TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Video of the Month

Accessibility and the Great Outdoors: Empowering All to Explore Natural Beauty

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With less than a week until the 7th annual TravelAbility Summit in one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces on the planet, it seemed fitting to share this summit throwback on welcoming all into the great outdoors.

National Park Service Accessibility: From Compliance to Experience

Presenter: Jeremy Buzzell – National Park Service (NPS)
Mission: Make NPS more accessible not just by ADA standards, but by improving real visitor experiences.

🔹 00:30 | What is the NPS & Jeremy’s Role

  • 400+ park units (only ~60 are “National Parks”)
  • Jeremy is part of PAVE: Park Accessibility for Visitors and Employees
  • Offers training and guidance—not authority or funding

🔹 02:50 | From Civil Rights to Tourism Mindset

  • Shift from a “compliance lens” to visitor experience lens
  • Adopts Sage Inclusion’s three pillars:
    • Information
    • Facilities
    • Customer service

🔹 06:15 | Pillar 1: Accessible Information

  • Focused on improving trip planning
  • Moves away from vague terms like “accessible bathroom”
  • Example: detailed vs. generic descriptions of facilities

Tools & Resources:

  • 10:05 | Campground Information Standards
  • 11:02 | National Accessibility Website with map and direct park links
  • 13:20 | Examples of upgraded park website descriptions

🔹 16:00 | Trail Info & Adaptive Hiking

  • “Accessible hiking” = modifying trail
  • “Adaptive hiking” = user brings gear, needs detailed info
  • Trail data includes slope, surface, grade, etc., but also needs location-specific clarity

🔹 20:00 | Pillar 2: Customer Service

  • Common barrier: staff reactions, not terrain
  • Emphasizes:
    • 21:45 | Understanding nontraditional mobility devices
    • 23:15 | Handling service animals appropriately
    • 24:30 | Accommodating neurodiverse visitors

🔹 26:30 | Pillar 3: Facilities

  • No separate “accessibility budget” — it must be integrated
  • Look at entry-to-exit experiences, not isolated fixes
  • Follow where money is already going, then improve accessibility there

🔹 28:00 | Final Message: Focus on Success

Promote what’s working. Help users say:
“I want to kayak — where can I go?”
…Not: “Is Yellowstone accessible?”

What are the Top 10 Trends in Accessible Travel?

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Last year’s TravelAbility Summit featured a presentation revealing The Top Ten Trends for Accessible Travel in 2025. Read a summary and watch the full video below!

Summary

  • 🚕 Accessible Transportation Revolution
     Ride-sharing platforms like Uber and Lyft face legal pressure to become wheelchair accessible. Rental cars now offer adaptive features and Ford introduces models with audio descriptions for blind users.
    Watch here
  • 🛫 Airports Embrace Universal Access
     New airport renovations include cutting-edge accessibility upgrades—like changing rooms—highlighted by Portland Airport’s initiatives.
    Watch here
  • 🧠 Smart Tech Enhances Navigation
     Google Maps adds wheelchair-accessible routes. Hotels now feature voice-activated controls and AI travel planners for a seamless, informed experience.
    Watch here
  • 🤫 Rise of Sensory-Friendly Destinations
     Quiet areas in airports and stores (e.g., Walmart) cater to neurodivergent travelers. Autism-friendly travel packages are growing in popularity.
    Watch here
  • 🛌 Universal Design in Accommodations
     Wider doorways, roll-in showers, and height-adjustable furniture are being adopted into architectural blueprints, making spaces inherently inclusive.
    Watch here
  • 🌍 Virtual Reality Previews
     Travelers can explore destinations through VR before visiting. Tools like 360° hotel room tours boost planning confidence.
    Watch here
  • 🧗 Inclusive Adventure Tourism
     Tools like Be My Eyes and Aira assist blind travelers in hiking and outdoor activities. Oregon leads with grants funding these innovations.
    Watch here
  • 🏖️ Accessible Beach Access Innovations
     Greece installs ramps into the sea for wheelchair users. Sensory-safe beach areas are being designed for neurodiverse visitors.
    Watch here
  • 📋 Nano Training for Hospitality
     Scandinavian hotels use sub-50-second videos to train staff on disability service—an efficient way to boost service quality.
    Watch here
  • 📺 Inclusive Representation in Media TV shows and marketing campaigns are increasingly spotlighting autism and disability. Large firms like Unilever are leading with inclusive messaging.
     Watch here

