Innovation is accelerating across the accessibility landscape, and one of the most exciting opportunities this summer to see that progress firsthand is the Accessible Innovation Showcase at The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

As accessibility continues to move from a niche consideration to a mainstream business priority, events like this provide a valuable glimpse into the future. Across hospitality, tourism, technology, and the built environment, organizations are increasingly recognizing that accessible design drives better experiences for everyone while opening the door to larger and more diverse markets.

Hosted by the Disability Opportunity Fund, this free two-day event brings together hospitality leaders, disability advocates, entrepreneurs, investors, and technology innovators to explore solutions that are reshaping the future of accessible travel. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience emerging technologies, hear from industry leaders, and tour The Accessibility Lab, a first-of-its-kind real-world testing environment for accessibility innovation that TravelAbility helped create alongside Samaritan Partners and The Schoolhouse Hotel.

We’re particularly excited to see several organizations and innovators from the TravelAbility community participating in the Showcase. For destination organizations and travel industry professionals looking to better understand where accessibility innovation is headed, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the people and technologies driving change. Best of all, attendance is free. Read the press release below!

Disability Opportunity Fund to Host Accessible Innovation Showcase at The Schoolhouse Hotel

Two-Day Gathering Unites Hospitality, Technology, and Disability Advocacy Leaders to Shape the Future of Inclusive Travel

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF) will host the Accessible Innovation Showcase on July 15–16, 2026, at The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia — the world’s first fully accessible boutique hotel and home of The Accessibility Lab. The free, two-day gathering will convene innovators, hospitality leaders, and disability advocates to explore and advance the next generation of inclusive travel.

Made possible through grant funding from Appalachian Community Capital and the Goldman Sachs Foundation, the Showcase reflects DOF’s ongoing commitment to dismantling barriers in the built environment and building an economy that works for everyone. Attendance is free of charge. 

“The Accessible Innovation Showcase is about more than technology — it’s about proving that inclusive design benefits everyone and that disability-driven innovation is a powerful engine for progress.”

— Charlie Hammerman, CEO of the Disability Opportunity Fund

Event Highlights

The Showcase kicks off on the evening of July 15 with a welcome reception and networking cocktail event in The Schoolhouse Hotel’s historic ballroom, featuring a table showcase of participating companies. Day two opens with a networking breakfast followed by a full program of thought leadership and live demonstrations:

• Opening Plenary: “The Vision of The Accessibility Lab” — led by Charlie Hammerman (DOF) and Chris Maher (Samaritan Partners)
• Fireside Chat: “Disability-Driven Innovation” — moderated by Chris Maher with author and innovator Bob Ludke, whose book Case Studies in Disability-Driven Innovation explores how disability-centric design catalyzes broader technological and social change
• Innovation Showcase: Lightning talks from trailblazing companies presenting accessible solutions for hospitality and tourism, including Wheel the World, Right Hear, Sign-Speak, LUCI Mobility, Si-Huis, We Hear You, and Sekond Skin Society
• Accessibility Lab Site Tour: An immersive walk-through of The Schoolhouse Hotel, where showcased innovations are integrated directly into the built environment

About the Disability Opportunity Fund

The Disability Opportunity Fund (DOF) is a mission-driven lender dedicated to expanding economic opportunity and independence for people with disabilities. DOF finances projects that increase access to housing, employment, and community life, including The Schoolhouse Hotel and its Accessibility Lab — a living laboratory for inclusive design in the hospitality industry.

About The Schoolhouse Hotel & The Accessibility Lab

Located in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, The Schoolhouse Hotel is the world’s first fully accessible boutique hotel. Built within a beautifully restored historic schoolhouse, the property serves as home to The Accessibility Lab. The Accessibility Lab is a first-of-its-kind operational setting for startups to test real-world assistive tech & services in a built environment, improving accessibility for travelers with disabilities. The Lab is a pioneering collaboration between The Schoolhouse Hotel, Samaritan Partners, and TravelAbility, uniting expertise in hospitality, accessibility innovation, and impact investing.

MEDIA CONTACT

Genny Kurzweil
genny@thedof.org