TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Disability Awareness

Wheel the World’s First “Accessibility Verified” State: Oregon

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Oregon just made history. Thanks to a partnership between Travel Oregon and Wheel the World, the state has become the first in the nation to achieve “Accessibility Verified” status, a milestone that puts inclusion front and center in the tourism landscape.

This wasn’t a token effort. Over the past year, Wheel the World has conducted on-the-ground accessibility assessments at more than 750 hotels, restaurants, attractions, and welcome centers across 43 Oregon communities. These evaluations go beyond ADA checkboxes or self-reported claims. Each site was measured and verified for mobility, visual, hearing, and cognitive accessibility, giving travelers with disabilities reliable information to plan trips with money-back guarantee level confidence.

The result: Oregon is now the first state where travelers can map out entire itineraries online through Wheel the World and Travel Oregon, with accessibility information built into every step – from outdoor adventures to culinary stops and cultural landmarks.

Kevin Wright, VP of Brand Stewardship at Travel Oregon, called the designation “a reflection of Oregon’s deep and ongoing commitment to welcoming all travelers.”

Wheel the World’s CEO & Co-founder Alvaro Silberstein underscored the ripple effect: “By becoming the first state to achieve Accessibility Verified status, Oregon is setting a precedent and proving how powerful this cycle can be for travelers and for the communities that welcome them.”

For Wheel the World, this win with Travel Oregon is more than just a badge. It’s proof that accessibility can be scaled statewide, benefiting both travelers and local businesses. For Oregon, it’s a brand differentiator—positioning the state as a leader in inclusive tourism.

Businesses across Oregon are invited to join the program, further expanding the network of verified sites. Meanwhile, travelers can now browse and book Oregon’s accessible experiences directly on traveloregon.com and wheeltheworld.com, complete with detailed listings, AI-powered accessibility profiles, and 24-hour support.

Bottom line: Oregon just set the bar. The question now is: which state will be next?

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Advice Line: Lessons with Kristy Durso Part Five

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Lesson 5: Show, Don’t Tell – Representation that Resonates

Instead of asking, ‘Is this accessible?’ try asking, ‘How can I help you do what you came here to do?’

How can destinations use marketing content to build trust with travelers who have disabilities?

Marketing plays a huge role in accessibility. And I don’t just mean making sure your website is technically usable. It’s about trust.

When I land on a destination’s site, and I don’t see visual descriptions on images, or the videos don’t have captions, or the accessibility page is hidden in the footer, it tells me everything I need to know. It says, “We haven’t thought this through.” That’s why accessible web design and inclusive web development matter so much—not just for compliance, but to signal that everyone is welcome, and someone has actually thought this through.

So here’s where I’d start:

  • Every photo should include a visual description and alternative text.
  • Every video should have closed captions, not just for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but for everyone. (Seriously, so many people watch videos with captions now. Even my kids do.)
  • Accessibility info should be easy to find. Don’t bury it. Make it visible and proud.
  • Representation matters. Don’t just include people with disabilities—feature them authentically.

Market research already shows people are more likely to buy a product when they see someone like themselves using it. So representation isn’t just a “nice to have.” It drives engagement.

But here’s the key: don’t make the disability the center of the story.

My favorite marketing videos are the ones where I’m just having fun. Rolling through a destination, interacting, enjoying myself. Maybe you see my wheelchair, maybe you don’t. Maybe someone’s using ASL or a white cane. The point is that accessibility is part of the experience—it’s not the headline.

When you do that, you speak to everyone. You make the story feel human, not performative.

I’ve made plenty of promotional videos that were more like infomercials: “Come here, we’re accessible!” They’re fine. But they don’t move people the way authentic stories do.

One of my favorite videos didn’t even mention my wheelchair. I just said: “If you can’t walk, you roll. If you can’t see, you listen. If you can’t hear, you observe.”

That speaks to everyone. It’s not about disability, it’s about living fully. And that’s what travel should be. Bringing people together.

When destinations lean into inclusive storytelling, they don’t just reach people with disabilities. They reach families, friends, caregivers and anyone who values empathy and openness.

It’s good storytelling. It’s good marketing. And it’s how we close the gap between invitation and inclusion.

Check back next month for Part Six! Noble Studios conducted a thorough interview with Kristy Durso going over the many facets of creating a destination that is truly for everyone. This series is pulled directly from the interview. Check out the archives for the rest of the series. Click here for the full interview. 

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

Featured public speaker, accessibilities advocate, entrepreneur, Army veteran, and military wife Kristy Durso is Travelability’s Ambassedor and owns and operates Incredible Memories Travel, a full-service travel agency that assists everyone, including those with accessibility needs. She has three children, one who has autoimmune issues and food allergies, another on the spectrum, and another with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. 

Planning Accessible FAM Trips: Expert Tips from the 2024 TravelAbility Summit

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Last year’s TravelAbility Summit brought together disability influencers, destinations, and travel professionals in hands-on sessions, panels, and networking opportunities. One highlight was the FAM trip presentation, designed to help destinations and creators get the most out of these collaborative experiences. It offered practical guidance on planning your first FAM trip and making the most of influencer collaborations.