Watch Here

These trends aren’t just hypothetical—they’re being discussed, demonstrated, and accelerated at the TravelAbility Summit, where accessibility leaders, tourism professionals, and innovators come together to share solutions and spark progress. Join us October 13–15, 2025, at Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon to experience the conversations shaping the future of travel. From live hands-on workshops and expert presentations to networking with changemakers, the Summit is where the next wave of accessibility innovation begins.

Register Today!

Disabled Travelers Share The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

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The sometimes shocking experiences of real disabled travelers.

At the TravelAbility Summit, disability advocates and travel and hospitality professionals come together to reimagine what inclusive travel can truly look like. The event blends practical workshops, expert panels, and meaningful conversations that empower destinations, brands, and organizations to create more accessible experiences for all.

At last year’s summit, a panel of disabled travelers shared their firsthand experiences—the good, the bad, and the eye-opening. Lived experience remains the most powerful measure of true inclusion. We’re excited to keep the conversation going at our 2025 Summit in Sunriver, Oregon, taking place October 13–15th. Learn more and register today!

Watch the video below and explore the timestamped summary. How does your destination measure up?

At the 2024 TravelAbility Summit: Kristy Durso (TravelAbility, Incredible Memories Travel), Jessica Jordan Ping (The Rolling Explorer), Craig Radford (360 Direct Video), Sassy Wyatt (Blind Girl Adventures), and Talia Salem (Marriott).

Summary

  • Opening with Vulnerability – A wheelchair user shares a deeply personal and emotional experience of inaccessibility in Vancouver’s airport restrooms, transforming a humiliating moment into a story of compassion and advocacy.
    ➤ Restroom Accessibility Issue
  • Fairmont Hotel’s Kindness – The Fairmont Hotel provided sanctuary and dignity, reinforcing the power of empathy in service and influencing future travel recommendations.
    ➤ Fairmont’s Response
  • Denied Experiences on Honeymoon – Jessica recounts being refused full participation in a planned ATV adventure due to assumptions about her limb differences, underscoring the need for autonomy and transparency.
    ➤ Adventure Denied
  • Advocacy for Honest Accessibility Info – The discussion emphasizes how honesty about accessibility levels is more beneficial than misleading claims.
    ➤ Transparency in Accessibility
  • Communication Barriers for Deaf Travelers – Craig details a disappointing hotel and theatre experience where inadequate communication efforts highlighted systemic gaps in serving deaf guests.
    ➤ Lack of Accessibility for Deaf Guests
  • Navigational Struggles for Blind Travelers – Sassy shares multiple challenges at airports and train stations, from forced wheelchair use to being abandoned without communication or support.
    ➤ Travel Disorientation for Blind Travelers
  • Train Access Without Support – Despite being in a wheelchair and having heavy luggage, Sassy was left alone to navigate a train station without announcements or assistance.
    ➤ Abandoned at the Train Station

Insights Based on Numbers

  • While this session is anecdotal, the stories reflect pervasive issues affecting millions, particularly the frequent failures in communication and physical accessibility at transport and hospitality venues.
  • Real-time lived experience remains the most powerful metric for evaluating accessibility.

How the Industry can Make Travel More Inviting to Blind and Low Vision Travelers

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Each year, the TravelAbility Summit brings together travel professionals, entrepreneurs, and disability advocates to explore how to make travel more accessible for everyone. Last year’s summit included a panel of blind travelers who shared the challenges they’ve encountered and offered insights on how destinations can eliminate barriers to blind travel.

Check out the panel’s key takeaways below and click the YouTube link to rewatch the session. Want to learn more? Don’t miss the 2025 TravelAbility Summit at Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, October 13-15, 2025, where you can connect with industry experts and disability advocates dedicated to making travel more inclusive for all.

