TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Accessibility

What to Know Before Hosting an Adaptive Sports Event 

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Adaptive sports events build community, elevate destinations, and create meaningful access for athletes with disabilities. In this session recap from TravelAbility Summit 2025, leaders from Richmond Region Tourism, the National Ability Center, and TravelAbility came together with athlete ambassador Sue Ellen Henneberry to share what it truly takes to host adaptive sporting events that work. Drawing on real-world experience, the panel explored how destinations can balance inclusion, logistics, and collaboration to deliver high-impact events that empower athletes and leave a lasting local legacy.

2026 TravelAbility Tampa 2026 ad featuring a group of people including a wheelchair user enjoying a mead in downtown tampa. the summit dates are listed.

Want to be part of these conversations in real time? Join us at next year’s TravelAbility Summit, taking place November 9-11, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. The summit brings together destinations, venues, and industry leaders committed to making travel and events more inclusive for everyone.

Session Recap

October 13, 2025 

Speakers 

● Toni Bastian – Director of Accessibility & Tourism Sales, Richmond Region Tourism 

● Jamie Starr – Director of Marketing, National Ability Center 

● Kristy Durso – Founder, Incredible Memories Travel / Ambassador, TravelAbility ● Guest Contributor: Sue Ellen Henneberry, Athlete Ambassador, Sportable 

Session Overview 

This session explored how destinations can successfully host adaptive sporting events—balancing inclusion, logistics, and community collaboration. Drawing from the experiences of the National Ability Center in Utah and Richmond Region Tourism in Virginia, panelists shared best practices for designing accessible, high-impact events that empower athletes with disabilities and engage local communities. 

Key Insights 

  • Inclusive adventure as tourism driver: The National Ability Center (NAC) has evolved over 40 years from a veteran ski program into a year-round adaptive recreation hub with 6,000 participants and 33,000 experiences annually. 
  • Community integration: NAC welcomes families and caregivers alongside participants, emphasizing shared adventure over separation. 
  • Economic impact: Adaptive events generate substantial tourism spending and strengthen brand identity through inclusion. 
  • DMO leadership: Richmond Region Tourism partnered with Sportable to host the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Championships—welcoming 400 athletes, 10,000 spectators, and $1.1 million in annual tourism revenue. 
  • Training and collaboration: Over 2,500 airport, hotel, and attraction staff in Richmond received disability etiquette training through partnerships with Visitable and MobilityWorks. 
  • Universal design in venues: Facilities like the Henrico Sports & Events Center were built beyond ADA compliance, incorporating lived-experience consultation from Six Wheels Consulting. 

Actionable Takeaways 

  • Plan collaboratively: Include athletes, disability organizations, and accessibility experts from the start. 
  • Invest in training: Frontline staff interactions shape visitor impressions more than measurements or specs. 
  • Communicate transparently: Avoid blanket “fully accessible” claims; provide detailed accessibility info so travelers can make informed decisions. 
  • Anticipate logistics: Coordinate with connecting airports, rideshares, and DME suppliers for seamless travel. 
  • Show, don’t tell: Use video tours and athlete testimonials to visually demonstrate accessibility.
  • Leverage tech and data: NAC uses Salesforce and updated IT systems to manage participant flow and experience tracking efficiently. 

Notable Quotes 

  • “Accessibility isn’t a destination—it’s about meeting individual needs so everyone can experience your destination.” — Kristy Durso 
  • “Don’t be afraid to bring an adaptive event to your city. With community collaboration, you can do it.” — Tony Bastian 
  • “It’s not about separate spaces—it’s about shared adventure.” — Jamie Starr
  • “Videos showing accessibility give people the freedom to explore without fear.” — Sue Ellen Henneberry

Practical Hacks From the Accessibility Playbook: Put Your Website to the Test

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Accessible websites are often the first point of contact between a destination and a traveler. When key information is hard to find or impossible to navigate with assistive technology, travelers with disabilities are excluded before a trip even begins. This excerpt from the Accessibility Playbook breaks down practical, easy to implement website accessibility best practices that improve usability for everyone. Before you dive in, take this quick three question quiz to test your knowledge and see how accessible your website really is.

Take the Quiz!