Building on that momentum, the 2025 TravelAbility Summit will bring even more opportunities to connect and learn. Taking place October 13–15 at Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, this year’s Summit features:

  • Panel discussions with industry leaders and influencers sharing best practices
  • Speed-dating sessions connecting destinations directly with creators
  • Hands-on training for growing influencers on how to work effectively with destinations

Watch the video and summary below from last year’s FAM Trip Presentation to help you to prepare for your first FAM trip, before booking your next influencer.

Summary

  • 📣 Reframing the Session Title – Introduction and highlighting that all fam trips—especially accessible ones—can be both tricky and rewarding to plan.
    ➤ Session Introduction
  • 🧳 Campaign with North Alabama – Highlights a 2025 yearlong campaign involving 10 creators to promote accessible experiences in North Alabama.
    ➤ North Alabama Campaign Overview
  • ✅ Basic Fam Trip Planning – Reviews essential planning steps: define objectives, carefully select creators, manage logistics, set content expectations, and measure ROI.
    ➤ Fam Planning Essentials
  • 💬 Matchmaker: Creators and Content – Urges planners to choose creators who align with their mission rather than just follower count, valuing niche engagement.
    ➤ Creator Alignment Strategy
  • 🛎️ Ensure True Accessibility – Check properties and activities for actual, not assumed, accessibility—including sensory needs—before the trip.
    ➤ Checking for True Accessibility
  • 🧠 Plan with Sensory Awareness – Discusses the importance of pacing and sensory-friendly planning to avoid overwhelming creators.
    ➤ Pacing & Sensory Inclusion
  • 🧍‍♂️ Train Partners on Etiquette – Educate hospitality partners on disability etiquette and guest preferences, down to details like greetings and interaction style.
    ➤ Partner Training on Inclusion
  • 🤝 Appoint On-Site Support – Assign a trained liaison to support creators during the visit, respecting personal boundaries and logistical needs.
    ➤ On-Site Support Role
  • ⌛ Create Space to Create – Schedule downtime for influencers to recharge and produce quality content, avoiding overstuffed itineraries.
    ➤ Build in Creation Time
  • 🏛️ Communicate Access Details Honestly – Inform creators of what is and isn’t accessible so they can decide how to engage with each experience.
    ➤ Transparent Access Communication
  • 🎁 Intentional Surprises & Emotional Hooks – Share examples of emotionally resonant experiences that built loyalty and lasting relationships with creators.
    ➤ Meaningful Surprise Stories
  • 📈 Share Results Widely – Encourage destinations to share content performance and creator praise to build future support and advocacy.
    ➤ Sharing & Advocacy

Insights Based on Numbers

  • 📊 ROI measurement and content repurposing are often neglected, undercutting the long-term value of influencer investments.
  • 🤝 Emotional experiences during trips drive ongoing creator advocacy—highlighting the power of authentic connection over logistics.

Innovation of the Month: Scan Me Home

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ScanMeHome’s QR Code that Can Save Lives

The seventh annual INNOVATEAble highlighted groundbreaking ideas transforming how people with disabilities live and travel. The competition was close, with judges noting how tough it was to choose among such strong pitches. Taking second place was ScanMeHome, already making a huge impact for families living with autism. Below, founder Justin Behnke shares the story behind his innovation.

How ScanMeHome Came About

The idea for ScanMeHome came from my son, Jaxon. He’s nonverbal and autistic, and like many on the spectrum, he has intense sensory sensitivities. That meant wearables like GPS trackers or bracelets weren’t an option — he simply couldn’t tolerate them. Yet the fear of him wandering off and not being able to tell anyone who he was or how to reach me kept me awake at night.

I realized there was nothing in the marketplace that could meet his needs. Families like mine were left without a practical, immediate way to reconnect if their loved one got lost. That’s when I started building ScanMeHome: a simple, universal solution that doesn’t rely on batteries, devices, or apps — just a QR code that anyone can scan to instantly connect to a parent or caregiver.

The Problem it Solves

ScanMeHome bridges the dangerous communication gap when someone can’t speak for themselves. In those critical moments — whether it’s at an airport, a beach, a theme park, or even a neighborhood walk — a quick scan of the code gives first responders, staff, or good Samaritans immediate access to contact details and instructions to help reunite families.

Use Cases

  • Families: Parents of children with autism or other communication challenges.
  • Seniors: Those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
  • Travel & Tourism: Airports, hotels, and attractions offering ScanMeHome to guests, creating safer and more inclusive travel experiences.
  • Schools, camps, and events: Adding a layer of safety in group settings where wandering risks are high.

For families
Memberships start at $9.95/month or $99/year, with a 7-day free trial. During the trial, families can immediately access ScanMeHome by printing their own digital QR code or ordering iron-on tags.

For destinations & organizations
ScanMeHome also offers bulk membership programs as well as flexible short-term visitor passes, making it easy for destinations and partners to provide added safety and inclusion to the communities and travelers they serve.

