TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Lived Experience

Lived Experience: Tara Shetterly on Accessible Travel and Disability Advocacy

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Tara Shetterly is a 22 year old social media creator, disability advocate, educator, certified occupational therapy assistant, and accessible tourist. Her ultimate goal is to create an accessible world for everyone to access the natural beauty of the world, from cities and parks to improved societal expectations of what’s β€œpossible” from a wheelchair. 

@tara_shett

πŸ“£life doesn’t end when u become seated

🚷T11/12 paraplegic & hEDS

πŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸŽ“ certified OT assistant

πŸ“Virginia Beach 

Total followers across platforms: 400,000

Get lost in the scroll checking out her viral IG reels where she takes you through cities, up mountains, and raises disability awareness. 

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DK20Drxp89L

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXevZWTkRhp/

To work with Tara, email her at tarashett@kannco.com .

Accessibility Playbook: Welcoming the Aging Air Traveler

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Seven years in the making, the Travelability Accessibility Playbook, created in partnership with Destinations International, is an end-to-end toolkit to equip destination organizations on their accessibility journey, enabling them to better welcome and accommodate people with disabilities within their destination. The following snippet focuses on welcoming the aging traveler, an ever growing need as the Baby Boomer generation ages into disability.

Flying proves to be one of the greatest barriers to senior travel. Studies reveal that it’s not just the flight that’s the barrier, but the logistics of navigating getting to the airport, getting from parking through security, and navigating the long distances from security through the terminal to the gate. 

Port of Portland’s digital map, powered by GoodMaps, shows walking distances and

walk times. Users can select accessible routes that will account for vertical conveyances

and TSA precheck distances for more accurate timing. Click here to learn more.

Flying

OBSTACLESOLUTIONS
Difficulty getting through security (33%)Improved workforce: Provide special TSA lines and allow more time (60%)
Difficulty getting from parking to theairport (33%) or to the gate (32%)Greater access to wheelchairs/motorized carts (52%)
Difficulty understanding announcements(21% among the 65% with hearing loss)Provide designated assistance desks where travelers can check for updated information and receive personalized help
Difficulty waiting to board at the gate(15%)Offer check in assistance (43%)

β€œIt’s hard for us to fly without precheck – it’s tiring to take off shoes and unpack bags. We’ve forgotten our suitcases after the hassle of putting our shoes back on.” -Jack and Elaine from Seniors with Latitude.

Click here to learn more or to purchase the full Playbook.

Lived Experience: How Downs & Towns Is Leading Accessible Travel Through Disability Storytelling

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Houston and Katie of Downs & Towns have been a part of the TravelAbility community from the start. Houston, an award-winning photographer with Down Syndrome, was shot into social media fame when his sisters created an ironic TikTok video in response to the idea that people with Down Syndrome can’t achieve much. Now, as an influencer with over 7 million likes on TikTok alone, Houston and his mom, Katie travel the world capturing destinations, creating art, and raising disability awareness.

β€œIf you want to work with us, we want to work with you,” is their campaign motto because if you’re looking to encourage travelers with disabilities they want to help you in your mission.

@DownsAndTowns

Travel Photographer

ART. ADVENTURE. ADVOCACY.

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

Total followers across platforms: 400,000

Houston and Katie have made connection after connection through TravelAbility, helping destinations with authentic storytelling. Over the past year, they’ve gone from one trip to the next. Katie didn’t want to be so bold as to say destinations need them, but she admitted that, β€œwe can truly, authentically showcase what it is that’s working in a way that no one else can.”

β€œSeveral places have really enjoyed being able to showcase work that is from somebody else who sees the world differently. Also, the fact that we’re there, interacting with the destinations, gives us the ability to answer questions. We can provide input. We can share our experiences with them to help them grow in access and inclusion as a destination.”

Check out this recent example from their work with Tennessee State Parks. 

Houston was the first ever disabled artist-in-residence for HawaiΚ»i Volcanoes National Park and was recently featured in Artists in Parks, with his photo on the magazine cover.

