TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Advisory Board

Insights from TravelAbility’s Winter Advisory Board Meeting

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This month we’re thrilled to welcome three new members to our Advisory Board:

Megan Kimble smiles in a professional headshot against a textured gray background. She has long light brown hair worn straight and wears a sleeveless patterned top, looking directly at the camera with a friendly expression.

Megan Kimble| United Airlines

As the manager of customer strategy and innovation, Megan is moving United forward towards welcoming all. She’s currently focused primarily on accessibility and wheelchair travel with mobility devices, though she’s learning about what the travel experience looks like across multiple disabilities, and she’s working for better solutions. She’s excited to make travel better for all.

Austin Whitney smiles outdoors while wearing yellow-framed sunglasses and a leopard-print button-down shirt. He has short light pink hair and a beard, standing in front of a white slatted wall in bright sunlight.

Austin Whitney | Accessibility Live

As the founder of Accessible Festivals, Austin has provided accessibility services for over 150 major events. His focus is on bringing events beyond ADA to become truly welcoming.

Karen Morales smiles confidently in a studio portrait. She wears a navy blue dress with black detailing, standing against a dark neutral background.

Karen Morales | FORA Travel

As a luxury travel specialist at FORA Travel, and the lead of their accessibility division, Karen booked $100 million in accessible travel in 2025 (out of over a billion each year). She’s working to democratize the travel industry.

News from the Team

The new year is full of promise. We’re reminded of this when we look at all that our advisory board members accomplished last year, and at all that’s already been initiated for the new year. Here are some highlights from our winter board meeting.

Ivor Ambrose | European Network of Accessible Tourism

Continuing to lead on a global scale through the European Network of Accessible Tourism, gathering and sharing best practices across destinations worldwide. Actively advancing conversations around ethics and accessibility, hosting a major global summit with more than 400 participants, and partnering with UN Tourism on a new manifesto for accessible tourism that helps define what “destinations for all” truly means.

Curt Cottle smiles in a professional headshot against a light background. He wears a dark blazer over a light-colored shirt and has a full gray beard, looking directly at the camera with a friendly expression.

Curt Cottle | National Travel and Tourism Office

Momentum is building at the National Travel and Tourism Office with the appointment of new director Robert O’Leary, who is highly receptive to accessibility and inclusion and eager to deepen engagement in this work.

Alison Brooks smiles in a professional headshot against a dark background. She has long blonde hair worn down and wears a sleeveless patterned top, looking directly at the camera with a warm expression.

Alison Brooks | Visit Mesa

Love on the Spectrum is coming to Mesa! Alison continues to spotlight inclusive adventure travel and has launched a food inclusivity program designed specifically for travelers with food sensitivities.

Chris Maher smiles in an outdoor photo wearing a navy quilted vest over a collared shirt. He stands in front of a glass surface with trees reflected behind him.

Chris Maher | Samaritan Partners

Accessibility moved up from the sidelines at CES, the most powerful tech event in the world. 180 people came early specifically to participate in a disability round table.

Camilo Navarro sits in a purple chair in an office setting, smiling at the camera. He wears a dark Columbia quarter-zip pullover with a “Wheel the World” logo, with wooden bookshelves and a softly blurred workspace in the background.

Camilo Navarro | Wheel the World

Wheel the World closed 2025 with 130 accessible destinations worldwide. They’re moving into 2026 better funded and ready to scale access globally.

Steve Nelson smiles in a selfie taken near an airplane doorway beside a blue sign that reads “Welcome aboard.” He wears a dark blazer over a black shirt and stands inside the aircraft entrance area.

Steve Nelson | Alaska Airlines

Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines have opened their most accessible building to date, while continuing critical work on aircraft lavatory designs aimed at creating fully accessible restrooms, even within narrow-aisle aircraft.

Rob Harris poses in a professional headshot inside a modern office setting with large windows in the background. He wears a dark suit jacket over a white dress shirt, with neatly styled hair and a trimmed beard, looking confidently at the camera.

Rob Harris | Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean Group is embedding accessibility into its culture by installing Accessibility Ambassadors across all ships and fleets. Core accessibility training has been redeveloped, with active work underway to scale and deploy it globally.

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Todd Brook smiles while speaking at a podium on stage. He wears a dark blazer over a white dress shirt and stands behind a clear lectern with a microphone, set against a dark background with stage lighting.

