Hidden Disabilities

Can I Get Your Autograph? A Look at the Influencers Coming to the 2025 TravelAbility Summit

October 6, 2025 by lkarl

Taylor Leigh Aguilar

@BlindEagleProductions

Filmmaker

Colorado-based production company founded by Taylor Leigh Aguilar. Film with a new kind of vision.

Total followers across platforms: 2,054

Jennifer Allen

@WondersWithinReach

Writer and Content Creator

Disability mom ✈️ Wheelchair travel

Sharing our journey to help others in theirs

💜 Jesus, adoption, and inclusion

Total followers across platforms: 25,000

Chelsea Bear

@RealChelseaBear

Digital creator

✨ sharing Cerebral Palsy through my lens

Total followers across platforms: 700,000

Rosie Dunn

@RosieRoaming

Wheelchair Travel Tips

✈️ navigating life & travel on wheels

🗺️ 20 countries, 39 states & counting

Total followers across platforms: 3,900

Kristy Durso

@KristyGoes

Entrepreneur

Keynote speaker, mom to 3 kids, military wife, wheelchair user, travel lover, disability advocate/consultant, owner Incredible Memories Travel

Total followers across platforms: 2,000

Anthony Ferraro

@asfvision

Blind Filmmaker and Paralympian

🎥 A Shot in the Dark

🥋 Para Judo 🛹Skateboard

🎙 Pod @fourbadeyes

🎶 Musician 🎤 Speaker

Total followers across platforms: 3,200,000

Suellen Henneberry

@SueEllenHenneberry

Athlete

Spartan Race, Adaptive Amputee

Total followers across platforms: 400

John Morris

@WheelchairTravel

Blogger

Follow along as I travel the world with one hand, a passport and my power wheelchair. World’s largest accessible travel website. ♿️ ✈️ 🌎

Total followers across platforms: 50,000

Candy Harrington

EmergingHorizons.com

Travel Publication for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers

Total followers across platforms: 20,000

Jessica Ping

@TheRollingExplorer

Public Figure

👑 Loud Disabled Feminist

📍Chicago

🎶 @jessicajordanping

🎙️ @accessdeniedpod

☕️ #AccessibiliTEA

Total followers across platforms: 209,000

Mandy Salas

@ImMandySalas

Motivational Speaker

Resilience Advocate, Quadriplegic Mom, Upcoming Author

Sharing my story of determination, grit, and mental strength to inspire others 🌟 🌱 💪

Total followers across platforms: 5,000

Amy Tarpein

@ElijahsBabyBucketList

Writer and Content Creator

✈️Travel Writer 🎗Lissencephaly Family

Sharing our journey to encourage others

and share Elijah’s joy with the world!

Total followers across platforms: 400,000

Ian Ruder

@NewMobilityMagazine

Editor-In-Chief

I work to ensure the the voice of people with mobility-related disabilities is authentically represented in all of our content

Total followers across platforms: 305,000

Houston Vandergriff

A smiling man with glasses wearing an orange jacket holds a black camera while standing on a city street. Behind him is a blurred urban scene with historic brick buildings, parked cars, and a typical downtown streetscape.

@DownsAndTowns

Travel Photographer

ART. ADVENTURE. ADVOCACY.

Photographer with Down syndrome traveling the world | Nikon Creator | GAMUT Talent

Total followers across platforms: 700,000

Katie Vandergriff

@DownsAndTowns

Disability Mom, Public Speaker, and Advocate

Alice Diehl

Artist

Advocate

Actor @kelloinclusive @allhearttalent

Ms. Wheelchair Oregon 2025 2nd runner up 🏆@ms_wheelchair_america comp

Total followers across platforms: 2,900

Julie Jones

@TWLMag and @HaveWheelchairWillTravel

Writer and Content Creator

✈️ Travelling with a wheelchair. 📸. Sharing accessible tips and 🏖. Family travel ideas

Total followers across platforms: 19,500

Phoenyx Powell

@PhoenyxTravels

Blogger

Travel doesn’t have to be perfect — just possible.

