caregiver

Seattle Airport Offering Support for Travelers with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

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I’m Obese and Refused to Give Up My Second Seat on a Plane for a Toddler

Touch2See Increases Accessibility for Blind Sports Fans

What is Beep Baseball? Boston Team of Blind Athletes Plays America’s Favorite Pastime

This Airline Was Named No. 1 for Wheelchair Accessibility in 2025

Houston Charity Gifts 66 Wheelchair-Accessible Vans to Needy Families

What Makes Torino Europe’s Smartest Travel Destination?

Best Travel Tips from Sophie Morgan

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Jan Bonnville | Recapturing that Special Outdoor Feeling

Sassy Wyatt | Guide to Digital Accessibility

Visit Lauderdale | Destinations Moving in the Right (Accessible) Direction

Visit California | Autism Certified Cities and Sensory Friendly Destinations

Visit Mesa | MFA Announces First Grant Recipients

Taylor Aguilar | The Blind Movement TV Show

Visit Lauderdale | Planning an Accessible Trip Just Got Easier with TripAdvisor’s New Tool

Wheel the World | Survival to SafariNew Tool

Sunflower Lanyard Program | Wings of Wonder: Accessibility for all Who Want to Travel

AARP | Accessible Campgrounds

National Parks | How U.S. National Parks are Becoming More Autism Friendly

Visit Richmond and John Morris | Richmond, VA, Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide

Visit Florida | Best Destinations for Senior Travel

Travel Oregon | Travel Oregon Awards Nearly $6.2M to Dozens of Groundbreaking Projects Across the State

Travel Oregon Accessibility Grants

Prineville Golf Course Unveils Cart for People in Wheelchairs

Oregon Adaptive Sports Receives $60,000 to Implement Adaptive Paddling Program

Dirty Freehub’s Inclusive Gravel Cycling Campaign Empowers Riders with Disabilities

NE Oregon Projects Receive State Tourism Grants

ADA 35 Lineup

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