At its heart, ScanMeHome was built so families like mine can experience the world with less fear and more freedom — knowing there’s always a way home.

September News from the TravelAbility Community

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Sophie Morgan’s Visit to Bend Oregon Featured in Conde Nast | Outdoor Adventure Belongs to Everyone

A scenic view of Bend, Oregon, featuring the Deschutes River with people floating on rafts and kayaks. The river is lined with lush greenery and modern homes in the foreground, while the Old Mill District with its three iconic smokestacks and shops stands prominently in the background, framed by forested hills and a clear blue sky.

Bend, Oregon. It is one of those places people talk about with a kind of reverence. “Oh, Bend,” they’ll say, drawing out the vowel like there is a secret there that will only be revealed when you go. A renowned outdoor adventure capital, it draws climbers, kayakers, and powder chasers in droves. But as a wheelchair user….

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Pure Michigan | disABILITY PRIDE: How Accessible is West Michigan?

A colorful grid pattern of pastel squares in various colors serves as the background for text reading "disABILITY PRIDE" in bold lettering

Access isn’t only about ramps and doorways. It’s about being able to move, speak, live, learn and belong with independence, safety and dignity. But in West Michigan…

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Explore Minnesota | New Ely Resort Features Fully Accessible Lodging and Activities for All to Enjoy… Together

A person in a wheelchair fishes from a boat, with other people nearby and water visible in the background, overlaid with "Kare 11 extra" text branding.

Great challenges sometimes inspire great ideas.

That’s the case at one of Ely’s newest resorts, which offers a more accessible gateway to Minnesota…

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Discover Los Angeles | Los Angeles Reaffirms Accessibility Goals Ahead of 2028 Paralympic Games

A person in a wheelchair wearing a red cape poses heroically against a city skyline backdrop, embodying strength and empowerment.

Ahead of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass joined Council member Imelda Padilla, International Paralympic Committee Chief Paralympic Games Officer Colleen Wrenn, LA28 Chief…

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XRAI and Dallas Fort Worth | XRAI Glass to Pilot Real-Time Captioning and Translation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

A woman in casual clothes walks outside an airport terminal, pulling a wheeled suitcase and looking at her phone.

We’re proud to share that XRAI Glass has been selected to pilot our real-time captioning and translation technology at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) this summer, helping to improve communication at some of the airport’s most critical touchpoints….

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Visit California | Visit California Launches Accessibility Hub to Support Travellers with Disabilities

A man in a wheelchair sits by a wooden bench in a grassy coastal area overlooking the ocean. He is wearing a white cap and light-colored clothing, facing away from the camera toward the blue sea and horizon.

Visit California is making it easier for travellers with disabilities to plan their perfect Golden Coast getaway with the launch of its new Accessibility Hub, an online platform designed to streamline accessible travel across the state, without wading through scattered sources….

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Wheel the World | Explore Siouxland Is Now ‘Destination Verified’ for Accessible Travel

A decorative wooden sign reading 'SI♥UXLAND' sits on a wooden table. The letters are painted in white and blue, with a red heart symbol replacing the 'O' in 'Siouxland'. Blue chairs are visible in the background around the table.

Explore Siouxland has earned ‘Destination Verified Status’ from Wheel the World’s Accessibility Verified Program.

Wheel the World is a travel platform that verifies and catalogs accessible and…

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Visit Florida | America’s Best Small Retirement Town Has Pristine Beaches, Accessible Activities, and 320 Days of Sunshine a Year

Aerial view of a white sand beach with clear turquoise water and a long wooden fishing pier extending into the Gulf. Beachgoers are scattered across the sand with umbrellas and chairs, while sand dunes with sea grass are visible in the foreground.

With 320 days of sunshine, plenty of parks, and no state income tax, Panama City Beach (PCB) is an affordable small-town gem (population 19,393) on Florida’s Panhandle that’s increasingly capturing the attention of retirees…

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Sassy Wyatt and Alex Stratikis | 8 Disabled Travellers Reveal What Makes a Destination Truly Accessible for Them in Conde Nast

A man in a light blue t-shirt stands against an ornate historic wall featuring elaborate Renaissance-style frescoes with painted panels in warm oranges and reds, circular medallions, arched windows with metal grillwork, and a central painting of a figure on a white horse.

What does it really mean for a place to be accessible? As a wheelchair user, I’ve spent the past 20 years travelling, writing, and speaking about accessible tourism. I’ve crawled off trains when assistance hasn’t…

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Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Airport Unveils Free ASL App to Aid Hearing-Impaired Travelers, Enhancing Accessibility and Communication

A pair of blue wireless earbuds sits in an open white charging case on a gray desk surface, with one earbud inside the case and the other resting beside it. In the background are blurred desk items, including a smartphone, a gold pen, a laptop, and what appears to be a blue and brown desk accessory.

In a positive move towards inclusion and accessibility, Harry Reid International Airport in  Las Vegas has introduced a complimentary service designed to assist hearing-impaired travelers….

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