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Ambassador Report

Ambassador Report: On the Road with Kristy Durso

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TravelAbility Ambassador Kristy Durso is having a banner year — and it’s only June. While she humbly admits, “There’s so much going on, but not that much,” the list of events, projects, and possibilities she’s involved in says otherwise.

Here’s what she’s been up to — and what the TravelAbility community has to look forward to:

Reimagining Accessibility in Oregon

Kristy joined TravelAbility founder Jake Steinman at the Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism for a powerful session designed to spark progress. TravelAbility hosted an accessibility shark tank, pitching adaptive innovations as an invitation to reimagine Oregon’s destinations with these tools in place. Kristy asked the room to close their eyes and picture a local favorite destination and what it could look like if every visitor, regardless of ability, felt welcome. Kristy had just visited with her Firefly, and realized how much she would’ve missed without the innovative chair’s assistance. She led the audience through a mental tour of the venue, adding in each of the pitched innovations, showing what a difference it would make.

“They had appropriate ramps and all these things, but they didn’t have door openers on anything, so having the door opener available on those old buildings would’ve changed the area completely and then as you’re getting together and doing all these neat things, imagine if you had a child who’s hard of hearing and they wanted to go do something. If they had the use of the Aira app, they could just go and do it. Or imagine a family was planning on spending the day but their child who’s neurodivergent starts getting overwhelmed and they’ve got a place to go because Kulture City has come in and worked on that area, so now you don’t have to leave to avoid the meltdown.”

The pitch culminated in tears and applause, proving once again that accessibility isn’t just practical — it’s powerful.

Sharing the Stage and Spotlight

At the Accent West conference in Arizona, Kristy shared the stage with Alison Brooks from Visit Mesa to highlight Mesa’s leadership in inclusive tourism. The pair fielded questions from destinations eager to learn how to follow Mesa’s example.

That same week, Kristy previewed a new presidential library slated to open in North Dakota and is in early conversations about shaping its accessibility before doors open to the public.

Kristy served as keynote speaker and visited what she describes as the most food-inclusive conference she’s attended at Travel Nevada’s Rural RoundUp. Her time included a stop at an accessible dude ranch.

She led a fashion show in San Antonio as MC and she’s going to be a guest speaker at another fashion show in Oregon.

Other speaking roles on the horizon include:

  • Destinations International in July, where Kristy will be part of a panel on accessibility in travel.
  • A one-day Accessibility Summit for destinations in Kissimmee, Florida, this September — the first of three such events planned.

Writing New Stories — Literally

Kristy is also stepping into the world of storytelling in new ways. She’s written a children’s book titled Sarah and the Magical Shoes — a heartfelt narrative inspired by her own life. The story centers around a girl whose world changes with a new pair of shoes — not because of the shoes themselves, but what they represent: freedom, self-worth, and possibility. If you’ve ever interacted with Kristy, you’ll appreciate her shoe analogy.

From helping shape national attractions to crafting stories that reshape mindsets, Kristy continues to make sure accessibility isn’t an afterthought — it’s center stage. Whether she’s keynoting a summit, writing a children’s book, or reminding an audience to dream bigger, Kristy’s impact continues to ripple far beyond the spotlight.

Stay tuned. There’s much more to come.

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

Meet Kristy: Kristy is a writer, speaker, and disability travel advisor. She has experience across multiple disabilities traveling as a wheelchair user with a pace-maker along with her children with intellectual disabilities, autism, ADHD, and over 30 food allergies. 

As TravelAbility’s ambassador, she networks and speaks around the globe to promote accessibility and inclusion in the travel space.

A Wedding Without Compromise

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

By Jennifer Allen

Kristy and her family pose on the beach backdropped by a beautiful sunset. Kristy is sitting in her wheelchair, wearing a white off the shoulders wedding dress and holding a bouquet of white flowers.

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 sits in her wheelchair wearing a red dress and black boots next to another person in a suit at the ITB Berlin.

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.”

Kristy Durso’s Keynote Tour: Accessibility in Action

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By Jennifer Allen

When I connected for an update on what Kristy has been up to this month, I found she’s been doing it all… except for sleeping. “I had to write a CV for one of the events I’m speaking at next month, and when I read it back, I realized how much I’ve done,” she laughed. January was a whirlwind of activities for Kristy, quickly turning her small ripples into waves, resonating throughout the travel and accessibility communities.