Summary

  • 🏨 Accessible Hotel Experience: Hilton integrates “Be My Eyes”, allowing blind guests to receive assistance in navigating their rooms and amenities.
  • 🚖 Ride-Share Challenges: Blind travelers face cancellation issues with Uber/Lyft due to guide dogs. Some drivers refuse to pick them up, causing major inconvenience.
  • 🌎 Consistency in Accessibility: Industry experts emphasize the need for standardized Braille signage placement, so blind individuals can easily locate information.
  • 🗺️ Navigation Solutions: GPS apps, breadcrumb tracking, and NaviLens QR codes are proposed to enhance navigation in hotels, parks, and public venues.
  • 🏕️ Accessible Outdoor Travel: Blind hikers prefer better trail markings and audio guidance over excessive infrastructure changes.
  • 🏛️ Inclusive Museums & Attractions: Museums should provide tactile maps, high-contrast signs, and digital audio guides for blind visitors.
  • 🐕 Service Dog Challenges: Despite legal protections, hotels and ride services often misunderstand service dog policies, leading to unnecessary restrictions.
  • 🔊 Elevator Accessibility: Adding audio announcements to elevators improves accessibility, making travel easier for blind and visually impaired guests.
  • 🌍 Advocacy & Industry Standards: Experts encourage travel organizations to advocate for more accessible experiences, including better training for staff and public awareness initiatives.

Insights Based on Numbers

  • 20-40% of guide dog users face rejection from ride-share services due to misinformation or discrimination.
  • Hilton’s partnership with “Be My Eyes” enables guests to receive real-time visual assistance from trained personnel.
  • 273 Oregon State Parks are working towards better accessibility through improved signage, GPS solutions, and advocacy.

Watch the full session on YouTube!

How do Hotel Owners and Senior Leaders Really Feel about Accessibility?

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Each year, the TravelAbility Summit brings together travel professionals, entrepreneurs, and disability advocates to explore emerging trends, challenges, and solutions in making travel more accessible for all. Last year’s summit included a panel of hotel leaders who discussed their experiences and perspectives on accessibility in hotels, emphasizing its importance and the industry’s challenges in implementing inclusive practices. 

Check out the panel’s key takeaways below and click the YouTube link to rewatch the session. Looking to learn more? Don’t miss the 2025 TravelAbility Summit, happening at the beautiful Sunriver Resort in Central Oregon, October 13-15, 2025. This is a unique opportunity to engage with key players from the hospitality industry, travel sector, and disability space—all focused on making travel more accessible for everyone.

Learn more and register today at travelability.net.

  • 💰 Business Impact & Litigation Concerns – Many hotel owners cite fear of litigation as a major barrier to improving accessibility, with examples of lawsuits impacting the industry financially and influencing decision-making.
  • 🌏 Global Accessibility Perspectives – Insights on accessibility from different regions, including Taiwan and Europe, highlight varying degrees of inclusivity, with some newer hotels being more accessible than older establishments.
  • 👥 Personal Experiences with Accessibility – Several panelists share personal stories about their connections to individuals with disabilities, reinforcing the importance of improving accessibility in hotels.
  • 📊 The Growing Market for Accessible Travel – Data shows that the demand for accessible travel is increasing, with baby boomers aging and requiring more accommodations, creating a business case for prioritizing accessibility.
  • 🔧 Affordable Solutions for Accessibility – Simple and cost-effective modifications, such as adding shower chairs and adjusting door mechanisms, can significantly improve the guest experience for individuals with disabilities.
  • 🎓 Staff Training & Hospitality Mindset – Proper training for hotel staff on accessibility issues is crucial in ensuring a welcoming environment, with examples of how small gestures and proactive communication can enhance guest experiences.

🔢 Insights Based on Numbers

  • 26% of the population has a disability, but the figure drops to 15% when excluding minor impairments.
  • In 2019, 12.7 million travelers with disabilities took 81 million trips, spending $58.7 billion.
  • Baby boomers are aging, with 40% identifying as having a disability by age 65, increasing demand for accessible accommodations.
  • Insurance costs have risen by 256% since 2019, adding financial pressure on hotel operations.

Watch the full video here.

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