Accessible Website Guidance

  1. Screen-reader Compatible Web Pages: Web pages must be readable by electronic “screen readers”, which are devices commonly used by the visually impaired to surf the internet.
  2. Alt-tagged Images: Images must have “alt tags” (a type of metadata) which will help visually impaired users to identify the image via text or via a screen reader. Search engine optimizers will know of alt-tags as a way to optimize images for ranking high in ‘Google Images’.
  3. Alt-tagged Tables: If you’re using tables on any web pages, they must also have alt-tags
    to help explain each column via text. The user’s screen reader will then read that text aloud, describing the contents of the table.
  4. Automatic Scripting: Any scripted display usage of image mapping should be accompanied by textual alternatives.
  5. Style Sheet Independence: Your web pages should be readable to screen readers, most of which cannot load style sheets.
  6. Accessible Forms: Web forms should be usable without a mouse, and each field should be
    labeled.
  7. Text Links to Plugins: If your website requires a specific plugin to work correctly, you
    should present the link to that plugin in text form.
  8. Color Schemes: Your website should not contain any colors or color combinations that are either integral to the correct usage of your website, or which may confuse those with color blindness in any way pertaining to your website, products or services.
  9. Keyboard-friendly Browsing: Your website shouldn’t be reliant on the usage of a mouse or touchpad. Users who wish to navigate using only keyboard keys should be able to do so.
  10. Harmless Website Design: Your website should not serve images or videos that can cause
    seizures.

Conduct a Website Audit

Website audits are a necessary process to assess how well your website meets the needs of people with disabilities, conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and complies with relevant regulations. While a website audit can be conducted by a member of your organization, it is always helpful to engage a third-party expert, like UserWay Scanner.

Accessible Landing Page Guidance

KEY ELEMENTS DETAILS
Statement“We are pleased to welcome visitors of all abilities. This page features a variety of accessible attractions, museums, recreational activities, and hotels to help visitors and local residents with disabilities discover what they can do in
[Destination].”
PlacementFeature landing page on homepage or at top navigation bar for easy access.
Things to DoIdentify accessible attractions and experiences, and provide direct links to
their accessibility pages.
Highlight Accessibility Advocates and ProgramsShowcase relationships with organizations like Wheel the World, KultureCity, or Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program. If you a certified partner in sensory accessibility and inclusion, link your website directly to the KultureCity App.
Hotels & LodgingList accessible hotels, highlight hotels with pool lifts exceeding ADA requirements, and survey hotels for detailed accessibility info. If partnering
with Wheel the World, link directly to their booking page.
Suggested ItineraryList accessible hotels, highlight hotels with pool lifts exceeding ADA requirements, and survey hotels for detailed accessibility info. If partnering
with Wheel the World, link directly to their booking page.
TransportationBuild an accessible itinerary with state/provincial/national stakeholders, and
include links to relevant articles and media coverage.
Medical Supplies & ServicesProvide links for wheelchair/scooter rentals and medical equipment rentals.
Outdoor Spaces and TrailsProvide accessibility links for nearby parks, hiking trails, points of interest, botanical gardens, and zoos.
Sports and Performance VenuesLink to accessibility pages for college/professional stadiums, arenas, racetracks, symphonies, ballets, operas, theatres, and prominent nightclubs.
Dining & FoodList accessible-compliant and sensory-friendly restaurants.
Enhanced EngagementIncorporate video testimonials from visitors with different disabilities.
Industry Collaboration & Drop-Down MenusSurvey industry partners to uncover accessibility features, and build a user-friendly drop-down menu for mobility, blindness/low vision, deafness/hard of hearing, and autism/neurodiversity.
Tagging & Search OptimizationTag accessibility links by disability type, allowing users to filter and search. Locations with multiple features should appear under each relevant category.
Involve Disabled VoicesInvite individuals with disabilities to write articles, review experiences, and contribute to the landing page experience.

Best practice landing pages

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to accessible landing pages. To get inspired, take a look at these destinations who have made great strides:

  • Discover Lancaster: Discover Lancaster’s accessibility page helps travelers plan with confidence by providing specific and reliable information on features like ramps, braille signage, and service animal accommodations.
  • Explore Minnesota: Explore Minnesota’s accessibility page stands out for its filterable, extensive accessibility features. This empowers users to customize searches by their unique needs, making trip planning more efficient and tailored.
  • Visit Ann Arbor: Visit Ann Arbor’s page builds trust through recognized certifications and showcases inclusive experiences in the community.
  • Visit Charlottesville: Visit Charlottesville’s accessibility page instills confidence in travelers with vetted information. It helps travelers plan for practical needs, such as bed and restroom dimensions, by providing verified credentials.
  • Visit Denver: The Visit Denver accessibility page demonstrates a commitment to accessibility with leadership in ADA compliance and top disability access rankings.
  • Visit Fort Wayne: Visit Fort Wayne’s accessibility page engages local stakeholders and promotes inclusive recreation with community-driven resources and adaptive sports highlights.
  • Visit Scotland: The VisitScotland accessibility page offers comprehensive, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand resources that cater to a wide range of accessibility needs.