With content from all 50 states and 32 countries, the accolades for Downs and Towns are never ending. Their passion remains to help any destination with a heart for accessibility and inclusion.

A Note for Creators:

Katie and Houston shared that a lot of their opportunities have come through working with TravelAbility.

β€œTravelAbility is just kind of everywhere, and the relationships are everywhere,” Katie highlighted.” In all of their experiences, they’ve never found a community like TravelAbility for finding like-minded destinations and building authentic community. This is a great place to start for anyone looking to make a difference.

If you’re a creator making accessible travel content and would like to join our community of disabled content creators, fill out the form below.

Join the Creator Community

Ask the Experts: What Disabled Travellers Really Want

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Carrie-Ann Lightley, a woman with curly hair and glasses, smiles while seated in a wheelchair outdoors in front of a building entrance. She wears a red jacket over a patterned sweater and appears relaxed and confident.

What do disabled travelers really want? Accessibility writer Carrie-Ann Lightley delivered the scoop – after asking disabled travelers from across the UK for tips to pass on to travel agents. Her article for Selling Travel uncovers the unexpected priorities of disabled travelers.

β€œHow many bookings have you lost because a provider says β€˜we’re not sure if that’s accessible’?

As a wheelchair user and specialist in accessible travel, I’ve heard these words too often. Accessible travel isn’t a mystery, it’s an opportunity.”

Carrie highlights the top three priorities of the disabled traveler as:

  • clear information,Β 
  • transparent communication,Β 
  • and empathy.

Clear Information

β€œClarity beats perfection every time.”

Carrie shared input from travelers across a variety of disabilities, but all agreed with Allie Mason, autistic author and accessible travel advocate, who stated: β€œWe’re looking for clear and up-to-date accessibility information. We don’t need β€˜perfect’, just enough to know if a provider can meet our needs.”

Transparent Communication

β€œAsk questions, listen, and offer choices that balance both practicality and joy.” 

It’s important to acknowledge that there’s no such thing as β€œfully accessible.” One contributor noted that, β€œWhat works for one traveller can create barriers for another.”

Active listening helps travel planners craft realistic itinerariesβ€”leading to better trips, not broken promises.

Empathy

β€œSmall actions shape the whole experience.”

It’s important to remember that β€œa disabled traveller is never trying to be difficult; they simply want equitable access.”

Travelers, all of them, want to feel seen. They deserve to experience the journey of a lifetime… and that experience will keep them coming back for more.

Read the Article Here

Lived Experience: Learn Through Real Travels of Disabled Content Creators with Emily Davison

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@fashioneyesta2012

Writer
πŸ’„ Fashion | Beauty | Travel | London
πŸ’» Content creator
✍🏻 Award Winning SE London Journalist
πŸ‘©πŸ»β€πŸ¦―Disabled

Total followers across platforms: 25,000

Emily Davison is a London-based journalist and content creator behind Fashioneyesta, with 10 years’ experience creating travel, fashion, and lifestyle content.Β Β 

Living with a visual impairment, Emily specializes in sensory-led storytelling and accessible travel that helps disabled audiences explore with confidence.Β Β 

Her work spotlights inclusive days out, stays, and food experiencesβ€”sharing practical access notes alongside atmosphere, sound, and seasonal detail.  οΏΌ

Through her website and social channels (including Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok), she connects with a community seeking disability-positive inspiration and honest recommendations.

Emily collaborates with brands to create thoughtful campaigns that champion inclusion and make travel feel more open to everyone. 

Check out her accessible trip to Antwerp on Instagram and then scroll through her other adventures at @fashioneyesta2012.

Emily is currently seeking to partner with destinations who are interested in highlighting β€œHow I made my trip to X accessible as a visually impaired person” – sharing  sensory experiences, foodie things to do and other things that are more inclusive for visually impaired people.

To work with Emily, check out her website, https://fashioneyesta.com, or email her at Fashioneyesta@gmail.com.

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