Information and inspiration from around the web
Tourism
News from the Travelability Community
From California and British Columbia to Germany and around the globe, the TravelAbility community is making waves – and headlines.
Visit California | Ventura County Legislator Pushing to Make State Parks More Accessible to Those with Disabilities
Destinations International | Beyond Boundaries: Stories of Resilience and Inclusion in Accessible Travel
Destination BC | Invictus Games 2025: Why British Columbia is becoming a Hub for Accessible Winter Adventure
Shaping the Future of Accessible Tourism at ITB Berlin 2025
Lane County, Oregon | Accessibility Projects Work to Make Mount Pisgah Arboretum More Welcoming
Wheel the World | Accessible Travel Tips from Our Community
Incredible Memories Travel, Royal Caribbean, and Easy Access Travel | Accessible Travel Revisited: Readers Have Questions, Suggestions
Morgan’s Studio Launches with New Inclusion Unlimited Series
WAYMO | Ride For Two: Our Eyes-free Adventure
(Watch the full adventure on YouTube)
Best Practices Travel Accessibility Page of the Month: Discover Lancaster
Here’s what sets Discover Lancaster apart when it comes to accessible landing pages…
TravelAbility’s Accessibility Playbook provides a basic guide for building an accessibility landing page that welcomes all to discover your destination. Discover Lancaster’s website is entering the advanced level because of its extensive listing of all types of attractions and resources. They’ve done a great job of working with their partners to build a platform of information on anything a disabled traveler could be looking for. Here’s how they measure up:
Creating an Accessible Landing Page: A Three-Level Guide
| Level | Key Elements | Details |
| LEVEL ONE: BASIC | Statement ✔️ | “We are pleased to welcome visitors of all abilities. This page features a variety of accessible attractions, museums, recreational activities, and hotels to help visitors and local residents with disabilities discover what they can do in [Destination].” |
| Things to Do✔️ | Identify accessible attractions and experiences, and provide direct links to their accessibility pages. | |
| Hotels & Lodging✔️ | List accessible hotels, highlight hotels with pool lifts exceeding ADA requirements, and survey hotels for detailed accessibility info. If partnering with Wheel the World, link directly to their booking page. | |
| Additional Resources✔️ | Build an accessible itinerary with state/provincial/national stakeholders, and include links to relevant articles and media coverage. | |
| Transportation✔️ | Link to accessibility pages for airports, public transportation, taxis & van services, and car rentals. | |
| Medical Supplies & Services | Provide links for wheelchair/scooter rentals and medical equipment rentals (Hoyer lifts, shower chairs, etc.). | |
| LEVEL TWO: INTERMEDIATE | Recreation✔️ | Provide accessibility links for nearby parks, hiking trails, points of interest, botanical gardens, and zoos. |
| Sports Venues✔️ | Link to accessibility pages for college/professional stadiums, arenas, and racetracks. | |
| Performance Venues✔️ | Accessibility links for symphonies, ballets, operas, theatres, and prominent nightclubs. | |
| Dining & Food✔️ | List ADA-compliant restaurant chains and coffee shops (e.g., Starbucks). | |
| LEVEL THREE: ADVANCED | Enhanced Engagement✔️ | Incorporate video testimonials from visitors with different disabilities. |
| Industry Collaboration & Drop-Down Menus | Survey industry partners to uncover accessibility features, and build a user-friendly drop-down menu for mobility, blindness/low vision, deafness/hard of hearing, and autism/neurodiversity. | |
| Tagging & Search Optimization | Tag accessibility links by disability type, allowing users to filter and search. Locations with multiple features should appear under each relevant category. |
How does your accessibility landing page measure up? How can you bring it up to the next level?
Accessibility Champions of Change: Alvaro Silberstein of Wheel the World
By Jennifer Allen
Wheel the World has quickly become the resource in disability travel – both for travelers looking for the guarantee of an accessible destination, and for destinations looking to become the accessible destination. This article from Co-Founder Alvaro Silberstein shares an incredible journey from paralysis – both physically and metaphorically – to conquering mountains.
The Backstory
My journey into accessibility began with my personal experience. After a car accident left me paralyzed as a teenager, I never lost my passion for travel and adventure. However, I quickly realized how challenging it was for people with disabilities to find reliable accessibility information and plan trips with confidence. In 2016, I set out on a life-changing journey to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, where I became the first wheelchair user to complete the trek with the support of friends. That experience sparked the idea that accessibility should never be a barrier to exploring the world.
I co-founded Wheel the World in 2018 to empower travelers with disabilities by providing them with verified accessibility information and the ability to book accessible travel experiences seamlessly. Since then, we’ve helped 20+ thousands of travelers explore destinations they once thought were out of reach.
The Vision
At Wheel the World, our mission is simple: to make the world accessible. We believe that every person, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to explore the world with confidence.