Todd Brook | Envisionit and Unchained

Building the Playbook Companion AI into a powerful accessibility assistant designed to function like an employee that can support basic communication, coordination, and administrative tasks for users.

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Mark Jones smiles in a selfie taken outdoors in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World. He wears black-framed glasses and a black collared shirt, with the iconic castle and park walkway visible behind him in bright daylight.

Mark Jones | Disney

Disney continues to elevate storytelling and craftsmanship. Accessibility updates can be found on the Disney website.

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Patty David smiles in a professional studio headshot against a light gray background. She wears a black cardigan over a white top, with short layered blonde hair styled neatly around her face.

Patty David | AARP

AARP is driving future-focused research on accessible travel, including surveys exploring what travel will look like in 2030 when every baby boomer has reached age 65.

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Danica Gonsalves smiles in an outdoor headshot with trees and greenery in the background. She wears a black blazer over a red top, with her long brown hair styled down and parted to the side, standing in bright natural sunlight.

Danica Gonsalves | Paralyzed Veterans of America

Paralyzed Veterans of America is developing a practical resource for hotels focused on achieving best-in-class accessibility, including guidance on how AI tools can support and enhance accessibility efforts.

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Meg Raby Klinghoffer stands in front of a white background with straight dark hair, wearing a black shirt, and smiles slightly at the camera.

Meg Raby Klinghoffer | KultureCity

KultureCity has launched new training for hotels and travel agencies, completed airport training initiatives, and certified nine beaches.

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Carol Giuliani smiles outdoors in front of a historic stone castle wall. She wears a white coat with a teal and green scarf, and the setting appears to be a scenic travel destination.

Carol Giuliana | Senior Travel Companion Services

Celebrating her 150th trip as a senior travel companion, Carol is responding to growing demand by building a “companion army” to support travelers who need one-on-one assistance.

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

Kristy Durso | TravelAbility Ambassador

Leading a new initiative to create an accessible wedding planner guide for venues and destinations.

asha Blair-Goldensohn faces the camera in a close-up headshot. He wears round brown eyeglasses and a dark top against a plain white background, with a neutral expression.

Sasha Goldenstein | Google

Google now offers verified accessibility information for more than 50 million places worldwide. Later this year, Google will open an Accessibility Discovery Center at its New York City offices.

Laurel Van Horn smiles in an outdoor headshot surrounded by green foliage. She has long brown hair worn down and wears red lipstick, dark earrings, and a patterned scarf draped around her shoulders.

Laurel Van Horn | Open Doors Organization

The Open Doors Organization celebrates its 25th anniversary as a pioneer in accessible travel. Current efforts are focused on aviation, with the 10th annual Access in Aviation Conference approaching and ongoing research into boarding methods, neurodiversity, and wheelchair user experiences.

Houston Vandergriff stands smiling in the middle of a city street, holding a Nikon camera with both hands. He wears glasses and a rust-colored button-down shirt with a camera strap over his shoulder, with storefronts and parked cars softly blurred in the background.

Houston Vandergriff | Downs and Towns

Houston completed ten paid accessible-travel collaborations in 2025 via TravelAbility, appeared on the cover of the Charlottesville Visitor’s Guide, and attended an international travel market in London where accessibility was underrepresented. He was just selected by the National Park Service as an artist-in-residence for Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.

Chelsea Bear smiles at the camera while standing on a beach promenade at sunset. She wears a bright blue sweater and a black crossbody bag, with the ocean, beachgoers, and a colorful sky behind her.

Chelsea Bear | Influencer

Refining her business structure to take on more travel partnerships consistently. After recently moving back to South Florida, she’s excited to highlight more local destinations while seeking new travel partnerships globally. She was recently quoted in major travel media covering accessible travel from AFAR and Travel Pulse.

TravelAbility Summit Session Cheatsheet: In Conversation with Sasha Blair-Goldensohn

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When you leave your house, do you know if you’ll be able to access the place you’re going? Can you get through the door? Use the restroom? Find an accessible path? These are questions many people with disabilities face every day. One helpful tool is Google Maps’ accessibility features. At the 2025 TravelAbility Summit, our CEO Jake Steinman sat down with Sasha Blair-Goldensohn, Google Maps’ Disability Inclusion Lead and wheelchair user, to discuss his story, how Google Maps is making accessibility visible, and how individual advocates can drive meaningful change. Read our one-page recap below.

