TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

TravelAbility Summit

TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit: What to Expect in 2025

by

Early Bird Registration is Open- Save Your Spot

TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit 2025 isn’t just another industry conference—it’s your chance to gain the tools, insights, and inspiration needed to drive meaningful change. The Summit is designed with two key goals in mind: to energize you with actionable takeaways you can implement immediately, and to make you the smartest person in your organization when it comes to accessibility. With sessions that balance practical knowledge and visionary thinking, you’ll leave ready to lead the charge toward true inclusivity.

Mark your calendars! The Summit will be held October 12th-15th at Sunriver Resort in Oregon. This annual event is the premier gathering for travel industry professionals, featuring trailblazing leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are reshaping the travel landscape to ensure it’s welcoming for all.

A Master Class in Accessibility

One of the Summit’s highlights is the Master Class in Accessibility, designed to elevate your expertise and transform the way you approach inclusivity in travel. Attendees will dive into strategies for addressing accessibility challenges and have the opportunity to earn the coveted “Accessibility Leader” certificate.

This intensive session equips participants with practical skills and a framework to integrate accessibility seamlessly into their organizations. Not only will you gain the tools to make meaningful changes, but you’ll also position yourself as a thought leader in the accessibility space.

AI Companion to The Accessibility Playbook

Technology is at the forefront of accessibility innovation, and this year’s Summit introduces the AI Companion to The Accessibility Playbook. This cutting-edge tool combines actionable insights with the power of AI, allowing destinations, hotels, and attractions to tailor their approaches to accessibility.

From generating accessibility checklists to providing real-time solutions, the AI Companion is a game-changer for travel professionals. Attendees will get a firsthand look at how this tool can streamline efforts to create more inclusive experiences, making accessibility not just a goal but a reality.

Adventure Wheelchair Smackdown

Get ready for some friendly competition at the Adventure Wheelchair Smackdown! This engaging event brings together three wheelchair users who will test and compare three different adventure wheelchairs. Each participant will share their unique experiences, offering valuable insights into the pros and cons of each model.

Expect honest feedback, lively discussions, and perhaps even a few surprises as these adventurers put the wheelchairs through their paces. Whether you’re a DMO, an attraction, or simply curious about the latest innovations, this event will leave you with a deeper appreciation for accessible outdoor recreation.

The Accessibility Stack

Building an Accessibility Stack can seem daunting, but this session provides travel professionals with a clear roadmap. Experts will share practical tips for DMOs, hotels, and attractions to start their journey, overcome barriers, and make reasonable accommodations.

Through real-world insights from disabled travelers, attendees will gain a better understanding of how small, thoughtful changes can lead to significant impacts. The Accessibility Stack isn’t just a checklist—it’s a mindset shift that ensures everyone feels welcome.

Panel Discussions: Perspectives That Matter

This year’s panels are packed with diverse voices, each bringing unique perspectives to the table:

  • Blind Travelers: Learn how they navigate the world and adapt through creative “world hacking.”
  • Wheelchair Users: Discover the wide range of needs and accommodations essential for seamless travel.
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Travelers: Gain tips on creating better travel experiences for those with hearing loss.
  • Autism Parents & Their Travel Nightmares: Hear firsthand accounts and practical advice from parents traveling with autistic children.

These discussions offer invaluable insights for anyone striving to make travel more inclusive and accessible.

Spotlight on Content Creators and Influencers

The Summit’s Content Creator Panels bring together some of the most influential voices in accessibility advocacy. Topics include creating impactful campaigns, addressing challenges faced by disabled travelers, and sharing authentic stories that resonate with audiences.

The popular Influencer Speed Dating Sessions are back with a refined structure. These fast-paced networking opportunities allow destinations and influencers to connect, share ideas, and spark collaborations. Attendees will also learn best practices for working with disability influencers, courtesy of an agency representing over 80 creators.

Interactive Roundtable Sessions

Engage in meaningful discussions during the interactive roundtables, where participants tackle pressing topics alongside industry leaders. From brainstorming innovative solutions to sharing success stories, these sessions are an excellent platform for collaboration and idea exchange.

Creating Experiential Accessible Products

Accessible travel isn’t just about accommodations; it’s about creating memorable experiences. This session focuses on experiential products—think fishing excursions, adaptive boating, and more—that cater to diverse needs. Learn how to design activities that go beyond expectations and truly connect with travelers.

The InnovateAble Vendor Showcase

Innovation takes center stage at the InnovateAble Vendor Showcase. Attendees will discover groundbreaking products and services designed to enhance accessibility in travel. From assistive technologies to adaptive equipment, this showcase highlights the tools that will shape the future of inclusive tourism.