Rosie Roaming: Learn Through Real Travels of Disabled Content Creators

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By Rosie Dunn

Rosie Dunn smiling and holding up a U.S. passport, wearing a black tank top and gold necklace against a pink background.

Rosie Dunn is a content creator and travel writer who shares online about her travels and experiences as a full-time manual wheelchair user of over 20 years. Rosie has been to 39 states and 20 countries. Her passions include inclusive and stylish design, hotel and resort accessibility, connecting with other disabled women, exploring new places, travel photography, and disability representation. She has earned a B.A. from The University of Notre Dame and a MSc in Disability Studies from University College Dublin. Rosie is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at Belmont University in her hometown of Nashville, TN. She will be doing her doctoral capstone in inclusive design. 

@RosieRoaming

Wheelchair Travel Tips

✈️ navigating life & travel on wheels

🗺️ 20 countries, 39 states & counting

My Best & Worst Experiences In Europe So Far

I’ve traveled to 16 countries in Europe in my wheelchair- here are some of my best and worst experiences so far. There are so many great things to see in Europe, so picking “bests” can be subjective. Also, my bad experiences don’t mean the cities aren’t necessarily worth visiting if you’re a wheelchair user!

Worst “Shower Chair”: Hotel Zermama

Reclined lounge-style chair placed inside a hotel shower stall, positioned away from the controls and illustrating an inappropriate and unsafe substitute for a proper shower chair.

My mom and I stayed at Hotel Zermama in Zermatt, Switzerland. We enjoyed our stay, except for their shower accommodations. As a “shower chair”, the hotel provided me with what was clearly a lounge chair. It was in no way appropriate for me to use as a shower chair – it was reclined and the only orientation that it could fit in the shower was facing away from the controls and soaps. When I got to the hotel and saw the monstrosity that they put in my shower, I hopped in to take photos to send to my friends and share with my followers, because it looked absolutely ridiculous. When I was transferring back into my wheelchair, the “shower chair” tipped over and I fell to the ground. Thankfully, I was not injured. I have been using a shower chair for over a decade and this is the first time I’ve ever fallen in the shower. Later that night, I had to take a shower, and had no other choice but to use the shower chair. I did not fall, but I had to have my mom’s assistance with showering because I couldn’t reach anything or transfer safely without her help. This is nowhere near the first time I have encountered an inadequate shower setup when traveling, but it is the most ridiculous.  

Simple shower chairs with a back are easily available for purchase for $60 on Amazon. I do not see an excuse for every hotel to have at least 2 of these for their guests to use. I am a paying customer and should be able to safely take a shower at a hotel! I am tired of poor design and a lack of consideration preventing me from showering independently when I travel. I shouldn’t have to have the help of my mom when a design change (or $60 purchase for a hotel) could completely prevent this outcome and give me some dignity back. Thankfully, I am comfortable with my mom helping me (although it is incredibly frustrating to need her help)- but if I was traveling with anyone else, or alone, I wouldn’t be able to shower safely…

Continue Reading
Learn how to work with Rosie Here

ADAPTS Transfer Sling: Faster, Safer, Emergency Evacuations

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Two people demonstrate an evacuation assistance device, supporting a seated woman at an accessibility and safety exhibit.

Imagine an emergency that requires an evacuation. The general feeling of panic and uncertainty. The rush to get to safety. Now imagine your wheelchair is stowed…somewhere else. People with disabilities have enough obstacles to overcome while traveling. Safety during an evacuation shouldn’t be one of them.

ADAPTS to the Rescue

ADAPTS reduces the risk of injury and speeds evacuation. Use it to transfer the passenger from a wheelchair to their seat, leaving it on the seat. Then, during an emergency evacuation, ADAPTS can be carried by two crew members or by the passengers immediately behind and across the aisle from the disabled passenger.

Our dream is that ADAPTS will someday be readily available on every airline, cruise line, passenger train and bus—just like life vests, oxygen masks and other safety equipment.

Not Just for Evacuations

Because it’s portable, compact and lightweight, ADAPTS can be used for everyday transfers around the home and anywhere!

Check out some of the ways others are using ADAPTS here.

The ADAPTS Story

Yellow adaptive evacuation seat secured in an airplane aisle seat, designed for passenger mobility assistance.

The seed that would become ADAPTS was first planted in Robin Wearley’s mind in 2005, as she sat in the window seat during a flight home to San Francisco. Filling the other two seats were an elderly man and his wife, who was brought onto the plane in a wheelchair. At the conclusion of the flight, Robin and her two seatmates were required to remain in their seats until all other passengers had deplaned and a wheelchair could be brought on board.