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

Jake Steinman and Sasha Blair-Goldensohn on stage at the 2025 TravelAbility Summit.

October 15, 2025 

Speakers 

Overview

Sasha Blair-Goldensohn shared his personal journey from Google Maps engineer to accessibility activist after a life-altering spinal injury in 2009. His experience navigating the world in a wheelchair exposed major gaps in accessibility—not just in infrastructure, but in information. Sasha used his platform at Google and through legal advocacy to expand elevator access in NYC, influence global mapping standards, and make accessibility information visible to millions of users around the world.

Key Insights

  • A single individual can create systemic change in infrastructure, policy, and global products.
  • After becoming disabled, Sasha recognized that accessibility in maps was broken: you could find great restaurants, but not whether you could get in the door or use the bathroom.
  • His activism helped secure a legally binding agreement forcing the NYC subway system to install elevators—tripling the installation rate.
  • Google Maps now displays accessibility icons by default, not just for disabled users—because accessibility benefits everyone (wheelchairs, strollers, deliveries, aging travelers).
  • 50 million+ places worldwide now have verified accessibility data through Google Maps.
  • 125 million Local Guides contribute to crowd-sourced information, adding global scale.
  • Accessibility details continue to expand: entrances, restrooms, parking, seating, hearing loops, and more.
  • AI tools are enabling destinations to generate custom accessible maps with simple prompts—no big development team needed.
  • New features in development include visual AI street descriptions for blind / low-vision travelers.

Actionable Takeaways for Destinations

  • Encourage local businesses to update their own accessibility info on Google Maps—it’s free and visible to travelers everywhere.
  • Use Maps’ accessibility features in marketing: “highly-rated wheelchair accessible cafés in ___”.
  • DMO staff can create custom accessible maps using Google’s “Build with AI” tool.
  • Add QR codes on websites or printed guides linking directly to Google Maps with accessibility filters applied.
  • Partner with Local Guides or disability advocates to verify accessibility information at scale.
  • Advocate for infrastructure improvements—Sasha demonstrated that legal action + public visibility works.

Notable Quotes

  • “Disability isn’t those people over there — it’s all of us.”
  • “Nobody signs up for this community, but once you’re in it, you realize its beauty.”
  • “You can find soup dumplings… but can you get in the door or use the bathroom?”
  • “When the icons are on by default, accessibility becomes real for everyone.”
  • “A single person really can change the world.”

Updates from Travelability Summer Advisory Board meeting

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TravelAbility’s board meetings are where accessibility champions drop big news and remind us that accessibility never sleeps.

Please welcome our newest board members: Kathy Brown of Visit Orlando, Carol Giuliani of Senior Travel Companion Services, and Robert Harris the new leader of global accessibility for Royal Caribbean Group.

Wheel the World to launch AI Accessibility Travel Advisor prototype with Experience Grand Rapids.

KultureCity is opening two new KultureCity sensory rooms in the Salt Lake City airport at the end of August, complete with training and certifying TSA personnel. They’re also bringing on 22 Visit California welcome centers.

Downs and Towns have taken on seven influencer trips this year – six of which were through TravelAbility contacts.

Travel Michigan is up to four locations that have become Destination Verified through Wheel the World.

Destinations International and TravelAbility are working with UnchainedAi to develop an AI companion for the TravelAbility Playbook.

Airbnb hosted an inclusive travel event in Brussels. The event brought together different organizations and thought leaders to discuss making Europe a more inclusive destination.

New York City Tourism and Conventions announced that the MTA will add 12 more accessible subway stations across four boroughs, with plans to make at least 60 additional stations Ada accessible. That will enable nearly 70% of all subway rides to start or end at accessible stations.

Champions of Change: Steve Nelson Takes Accessibility to New Heights

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Steve Nelson’s journey into accessibility advocacy began with personal experience—but it was fueled by a deep care for others.

“I do have a personal connection to disability,” he shared. “I was diagnosed ADHD as a child, and as an adult I was diagnosed as being autistic and having other invisible disabilities.” Yet, it wasn’t just his own story that propelled him forward. While working in Guest Relations at a major entertainment and hospitality company, Nelson saw opportunities to better serve the disability community. “I began to advocate for us to make some local changes, and that eventually led to me being introduced to the Services for Guests with Disabilities team, who took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to make a career out of it.”