A Month of Keynotes and Breakthrough Moments

Immediately after the TravelAbility Summit, Kristy kicked off her ambassadorship with a powerhouse performance as the keynote speaker at the National Tour Association Travel Exchange. 

In January, Kristy traveled with Jake to speak on a disability panel at TravMedia’s IMM. At the summit, her presentation wasn’t just well received; it became the highlight. Audiences couldn’t stop talking about her dynamic presentation, with excerpts from her talk circulating among conference-goers and media alike. Kristy invited the audience to participate in a simple yet powerful exercise: “Stand up if you have someone with a disability in your family.” The response was immediate and moving—25 to 30 percent of the room rose to their feet. She then broke it down further by asking participants to stand if they had a loved one with who used a wheelchair, navigated neurodivergence, had low vision, or dealt with other challenges like ADHD or autoimmune conditions. As she moved down her list of disabilities, the seats emptied as the room was filled with standing attendees, a visual testament to the impact of accessible travel.

The impact of her presentation rippled far beyond the conference halls. Following her presentation, and a fully booked speed dating session, Kristy was asked for interviews with major media outlets, including Forbes Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and four different television shows. She was asked to be a keynote speaker for Alabama and is working on several potential upcoming speaking engagements for major players in the travel industry, like the American Hotel and Lodging Association. At the event, she mentioned some conference accessibility concerns to the head of the summit. He heartily agreed that she needed to be on his advisory board.

Action Over Words

All the keynotes in the world are meaningless without real change, but change is already taking place. As result of Kristy’s words, An indigenous farm just outside of Ottawa, Canada has added mobi mats to assist their clients in getting around. They tore down their teepee, and rebuilt it so a wheelchair user can get in. They are in the process of adding real ramps into their gift shop. They’ve installed an accessible porta potty to be used until the construction of their new, permanent accessible restroom is complete. 

Hearing Kristy’s keynote for Pure Michigan gave Traverse City the fire they needed to become the first certified Kulture City destination in Michigan. They built a calm room in their welcome center. It was used heavily during the National cherry festival, which brings in 250,000 people every year.

Building Bridges and Expanding Networks

Kristy’s influence isn’t confined to speaking engagements. Back home at TravelAbility, her connections continue to grow. John Sage invited her to join his advisory board for his accredited accessible global travel initiative, affirming that her expertise is exactly what the industry needs. Meanwhile, Kristy has been working with Ron Kuzon from Schoolhouse Hotel, forging new pathways to build connections that bridge the gap between accessible accommodations and travelers with disabilities.

After speaking at the New York Travel and Adventure Show, Kristy’s expertise brought in more opportunities. Paul Cohen, the former US Director of Tourism from the Obama administration, invited her to spearhead the Travel Industry Coalition for Accessible Travel (TICAT). In this role, Kristy’s mission will be to unite the travel industry and disability organizations, fostering bipartisan cooperation and furthering accessibility on a national scale.

Global Impact and Exciting New Ventures

Looking ahead, Kristy’s calendar is as full as ever. On March 2nd, she’ll be heading to Germany to serve as the keynote speaker at ITB—the world’s largest tourism trade fair. This upcoming appearance is yet another opportunity for her to share her insights and drive a global conversation about accessible travel.

In addition to her speaking engagements, Kristy is channeling her energy into groundbreaking projects. She’s actively involved in the development of the first-ever all-inclusive resort designed specifically for families with disabilities. This innovative project won’t include higher costs, but it will include people of all abilities and an attendant provided for every room. As a part of this project, Kristy contributed her expertise to help design the first 100% accessible movie theater, setting a new standard for entertainment accessibility.

A fresh partnership between her travel agency, Incredible Memories, and Joey’s Journeys is curating unique trips for members—demonstrating that accessible travel can be as adventurous as it is inclusive.

Spreading the Message Far and Wide

In a recent episode for Undiscovered America, Kristy explored the evolution of accessible travel over the past decade and shared her top five tips for disabled travelers. Her insights are both raising awareness of the needs, and serving as a valuable resource for anyone looking to 

The Ripple Effect Continues

This is just one month! Kristy has proven that her passion for accessible travel is more than a career—it’s a movement. Whether she’s delivering electrifying keynotes, forging new partnerships, or designing groundbreaking accessible spaces, her work is transforming the landscape of travel. And while she may joke about not sleeping much, every moment awake is dedicated to creating lasting change for travelers with disabilities around the globe.

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