As they wheeled the elderly woman off the plane, a flight attendant thanked Robin for being patient, adding that he hoped it hadn’t been too much of an inconvenience. It wasn’t, but it got Robin thinking—what if the outcome of the flight had been different? What if they didn’t have the luxury of time? How would that woman—or her husband and Robin, who couldn’t move until she did—have gotten safely off the plane?

A dozen years later, after more flights and several conversations with a travel-savvy friend who happens to be a triple amputee, Robin’s idea began to take root. She grabbed her yoga mat and some rope, and fashioned the first prototype of the ADAPTS sling. Convinced she was onto something, she cut up a Slip-n-Slide® and refined her design. She created a third prototype from light cotton muslin, before turning the design over to a seamstress, who created the pattern and instructions for mass production. 

  • $199
  • ADAPTS is made of the material used for life-vests and is water-resistant and flame-retardant to comply with FAA safety standards.
  • ADAPTS weighs 1.15 pounds. It measures 11″ x 11″ x 2″ when folded into a tote. Industrial tested to hold at least 450 pounds!
  • Hand wash or wipe with a soapy sponge and air dry.
  • When unfolded it fits the seat on an airplane or a chair and attaches at the top.
  • There are six handles, two on each side, one at the top, and one at the bottom so that two to six rescuers can move a person swiftly to first responders. 

Want to know more? Check out these videos! 

Watch ADAPTS InnovatAble Pitch below!

Trailblazing Accessibility: North Alabama Takes Center Stage on PBS with Travels with Darley

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TRAVELS WITH DARLEY returns to PBS this January with two fresh episodes that put North Alabama firmly on the map, not just as a classic American road trip, but as a destination increasingly thinking about access, inclusion, and meaningful experiences for travelers of all abilities.

Season 13 of the Emmy-nominated series blends what host Darley Newman does best – culture, history, food, and adventure – with a growing focus on how destinations can welcome more people to the table. The result is a pair of episodes that feel both aspirational and practical.

An Accessible Road Trip Rooted in Story

In the first episode, Darley begins in Huntsville, where science and space exploration set the tone, before heading west toward Muscle Shoals, home to legendary recording studios that shaped American music. Along the way, she stops at Scottsboro’s Unclaimed Baggage Center, explores the natural wonder of Cathedral Caverns State Park, and reflects on the legacy of Jesse Owens at the Jesse Owens Memorial Park and Museum.

The second episode, Travels with Darley: Accessible North Alabama, shifts the spotlight to inclusive travel, highlighting experiences designed with access.

Working alongside local experts, Newman explores how adaptive and accessible experiences are taking shape across the region. Viewers are introduced to Wheel the World experiences in Decatur, Paralympic cycling events in Huntsville, and sensory-friendly attractions that make it easier for families and individuals with disabilities to participate fully.

Outdoor access is a recurring theme, with visits to Noccalula Falls and Little River Canyon showing how nature-based experiences can be made more inclusive. The episode also includes a stop at Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia, tying accessibility to a deeper historical context that feels especially fitting.

“Making travel more accessible is beneficial to us all,” Newman says in the episode, a sentiment that clearly reflects Visit North Alabama’s approach. 

Both episodes go behind the scenes to introduce viewers to the people who preserve North Alabama’s history and shape its future. From the Scottsboro Boys Museum to Will’s Creek Vineyard, where guests are welcomed by Mr. Mittens, a well known mascot, the series highlights entrepreneurs and storytellers who give the region its character.

An Example Worth Watching

Once again, North Alabama is setting the precedent. For destinations, travel professionals, and travelers, these episodes offer more than inspiration. They provide a clear example of how accessible experiences can be woven naturally into destination storytelling without losing the sense of adventure. This is what it looks like when an entire ecosystem is built on true welcome: adaptive outdoor recreation, cultural sites that acknowledge disability history, events that welcome disabled athletes, experiences designed for families, seniors, and travelers with sensory needs. Accessibility here isn’t hidden in fine print: it’s part of the destination’s identity.

For other destinations watching, the takeaway is clear: inclusive travel doesn’t require reinventing everything at once. It requires collaboration, listening, and a willingness to show the work you’re already doing. When accessibility is integrated into destination storytelling, it benefits travelers and strengthens the destination brand.

On Alabama Public Television, the North Alabama episodes air throughout January, with additional encore broadcasts and a primetime marathon later in the month. Viewers nationwide can check local PBS listings for air times.

Check out a preview here.

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