Today, Nelson serves as the Accessibility and Belonging Program Manager for Alaska Air Group, the parent company of Alaska Airlines. He leads what he describes as “a first-of-its-kind operation in the airline industry”—The Disability Office. “We act as internal consultants and advocates who partner with the various divisions, stakeholders, and leaders across the organization to drive better accessibility,” he explained. “We want everyone to be able to feel like they belong when they fly with us, and that means we have to innovate and change how air travel works for the disability community.”

Creating that change, especially within a large and regulated industry, comes with its challenges.

“The common theme is that I have to remind people that I am on their side,” said Nelson. That includes both internal stakeholders and the communities he serves. “My goal isn’t to take over someone else’s job or to steal their thunder—I’m just there to keep them curious about what we can accomplish if we think outside of the box.”

At the same time, he’s realistic about the pace of progress. “It may seem like progress is slow or like a company doesn’t care enough, but I promise there is so much happening behind the scenes and it will be truly transformative.”

Among the many accomplishments in his career, Nelson is especially proud of one. “I’ll go back to basics and say I’m most proud of the Disability Rehearsal Flights we host at Alaska Airlines.” These events give travelers with profound disabilities the chance to experience the travel process—from check-in to boarding to taxiing down the runway—without ever leaving the ground. “They get a boarding pass, go through security, board an aircraft, and experience a brief taxi around the airport before deplaning.”

The flights aren’t just beneficial for the guests. “It even gives the best kind of training experience for our employees. No computer-based program can show you how to care from the heart as well as an experience with 70+ families can.”

Nelson believes that accessibility work is—and must be—rooted in listening to the people who are most impacted. “This is going to sound so cliché, but it has always been the people I serve,” he said. “I’m not just talking about the happy people who participate in a rehearsal flight, but also the folks who have not had the best experience.”

“People with disabilities are PEOPLE. They matter. They deserve to have dignity and autonomy.”

When asked what advice he’d offer to others working to move accessibility forward in 2025, Nelson is clear: “Practice telling a good story and don’t give up!” He’s seen firsthand how powerful storytelling can be.

“I haven’t met a single person who doesn’t care about individuals with disabilities… but I’ve met plenty who don’t know any better.”

That’s why he leads with empathy and real-life narratives rather than a list of demands. “Take your time and remember you are doing the work for people who don’t have a place at the table. It’s worth the effort… and if you’re me, always have a large black iced coffee in hand… it helps.”

BIG Things Are Happening with the TravelAbility Advisory Board

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This month’s board meeting was a series of mic drops as advisors shared the monumental projects they’re working on. Here’s what’s in the works.

Steve Nelson from Alaska Airlines detailed his initiatives, including testing autonomous wheelchairs and autism rehearsal flights as well as an overview of their Seattle pilot including testing autonomous wheelchairs and developing programs for individuals with autism. Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines will continue testing the autonomous wheelchair in Seattle through July and explore further rollout options

Alan Fyall, from Rosen College of Hospitality Management, discussed how accessibility has ignited passion with their students and partner and he was looking forward to expanding the offerings.

Chris Maher from Samaritan Partners shared insights on their social impact fund focused on disability investments and the establishment of an Accessibility Lab in collaboration with Travelability and The Schoolhouse Hotel in West Virginia.

Nick Nerbonne from Travel Michigan provided updates on local accessibility initiatives, such as the introduction of four autonomous wheelchairs at Detroit Metro Airport and the creation of accessible pathways in state parks and posited that Michigan was the state with the highest number of Action Trax wheelchairs.

Dr. Josh Loebner, Global Director of Accessible Design, VML. presented a project aimed at connecting songwriters with blind communities to create lyrics that describe Tennessee tourism experiences emphasizing the need for evocative imagery.

Mike May, ambassador for American Printing House for the Blind, shared his insights on accessible navigation and advising startups, and mentioned an upcoming event focused on blind-specific travel in Austin.

Alison Brooks announced a new grant program through Visit Mesa to assist small businesses in becoming autism certified.  They will fund at least five small businesses to become autism certified in the next few months.

Meg Raby Klinghoffer highlighted her work with Kulture City on sensory accessible training specifically for nine beaches in Fort Lauderdale and improvements to sensory rooms at Salt Lake City Airport, including plans for a sensory tunnel.