Solo + accessible travel tips from lived experience

Total followers across platforms: 900

Tiffany Rose

@TiffsChariot

Travel Service

Help create positive disability awareness and showing off travel accessibility for ALL

Blogger | Friedreich’s Ataxia Fighter | Wheelchair Adventurer♿️

Total followers across platforms: 7,600

📈Combined Total Reach of all Creators: 5,653,200

October News from the TravelAbility Community

October 2, 2025 by lkarl

Myrtle Beach | AFAR highlights 5-Day Myrtle Beach Itinerary for All Abilities

A wooden beach access ramp leads through palm trees and coastal vegetation toward a sandy beach with turquoise ocean waters under a clear blue sky. Beachgoers can be seen in the distance along the shoreline, with the accessible boardwalk providing barrier-free passage from landscaped grounds to the beach.

Unlike many coastal locales, accessibility isn’t an afterthought in Myrtle Beach). The vacation destination is deeply committed to ensuring travelers of all abilities—those on the autism spectrum…

A black and white photo collage with pink geometric accents combines images of legs in white sneakers, a person sitting in a chair, someone holding a phone, and a mountain landscape, overlaid with a text box titled Alt Text that reads "The dust of the leaves turn orange below, The warmth of the light, The cool of the shadow, Cotton candy clouds look down where the Smoky Mountains grow, Postcard or painting, It's almost hard to know."

See all the honorees of Fast Company’s 2025 Innovation by Design Awards in the accessible design category…

Digital accessibility is just one part of creating an inclusive experience. For people with disabilities, accessibility doesn’t stop…

Jennifer Allen and her 3 children on a beach at sunset with arms raised joyfully, including a child using a blue wheelchair with beach-capable wheels. The group poses on white sand with lifeguard towers visible in the background during golden hour.

I don’t remember ever eating so well as we did in Sarasota. From Cuban sandwiches that melt in your mouth to donuts so fresh you’ll smell them before you see them, this city knows how to keep your tummy happy…

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), in partnership with Wheel the World, hosted a curated…

Two men collaborate at a touchscreen service counter in a modern, bright airport, with one person using a smartphone app to translate sign language.

Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport (OAK) today announced the launch of a new accessibility initiative in partnership with Aira, offering free, on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for deaf and hard of hearing travelers…

The Grand Rapids Public Museum is inching closer to the completion of their multimillion-dollar renovation project to its carousel and riverfront access…

Cory Lee, in a power wheelchair, travels along a brick sidewalk past the historic Miss Mylen Miller House, a white colonial-style building with black shutters surrounded by mature trees and maintained grounds behind a decorative iron fence.

North Alabama is one of those places that catches you off guard. You don’t expect mountains and canyons, but they’re here. You don’t expect world-famous music studios tucked into quiet towns, but…

Innovation of the Month: Scan Me Home

September 8, 2025 by lkarl

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

September 5, 2025 by lkarl

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….

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…

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…

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…

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….

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….

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…

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…

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…

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….

August News from the TravelAbility Community

July 31, 2025 by lkarl

This summer is HOT with TravelAbility community action! From camping to flying, this community is shaking up the very foundations of travel. Check out the latest achievements and well-earned accolades from your fellow changemakers.

Jan Bonnville | Recapturing that Special Outdoor Feeling

A smiling woman reclines on a three-wheeled adaptive recumbent bike on a beachside trail, wearing sunglasses, a gray beanie, green vest, and black pants. Next to her sits a large Bernese Mountain Dog with its tongue out, also appearing to smile. An orange safety flag extends from the back of the bike. The dry, sandy terrain and open sky evoke a sense of freedom, adventure, and companionship in the outdoors.

For me, the saddest part of living with multiple sclerosis and losing mobility was no longer being able to go for walks. I loved strolling in the park, marveling at the stunning diversity of foliage…

Illustrated book cover for “The Smart Marketer’s Guide to Digital Accessibility” by Sassy Wyatt, featuring a red-haired woman and a blind man with a white cane working together at a table, with a guide dog sitting nearby.

I lost my sight at 22. That changed everything. But what made life harder wasn’t the blindness itself, it was trying to live in a world, especially a digital one, that wasn’t designed with disabled people in mind.

Suddenly I couldn’t finish my degree because the platforms weren’t accessible. I couldn’t apply for jobs because the forms weren’t usable. I couldn’t even use social media in the same way as everyone else, not because I didn’t want to, but because the tools weren’t built to include me.