To achieve this, we focus on two key areas:
1. WheeltheWorld.com – A travel booking platform that provides travelers with disabilities detailed and verified accessibility information to book accommodations, tours, and transportation suited to their needs.
2. Destination Verified – An Accessibility Management System designed to help destinations and hospitality businesses improve, verify, and promote their accessibility, ensuring they can welcome all travelers.
We are not just building a company; we are leading a movement to make travel more inclusive worldwide.
The Hurdles
The greatest barriers in this journey aren’t physical. The main struggles we face have been:
- Lack of Reliable Accessibility Data: The travel industry historically lacked structured and verified accessibility information, making it difficult to build a comprehensive, trustworthy database.
- Skepticism from Industry Partners: Many hotels and destinations underestimated the market opportunity for travelers with disabilities. We had to educate and convince them of the demand and value in being more inclusive.
- Scaling Accessibility Verification: Accessibility is not one-size-fits-all, so we developed a structured approach to collect and verify accessibility data at scale. Our trained mappers and tech-driven solutions allow us to capture detailed information that travelers can trust.
- Despite these challenges, we’ve built a platform used by many thousands of travelers and secured partnerships with major destinations to drive accessibility forward.
The Future
2025 will be a pivotal year for scaling our impact. Our focus will be on:
1. Expanding Destination Verified – We aim to work with over 200 destinations globally to verify and enhance their accessibility.
2. Growing our Travel Platform – We plan to double the number of accessible experiences and accommodations available for booking through WheeltheWorld.com.
3. Enhancing Technology & Personalization – Our goal is to improve our AI-powered accessibility matching to provide even more personalized travel recommendations for users.
Advice and Inspiration for Other Would-Be Change Makers
Here are important things to remember:
1. Accessibility is an opportunity, not a compliance checkbox.
Businesses that embrace accessibility win loyal customers and open new markets. The disability travel market alone is worth $120 billion annually.
2. Make accessibility information structured and transparent.
Many businesses offer accessibility features but fail to communicate them properly. Travelers with disabilities want detailed, reliable information, not vague claims.
3. Train staff to provide better service.
Frontline hospitality staff often lack the knowledge to assist travelers with disabilities. Simple training programs can make a huge difference.
4. Engage the disability community.
Organizations should work alongside people with disabilities, not just design accessibility solutions for them. User feedback is key.
5. Make accessibility a business priority.
The travel industry needs C-level executives and decision-makers to actively invest in accessibility as a core strategy, not an afterthought.
6. Follow other organizations and individuals that are driving innovation in accessibility and/or travel.
Some that inspire me include:
- Hipcamp.com – I love this company’s brand, purpose, and communication.
- Diego Mariscal – Founder of Together International, a nonprofit that supports disabled entrepreneurs. I believe his mission and impact are powerful.
TravelAbility Taps Former BrandUSA CMO, Staci Mellman as Strategic Advisor to Advisory Board
TravelAbility, a leading organization dedicated to enhancing travel experiences for individuals with disabilities, is proud to announce the appointment of Staci Mellman as a strategic advisor and Advisory Board member focusing on expanding the organization’s reach across the USA and enhancing its brand visibility among destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and travel professionals.
With an impressive career spanning nearly two decades, Staci previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at both Brand USA and VISIT FLORIDA, where she led groundbreaking initiatives to make travel marketing more inclusive, authentic, and accessible. She spearheaded efforts to expand accessibility across Florida, creating inclusive content series and advertising campaigns—one of which was recognized by AdWeek as a Top 10 Accessible Brand Campaign of 2020.
Key Areas of Staci Mellman’s Focus:
- Raising Awareness: Increasing TravelAbility’s recognition among DMOs, travel brands, and industry leaders.
- Industry Education: Providing resources and best practices to help destinations attract and serve travelers of all abilities.
- Advancing Inclusive Marketing: Helping travel brands communicate accessibility efforts in an authentic, engaging, and impactful way.
“I have always believed that travel is a fundamental experience that should be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability,” said Mellman. “By working with TravelAbility, I hope to help travel brands and destinations create more inclusive experiences that connect with and serve travelers of all abilities. Travel is not just about seeing new places—it’s about feeling welcome, represented, and empowered to explore the world.”
Strengthening the Future of Accessible Travel
TravelAbility remains dedicated to bridging the gap between the travel industry and the disability community. With the appointment of Staci Mellman, the organization is poised to make even greater strides in creating a more inclusive, accessible future for travelers everywhere.
“Staci is genuinely one of the most inspiring and creative individuals I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the past six years. Her passion for data was matched only by her commitment to positive activism. As the leader of Visit Florida, she spearheaded numerous campaigns that highlight the diverse experiences of individuals with disabilities and her goal was clear: she wanted to make Florida the most accessible state in the country. We’re honored to have her as part of our advisory board.”
Jake Steinman, Founder, TravelAbilityFor more information on TravelAbility’s initiatives, visit https://travelability.net/
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