Todd Brook founder and CEO of Unchained, provided an update on his work creating an AI companion for the Accessibility Playbook with a focus on developing a roadmap for organizations to adopt AI technologies to enhance accessibility. Todd will switch to a database-driven approach for AI accessibility tools within 5 to 10 days.

Kathleen Harvey from Destination British Columbia shared insights on the tourism landscape and the growing interest in accessible tourism events.

Laura Skufca from AARP presented findings from their 2025 travel trend study, indicating that many older adults face mobility challenges they travel and a partnership with TravelAbility to provide content for the next Playbook with tips for the aging traveler

Jake Steinman, our Founder and CEO, introduced the concept of the accessibility disability trifecta, highlighting that whatever content is created for visitors with disabilities is basically a down payment for baby boomers aging into a disability with the side benefit of the accessibility attributes, features and amenities will also be used by the 17% of residents who have a disability as well as a series of “Cultivating Accessibility Leaders” tentatively planned for Orlando, Myrtle Beach, and Lansing.

Mark Jones, who leads accessibility for Disney Orlando, shared that Orlando is becoming a popular travel destination this summer, with new offerings from both Disney and Universal. He detailed upcoming attractions at Magic Kingdom, including themed lands and new stage shows, as well as a ride based on Encanto at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Additionally, he announced that all Walt Disney World buses will be equipped with the Quantum automated restraint system to enhance safety and reduce driver injuries.

Alexander Hauerslev Jensen from Google highlighted several new accessibility features from Google, emphasizing the integration of AI in technologies like TalkBack on Android and facial gesture controls for Chromebooks. He also introduced expressive captions, which enhance traditional captioning by conveying emotions and ambient sounds. Additionally, updates to Google Maps include more detailed walking instructions for screen reader users and expanded information on wheelchair accessibility for over 50 million

Ron Pettit shared that he has left Royal Caribbean to pursue new opportunities while remaining in the accessible travel and hospitality sector. He highlighted his past contributions to making vacations more accessible for people with disabilities and mentioned Rob Harris as the interim manager of the Global Accessibility Team.

Houston Vandergriff and his mother Katy talked about their Oregon trip, highlighting their pleasant stay at Mount Hood Resort and their plans to return with Wheel the World.

Makiko Healy from New York City Tourism provided updates on her collaboration with the DMO group and introduced ELLIS an AI assistance tool that improves accessibility information on their website and social media.

Greg Evans discussed Simpleview’s role in enhancing digital accessibility for over 900 DMO websites and their recent acquisition by Granicus. He noted the significance of Title II legislation and the need for local governments to improve their digital accessibility efforts. Evans also mentioned the launch of a new business toolkit by Visit Britain aimed at gathering ADA information from local businesses to better serve travelers.

Chelsea Bear discussed her work as a social media influencer in accessible travel, noting her recent acquisition of a new scooter and her plans to engage with destinations for partnerships. She has over 800k followers on social media platforms.

Sophia Hyder Hock, Chief Impact Officer, Destinations International, discussed the continued partnership in marketing the Accessible Playbook to their members along with ongoing inclusion efforts.

Camilo Navarro, co-founder of Wheel the World, shared that they have surpassed 120 active destinations and are improving their homepage to provide more information about verified locations. He also mentioned the upcoming release of an API to help destinations integrate accessibility information into their websites.

John Morris discussed his evolving role at Wheelchairtravel.org, emphasizing a shift towards solo and family accessible travel. He recounted a recent trip to Europe with Steve, which provided valuable insights for disabled travelers. Additionally, he announced upcoming group tours in Greece, where he plans to spend significant time this year, and expressed excitement about collaborating with destination marketing organizations.

Ivor Ambrose, executive director for ENAT,highlighted the enforcement of the European Accessibility Act starting June 28, which mandates accessibility in ICTs and public buildings. He also invited participants to the World Summit on Destinations for All in Torino, Italy, from October 5-7, expecting around 400 attendees.

Lynn Osmond, former CEO of Choose Chicago, is working with TravelAbility and Wheel the World to introduce an end-to-end solution for the 1.1 million visitors and their companions who are expected to attend the World Cup events in North America next year.

Kristy Durso, Travelability’s ambassador to the industry and a travel advisor who specializes in accessibility,  announced that this year she was a keynote speaker at ITB in Berlin, and has already presented at five events this year.  She’s working with Alan Fyall on training workshop and tools for travel advisors.

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