Why the TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit Matters

The TravelAbility Emerging Markets Summit is more than just a conference—it’s a movement. By bringing together industry professionals, innovators, and advocates, it pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in accessible travel.

Join us at the 2025 Summit and leave energized, inspired, and equipped to lead the charge toward a more inclusive future. Together, we can create a world where travel is accessible to all.

Early Bird Registration is Open – Register Today

TravelAbility Deepens Its Impact with Formation of the TravelAbility Foundation

by

The New Nonprofit Arm Provides Additional Tools to Promote Inclusive Travel

TravelAbility Foundation logo on top of a screened image of a person in a wheelchair on a field of grass.

Sausalito, CA—TravelAbility, the leading organization working to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities, has announced the formation of the TravelAbility Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers to accessible travel. 

“The Foundation gives us a new set of tools to expand our work within the travel industry and create additional pathways to support individuals with disabilities, families, and seniors,” said Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of TravelAbility. “It diversifies our business model and allows us to pursue new sources of funding in support of, and in partnership with, our network.”

TravelAbility has grown rapidly in five years primarily through the guidance and resources it provides to destination marketing organizations (DMOs) including a very successful annual conference, the Emerging Markets Summit. Other programs and initiatives include The Accessibility Playbook, Accessible Journeys Magazine, hospitality training courses, and the recently launched TravelAbility Trusted, a vetted list of vendors and service providers that meet TravelAbility’s standards for accessibility. 

“The for-profit and the non-profit complement each other,” said Steinman. “They will share some resources, but they are separate entities with different goals. The for-profit provides goods and services to our clients in the field. The nonprofit will focus more on advocacy and in identifying and scaling up promising practices from our network.”

The Foundation recently landed its first donation, a $60,000 gift from Wheel the World. See related story. It is also in the process of hiring grant writers to partner with leaders of DMOs seeking public funding for innovative solutions to improve access for travelers with disabilities. 

TravelAbililty’s reach is local, regional, and global. It is the official Accessibility Advisor/Partner for:

-Destinations International

-Visit Florida

-The American Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival

-Conference Direct

-Visit the Palm Beaches

Funders can also support the Foundation’s work by making donations on its website.

For more information contact info@travelability.net.

Was 2023 The Year That Accessibility Entered the Mainstream Zeitgeist?

by

Collage of logos of Conde Nast, the American Pavilion,, BBC, and USA Today accompanied by a pull quote from Jake Steinman: "It feels like the message of accessible travel is a growing part of the general zeitgeist."

This past year felt different. TravelAbility’s growth rate has accelerated in each of our five years, but we seemed to break through some sort of barrier in 2023. Inquiries and invitations have been coming from all directions—from regions and destinations from throughout the US, from large travel and hospitality companies, from new global partners like the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival and Destinations International.

“It does feel like the message of accessible travel is penetrating all parts of the industry and is a growing part of the general zeitgeist,” says Jake Steinman, TravelAbility founder and CEO. “Companies are seeing it as a lucrative market and they are bringing in trainers to improve their service. And, as evidenced by the unprecedented growth of the number of adaptive/assistive technologies as well as ‘Age-Tech’ at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, the level of innovations is staggering.”

Steinman adds that TravelAbility is riding a wave that begins with travelers with disability and advocates. “It’s about quality of life and predictability.  Individuals have configured their homes and studied their neighborhood so that they can live independently. But when they go to travel, it’s Russian Roulette because there’s so little information.”

The mainstream media is also paying more attention to the issue, according to Tricia Roth, head of marketing and engagement. “One of the main reasons we’re trying out more of a roundup approach in this issue of Insider is because of the number of articles we’re seeing in major publications, from USA Today to NPR, The New York Times, Condé Nast to the BBC has mushroomed.”

