Accessibility

Update from Kristy Durso – a TravelAbility Ambassador representing TravelAbility and accessible travel in the greater world.

By Jennifer Allen

Kristy and her husband celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal—a resort event at Sandals Turks and Caicos that wasn’t just accessible but was designed without compromise.

“The distinction is important,” Kristy explains. “There are probably a lot of accessible wedding destinations, but I didn’t want to sacrifice anything. So that’s what we did.”

The idea took root when Kristy attended the Sandals Star Awards last year. She had not been a big seller of Sandals travel because her priority had been accessibility. When she suggested Sandals should run an accessible wedding campaign, they asked her to lead it.

“That meant I got to plan this however I wanted,” she says. “I wasn’t going to just make do—I was going to show what was possible.”

“I don’t love the lack of freedom with a beach wheelchair. It’s not an equal relationship when someone has to push you down the aisle. I didn’t want that, and I didn’t want to sacrifice getting married on the beach just like anybody else would be able to. I needed to show it was my choice to come down that aisle.”

Kristy used a FreedomTrax to independently roll down the sandy beach, her train trailing behind her. Sandals built a ramp to ensure she could meet her husband at the altar—on her own terms.

The reception was just as thoughtfully curated. With multiple dietary restrictions in her family, she worked with Sandals’ culinary team to create a sugar-free, gluten-free menu. “These weren’t just substitutes; they were creative and flavorful dishes proving that dietary needs don’t mean boring food.”

You can watch Kristy rolling down the aisle here.

Changing the Industry’s Perspective

When asked what made the difference between Sandals and any other destination trying to host an accessible wedding, Kristy pointed out that true inclusion is shifting how travel providers approach accessibility. “Instead of thinking about what I can’t do, Sandals focused on what I wanted to do,” she says. “That’s what every resort should be doing.”

“The biggest thing is to get resorts to look at the person and not the disability. Does she want to dance? Include a dance floor. Guests with sensory needs? Create a quiet space.”

She emphasizes the need to move beyond minimum requirements. “When we talk about accessible dining, we think about what needs to be removed from a menu instead of how to create something exciting. People with allergies are still foodies. The industry needs to evolve in how it approaches inclusion.”

Training Travel Agents for True Accessibility

Kristy is also transforming how travel agents learn about accessibility. She’s developing an in-depth training program that will soon launch on a major platform.

“It’s immersive and constantly evolving,” she says. “I’m sure it’s missing things, but I’m also sure there’s never been a training course this in-depth.”

She speaks from experience. “When I became a travel agent, I was already disabled and had three children with disabilities. I thought I knew what I was doing. But when I took my first trip as a full-time wheelchair user, I realized how much I had missed. If even allies and advocates are getting it wrong, how can the average travel planner get it right? It’s not fair to the disability community because we’re already so afraid to travel. Agents falsely claiming to be disability experts could ruin travel for good.”

Her training challenges agents to stop asking, Is this accessible? and start asking the right questions. “If you ask whether something is accessible, your answer is almost guaranteed to be wrong. Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, we need to ask, How are you going to accommodate this traveler’s needs?” She gave the example, “If you go to Fiji, you won’t find ramps and beach wheelchairs: you’ll find a people group who are willing to do whatever it takes to help you experience everything. They will carry you and make sure you’re a part of everything.” Accessibility doesn’t always look the same. We need to rewind and ask the right questions.

A Global Impact on Accessible Travel

Kristy’s influence isn’t limited to the U.S. She was recently a keynote speaker and panelist at Accessible Tourism Day, a part of ITB Berlin.

“I was blown away to be trusted as a keynote speaker when I was still untested,” she admits. The panel included major global figures in accessible tourism, discussing what the industry will look like in ten years and how to get there.

Her keynote, Rethinking Accessibility, focused on shifting perspectives from limitations to possibilities. “It’s about helping people reach their full potential and dream in ways they’ve never imagined,” she explains. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with one industry leader commenting, ‘We hit the jackpot with Kristy.’

Unifying the Industry for Change

Kristy is now curating a series for the Accessible Travel Network, highlighting destinations excelling in accessibility. She’s also spearheading TICAT (The Inclusive Coalition for Accessible Travel), bringing together disability groups and major travel organizations to push for industry-wide change.

“We don’t need more personal kingdoms—we need to be a force to be reckoned with. Unification is the key to changing the world.”

Additionally, she’s working with Dr. Charlie Powell on designing the first all-inclusive resort in Mexico for families with disabilities, ensuring that “0 compromise” is built into the blueprint.

Joey’s Journeys: Empowering Travelers with Disabilities

Kristy’s latest endeavor, Joey’s Journeys, coordinates trips for families needing extra support and fosters independence for young adults with disabilities looking to travel on their own.“This isn’t just about making travel accessible—it’s about making it possible in ways people haven’t dreamed of before.”