Two people in separate boats navigate a misty, tree-lined river at dawn; the scene is quiet and atmospheric, with dense fog obscuring the background and creating a sense of mystery and solitude.

As the demand for inclusive travel continues to grow, TripAdvisor has unveiled a new initiative aimed at providing accessible travel experiences for all. In collaboration with Visit Lauderdale, the site has introduced a dedicated landing page that focuses on accessible destinations and…

Children explore a brightly lit, interactive museum space featuring a large circular color mixing machine, colorful light installations, and various hands-on exhibits designed to engage sensory play and learning.

California’s attractions are designed for everyone to enjoy, including neurodivergent travelers and individuals with autism or sensory-processing sensitivities…

Graphic showing a desert landscape with tall cacti in the foreground and a hazy city in the distance. Centered in the image is the official IBCCES Certified Autism Center (CAC) seal. A yellow ribbon below the seal reads “Certified Autism Center.” Curved text above and below the seal reads: “Congratulations Grant Recipients!”

We’re excited to announce the inaugural recipients of the Mesa For All Autism Certification Grant Program!

The Mesa For All Foundation received 10 applications from Mesa-based businesses eager to become Autism Certified. After careful review, the board selected three outstanding recipients. The grant application opened in April 2025 in recognition of World Autism Acceptance Month and closed on June 16…..

In 2020, filmmaker Taylor Leigh Aguilar suddenly and unexpectedly lost her sight. She took a leave of absence from film school at Loyola Marymount University to attend the Colorado Center for The Blind…

An older man in a power wheelchair rolls along a beach access path, holding a large black umbrella for shade and carrying plastic bags on the chair’s handles, with a crowded beach scene in the background.

Travelers looking to plan an accessible getaway may have a new first stop at TripAdvisor. The site, in partnership with Visit Lauderdale, introduced a landing page for accessible destinations and experiences, where reviews from fellow…

Years ago, Lee and his wife, Ginny, were planning the trip of a lifetime: a safari in South Africa. But just weeks before, everything changed — Lee got sick, and ended up losing all four of his limbs. The trip never happened. Until now.

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Sunflower Lanyard Program | Wings of Wonder: Accessibility for all Who Want to Travel

A box filled with green sunflower lanyards, symbolizing hidden disabilities, sits on a table with the words “Hidden Disabilities” printed on the front, alongside a sunflower graphic and a QR code.

The Rapid City Regional Airport partnered with local organizations for Wings of Wonder. The event’s goal is to help people with disabilities easily navigate the airport from the moment they park their car until they find their seat on the plane…

Two yellow-orange tents are set up in a peaceful forest clearing, with tall pine trees casting long shadows as golden sunlight filters through the trees.

The rising costs of accommodations can be one of the biggest barriers to taking more trips. One way to keep travel more affordable is to consider the many campsites available across the U.S….

A sunlit forest trail winds through towering sequoia trees, with a few visitors visible in the distance, and wooden fences guide the accessible path through the dense, majestic landscape.

The sense of peace is palpable along the Big Trees Trail in California’s Sequoia National Park. All around my family, 2,000-year-old giant sequoia trees—some of the world’s oldest and largest—stand in quiet solitude in a mountain landscape suited….

A panoramic view of downtown Richmond, Virginia, featuring a mix of modern and historic buildings, a long freight train crossing a trestle bridge over the James River, and autumn-colored trees lining the riverbanks.

Incorporated in 1742, Richmond is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of the oldest cities in the United States. Located along the James River, the city has been at the center of…

A group of older adults strolls along a tropical garden pathway lined with vibrant flowers and palm trees, with mountains and the ocean visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

Winter often brings a desire for cozy escapes and relaxing getaways, but as people grow older, their travel preferences and habits often shift. International trips may lose their appeal due to challenges like mobility issues, health concerns, and the complexities of travel logistics….

Travel Oregon is awarding nearly $6.2 million to 65 groundbreaking projects that it says will transform visitor access across the state while also strengthening local economies.

The 2024-25 Travel Oregon Competitive Grants Program was designed to increase access…

Travel Oregon Accessibility Grants

Travel Oregon is seeing the fruit of their awarded accessibility grants. Check out these grant-funded projects.