Here is a rundown of some of the markers and highlights that stood out for us in 2023:

A pull quote from Tricia Roth: "The number of articles we're seeing about accessibility in major publications has mushroomed."
  • Partnering with Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination organizations, to reach over 700 destinations worldwide and help them improve their accessibility.
  • Hosting the sold-out EMS Summit, the premier event for travel professionals and experts to learn, network, and showcase the latest innovations in accessibility. (Our 2024 EMS Summit will be held November 13-15, in San Francisco.)
  • Growing the Destination A11Y Club, a membership program that provides destinations with access to exclusive content, tools, and support to enhance their accessibility to 18 destinations last year from nine in 2022,
  • Nearly doubling the content of the Accessibility Playbook, a comprehensive guide that contains over 100 links to videos, presentations, and examples of accessibility best practices from various sectors of the travel industry.
  • Publishing a special edition of USAE News, a leading publication for association executives, that featured a wrap-up of the EMS Summit and offered exposure to the sponsors and speakers.
  • Launching Accessible Journeys, a quarterly online magazine in collaboration with Mélange Publishing, that showcases inspiring stories, tips, and destinations for travelers with disabilities. The magazine reached over 1.7 million readers in the summer edition.
  • Rebranding the Launchpad pitch fest as the InnovateAble Showcase, an annual event that celebrates the most creative and impactful accessibility solutions in the travel industry. The event coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th.
  • Invite to advise the American Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival about how they can become for accessible in 2024.

In addition to these achievements, TravelAbility also introduced several pilot programs in 2023, such as:

  • Academic Accessibility Learning module, an online course that uses the Accessibility Playbook to teach hospitality students about accessibility. The course was offered by the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and received such positive feedback from the 800 enrolled students that it will become a graduation requirement for all 3000 students in the future. This program aims to change the way hotels treat and welcome guests with disabilities.
  • Rethinking Accessibility, a turnkey program that helps destinations discover and highlight their existing accessibility features. The program involved five destinations and revealed 210 new accessibility features that can attract and accommodate travelers with disabilities.
  • Visit Tampa Accessible Riverwalk Pass, a discount attraction pass that offers access to the most popular and accessible attractions along the Tampa Riverwalk. The pass sold over 1900 tickets and generated $109k in sales in two months.
  • Introduced the Visit Florida/Wheel the World (WTW) coop program, in which WTW accessibility features in 30 locations in three Florida destinations where the state covered 50% of the costs.  The program was offered to all DMO’s in Florida at their annual industry conference and has been expanded to 14 destinations in the state.

TravelAbility is excited to continue its mission of growing accessibility in 2024 and beyond. For more information, visit www.travelability.net.

More Celebrities Are Coming Out about Their Hidden Disabilities

by

Elon Musk turning to look at something off camera

Several celebrities are shining a light on hidden disabilities by sharing news of their diagnoses and experiences, particularly with autism. In a TED Talk, Tesla founder Elon Musk talked about being bullied as a child on the spectrum, but also about how the condition has helped him in his career.

“I found it rewarding to spend all night programming computers, just by myself,” he said. “Most people don’t enjoy typing strange symbols into a computer by themselves all night. They think that’s not fun. But I really liked it.”

Actor Wentworth Miller, star of the TV series Prison Break was diagnosed with autism during the pandemic. He has talked about the difficulties of getting diagnosed as an adult: “This fall marks 1 year since I received my informal autism diagnosis. Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis,” he said. “It was a long, flawed process in need of updating. IMO. I’m a middle-aged man. Not a 5-year-old.” Read more.

Our TakeAway: When celebrities share their hidden disabilities, it can shine a spotlight on issues faced by millions of people. You may not like or admire Elon Musk but there’s no question he’s an influencer and sometimes a positive one.

DOT Launches Campaign to Raise Awareness of Rights of Airline Passengers Who Use Wheelchairs

by

A man in a wheelchair navigating a crowded airline terminal

The US Department of Transportation is marking the 37th anniversary of the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) by initiating the #AccessibleAirTravel campaign to underscore the right of air travelers with disabilities to safe, dignified, and accessible air travel.

“Airline passengers with disabilities deserve to travel safely and with dignity,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “DOT is proud to partner with the aviation industry and members of the disability community to ensure that all travelers with disabilities know their rights.”

As part of the launch, the DOT emphasized some of the actions the Biden administration has taken or is taking to improve the air travel experience of individuals using wheelchairs, including:

  • To address many of the significant barriers facing passengers who use wheelchairs, the Department has initiated a rule proposing to make it an automatic violation of ACAA regulations for airlines to mishandle a passenger’s wheelchair.
  • In July 2023, DOT finalized a rule which requires airlines to make lavatories on new, single-aisle aircraft more accessible.Under this final rule, airlines are required to take various steps to improve the accessibility of these lavatories short of increasing their size in the short term.
  • DOT has begun laying the groundwork for a potential rule that would allow passengers to stay in their own wheelchairs when they fly. Read more.

Our TakeAway: We applaud the DOT’s new campaign and the actions it is taking to improve the air travel experience for passengers who use wheelchairs. But we have to wonder how much can be done to improve the accessibility of lavatories without increasing their size?