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TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Hidden Disabilities

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…

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Sassy Wyatt | Guide to Digital Accessibility

 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.

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

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…

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Visit California | Autism Certified Cities and Sensory Friendly Destinations

 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…

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Visit Mesa | MFA Announces First Grant Recipients

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…..

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Taylor Aguilar | The Blind Movement TV Show

Logo for "The Blind Movement" featuring bold black text next to a stylized pair of sunglasses with a white cane tucked behind the ear, set against a marbled yellow and white background.

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…

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

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…

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Wheel the World | Survival to SafariNew Tool

Wheeltheworldlogo

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.

Watch Here

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…

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AARP | Accessible Campgrounds

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….

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

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….

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

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…

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Visit Florida | Best Destinations for Senior Travel

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….

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

Travel Oregon Logo

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…

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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…

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

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…

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Dirty Freehub’s Inclusive Gravel Cycling Campaign Empowers Riders 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…

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NE Oregon Projects Receive State Tourism Grants

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….

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ADA 35 Lineup

TravelAbility logo with the tagline "Celebrating ADA35"

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!

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Accessibility Awards, Accessibility Funding, Airlines, Disability Advocates, Disability Awareness, Hidden Disabilities, Neurodiversity, Parks and Public spaces, Tourism, Transportation, Travel, Vision

News from the TravelAbility Community: June 2025

June 5, 2025 by lkarl

Tourism season has begun and both accessible destinations and disabled travelers are ready. Check out what Visit Richmond, Explore Prineville, and the National Park Service have done to prepare, then read about how our travelers kicked off the season.

Visit Richmond and John Morris

Richmond, Virginia Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide

TravelAbility and Wheel the World

World Cup Cities Prioritize Accessibility

Prineville Chamber Unveils Remodel Ahead of Tourist Season

John Morris

Accessibility Takes Center Stage at 2025 Passenger Experience Conference

National Park Service

How the U.S. National Park System Is Welcoming Neurodiverse Travelers

Kristy Durso

Love, Promises, and Possibility at Beaches Turks & Caicos

Explore Prineville

Golf ‘Fore’ All: Explore Prineville Awarded Grant to Launch Adaptive Golf Program

Golf ‘Fore’ All: Explore Prineville awarded grant to launch adaptive golf program 

North Alabama and Jennifer Allen

A Family Guide to Wheelchair Accessible North Alabama: Small Towns, Big Adventures

Lynn Osmond

Lynn Osmond, CAE, Partners with Wheel the World and TravelAbility to Drive Accessibility in Tourism

Tom Babinzski, Even Grounds

Access4you Empowers Travelers Alike with Objective Information

Hidden DIsabilities Sunflower

Wings of Wonder: Accessibility for All Who Want to Travel

Alvaro Silberstein

5 Entrepreneurs With Disabilities to Know About

Sage Traveling

Disabled Travelers Are Often Ignored. Ras Al Khaimah Hopes to Change That

Visit Alexandria

Alexandria Disability Awareness Awards Set for June 25

Waymo

Riding Into the Golden Years: For older Angelenos, Waymo Promises Adventures for a Lifetime

Josh Loebner

Alexa Helps Make a Home More Accessible

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Filed Under: Accessibility Awards, Adaptive Sports, Blind and Low Vision Travel, Conferences & Events, Hidden Disabilities, Mobility, Neurodiversity, Parks and Public spaces, Technology, Tourism, Travel Industry People, Vision

News from the TravelAbility Community

April 30, 2025 by Eliana Satkin

Wheel the World & Travel Michigan | Grand Rapids Gains “Destination Verified” Status for Accessible Travel

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Lynn Osmond Joins Wheel the World and TravelAbility to Champion Accessible Travel Nationwide

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Cannes Film Festival & Visit California: The American Pavilion to Launch Inaugural “California Day”

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EnChroma | EnChroma Glasses Come To Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival For Color Blind Visitors

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Visit Florida | Survey Reveals: Top Winter Destinations and Travel Trends for Seniors in 2025

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Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program & Autism Doublechecked | 4 Qualifying Questions Travel Advisors Should Ask Clients with Autism

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MMGY, Open Doors Organization | The State of Accessible Travel

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Blind Travels | What if You Could Touch a Sunset?

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Airlines, Blind and Low Vision Travel, Disability Advocates, Hidden Disabilities, Neurodiversity, Surveys, The Arts, Travel, Trends, Vision

News from the TravelAbility Community

March 10, 2025 by Eliana Satkin

Sunflower program expanding its reach, PVA exposing the numbers behind inaccessibility, Myrtle Beach awarded for inclusion, and more in this month’s community news.

Fort Wayne Using New Cheap, Fast Tech to Make Pedestrian Signals Accessible

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Online Reviews Show Which National Parks are Attracting Disabled Guests

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TravelAbility Trusted Apps and Programs Making Travel Equitable

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Myrtle Beach Awarded 2024 Travel Vanguard Award for its Autism-Friendly Travel Efforts

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Inclusion Made this D.C. Circus a Whole Lot More Entertaining

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PVA Survey Reveals Alarming Accessibility Barriers

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The Best and Worst U.S. States for People With Disabilities

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Cincinnati Makes New Motion to Welcome All

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Sunflower Program Soars with Air Canada

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Medina Becomes the First Autism Certified City™ in Middle East, Setting a Global Benchmark for Inclusivity

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Prince Harry Endorses Destination BC

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Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Becomes First National Park to Earn Certified Autism Center™ Designation

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Emirates sets to become the world’s first Autism Certified Airline™

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Filed Under: Accessibility, Airlines, Autism, Disability Advocates, Disability Awareness, Hidden Disabilities, Parks and Public spaces, Technology, The Arts

Japanese Cafe Chain Gives Purpose to Elderly with Dementia

February 10, 2025 by Eliana Satkin

The Cafe Of Mistaken Orders has one rule: you must have dementia to work here. True to its name, you may not get what you ordered. In fact, your server may even forget they’re your server and join you for your meal. Discover this unforgettable experience here.

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Filed Under: Hidden Disabilities, Mental Health, Neurodiversity, Restaurants

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