Prineville Golf Course Unveils Cart for People in Wheelchairs

A man drives an accessible single-rider golf cart across a scenic golf course in Prineville, Oregon, surrounded by grassy hills and clear blue skies.

Derek Shike is a 31-year-old medical coder in Portland. Golf wasn’t always his cup of tea.

“For me, golfing, I always thought it was…

Three cyclists, including one using an adaptive handcycle, ride along a dirt trail through a pine forest on a sunny day, showcasing accessible outdoor recreation.

Oregon Adaptive Sports, a Bend-based nonprofit, has received $60,000 from Travel Oregon to expand the adaptive mountain biking program and introduce an adaptive paddling program for locals and visitors with disabilities…

A cyclist rides along a gravel trail in a scenic, dry landscape surrounded by shrubs and trees, while an inset image of the "Western Oregon All Access Gravel Guide" cover shows a rider on a similar trail through golden fields with Mount Hood in the background.

Dirty Freehub, a Bend-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting gravel cycling adventures, is launching a new statewide campaign to empower and inspire people with visible and non-visible disabilities to explore Oregon by gravel bike…

A lake with a mountain in the background

Six projects and programs in Northeastern Oregon have received big state tourism grants.

Travel Oregon announced Monday, June 30, it has awarded $6.2 million….

We’re only at the beginning of TravelAbility’s lineup of events to celebrate ADA’s 35th anniversary. Here’s what’s on the schedule!

Hidden Disabilities

Taylor Leigh Aguilar

Jennifer Allen

Chelsea Bear

Rosie Dunn

Kristy Durso

Anthony Ferraro

Suellen Henneberry

John Morris

Candy Harrington

Jessica Ping

Mandy Salas

Amy Tarpein

Ian Ruder

Houston Vandergriff

Katie Vandergriff

Alice Diehl

Julie Jones

Phoenyx Powell

Tiffany Rose

📈Combined Total Reach of all Creators: 5,653,200

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Myrtle Beach | AFAR highlights 5-Day Myrtle Beach Itinerary for All Abilities

Lotus | The Best Accessible Design of 2025

RightHear | accessiBe Partners with RightHear to Bring Accessibility Beyond the Screen

Visit Florida and Wonders Within Reach | Wheelchair Accessible Restaurants in Sarasota, Florida

Wheel the World | Colorado Tourism Office and Wheel the World Co-Host Nation’s First Travel Week Spotlighting Accessibility

Visit California | Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport Expands Accessibility with ASL Interpretation App

Visit Grand Rapids | ‘Priceless’: Grand Rapids Public Museum Unveils Sneak Peak of Accessibility Upgrades to Carousel

Wheel the World, North Alabama, Cory Lee, and Wonders Within Reach | Accessible Guide to Alabama: Hotels, Things to Do, Restaurants

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ScanMeHome’s QR Code that Can Save Lives

How ScanMeHome Came About

The Problem it Solves

Use Cases

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Jan Bonnville | Recapturing that Special Outdoor Feeling

Sassy Wyatt | Guide to Digital Accessibility

Visit Lauderdale | Destinations Moving in the Right (Accessible) Direction

Visit California | Autism Certified Cities and Sensory Friendly Destinations

Visit Mesa | MFA Announces First Grant Recipients

Taylor Aguilar | The Blind Movement TV Show

Visit Lauderdale | Planning an Accessible Trip Just Got Easier with TripAdvisor’s New Tool

Wheel the World | Survival to SafariNew Tool

Sunflower Lanyard Program | Wings of Wonder: Accessibility for all Who Want to Travel

AARP | Accessible Campgrounds

National Parks | How U.S. National Parks are Becoming More Autism Friendly

Visit Richmond and John Morris | Richmond, VA, Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide

Visit Florida | Best Destinations for Senior Travel

Travel Oregon | Travel Oregon Awards Nearly $6.2M to Dozens of Groundbreaking Projects Across the State

Travel Oregon Accessibility Grants

Prineville Golf Course Unveils Cart for People in Wheelchairs

Oregon Adaptive Sports Receives $60,000 to Implement Adaptive Paddling Program

Dirty Freehub’s Inclusive Gravel Cycling Campaign Empowers Riders with Disabilities

NE Oregon Projects Receive State Tourism Grants

ADA 35 Lineup

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