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The Intersection of Travel and Disability

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Accessibility Champion: Travel Oregon Wins ESTO/s All Ways Welcome Award

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Travel Oregon team celebrating on stage at the U.S. Travel ESTO Awards, with Kevin Wright holding the award.

“Travel Oregon” has slowly become synonymous with “inclusive travel.” This past spring, no one was surprised when Travel Oregon won Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Award for their efforts in becoming the first Accessibility Verified State. 

So it won’t be a shock that Travel Oregon also took first place in ESTO’s All Ways Welcome Award. The category recognizes a marketing campaign or destination-led initiative that advances inclusivity and accessibility in destination marketing and makes travel more welcoming for underrepresented or historically excluded audiences. 

Kevin Wright, the Vice President of Global Marketing for Travel Oregon has been featured as a TravelAbility Accessibility Champion for the way he’s brought attention to accessibility and transformed the atmosphere across Oregon. His personal journey began with a family soccer game that almost went terribly wrong, before discovering the sensory kit and well trained staff at guest services who saved the day.

Start. You don’t need to have all the answers or a perfect accessibility strategy before you begin.

Kevin Wright, VP of Global Marketing for Travel Oregon

The impact has grown well beyond one leader. DMOs across the state are embracing accessibility with an enthusiasm that is increasingly hard to ignore. 

When asked what advice he’d give destinations who may be inspired and want to follow his lead, Kevin’s answer was simple: “Start. You don’t need to have all the answers or a perfect accessibility strategy before you begin. Start by listening to travelers with disabilities, invite them into the process, find partners who can help you understand where the barriers are, and then take meaningful action. At Travel Oregon, we’ve learned that accessibility isn’t a project with a finish line—it’s an ongoing commitment to making travel more welcoming for everyone. The most important thing is to begin, learn along the way, and keep moving forward.”

Becoming Accessibility Verified is only the visible evidence of a team that’s willing to do whatever it takes to welcome all. 

Now that is surprising. 

Hats off to Travel Oregon on a job well done, an attitude that is contagious, and initiatives that are leading the industry forward.

Champion of Change: How Mammoth Lakes Partnered with Access Mammoth to Create a Destination for All

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Four climbers wearing helmets and harnesses talk and laugh at the base of a granite cliff in Mammoth Lakes. One climber wears a prosthetic leg.

For Mammoth Lakes, California, inclusive tourism didn’t start with a marketing campaign or a new accessibility initiative. It started with a ski school director who saw a need and decided to figure out how to meet it.

Today, the mountain destination is home to year-round adaptive recreation through Access Mammoth, growing partnerships with lodging properties and event organizers, and a community increasingly focused on making outdoor experiences available to people of all abilities.

For Betsy Truax, vice president of community engagement for Mammoth Lakes Tourism, much of the credit belongs to the local adaptive sports organization that helped start the conversation more than two decades ago.

“As far as the driving passion behind accessibility and inclusion in Mammoth Lakes, I really have to give credit to Access Mammoth,” Truax says.

How Access Mammoth Helped Build an Inclusive Destination

Access Mammoth, founded in 2003 as Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, began with adaptive ski programming and has grown into a year-round organization offering adaptive mountain sports. Its programs now include skiing, cycling, paddleboarding, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities, with programs for families, veterans and participants of all ages.

Truax credits founder Kathy Copeland, who recognized the need for adaptive programming as a ski school director, with helping establish the foundation for what Mammoth Lakes has become.

“She’s a force of nature,” Truax says.

But the organization’s impact extends well beyond the activities it provides.

Access Mammoth has helped create relationships throughout the community, including with local lodging businesses. Mammoth Lakes has only about 7,000 year-round residents, and Truax says that small-town dynamic has helped bring businesses together.

“We’re a pretty small community,” she says. “The lodging community is pretty tight. Everyone works well together. Everyone knows each other.”

The lines between Access Mammoth, Visit Mammoth, and community partners blur with a lot of overlapping parts, only increasing the spirit of community with a shared goal. Truax’s own husband served on the board for Access Mammoth while managing a local hotel.

Some of those relationships have resulted in lodging partners doing more than simply meeting accessibility requirements. Hotels have donated or discounted rooms for Access Mammoth programs, including Wounded Warrior weeks.

“Our lodging partners really recognize the importance and the need to kind of go beyond the minimum in terms of people being able to come and visit and have this great experience,” Truax says.

Access Mammoth’s fundraising model also helps remove another barrier. “Their policy is not to ever turn anyone away for lack of funds,” Truax says.

For destinations wondering where to begin, Truax has a simple recommendation: find a local partner.

How Mammoth Lakes Is Moving Beyond Adaptive to Inclusive

Mammoth Lakes is also looking at inclusion beyond programs specifically designed for people with disabilities.

Know Before You Go

At TravelAbility, we often talk about the central importance of available information for accessibility. “Accessible” means something different to everyone. Knowing what you’re getting yourself into is essential to planning.

“We collaborated with Access Mammoth on our Certified Unreal campaign to provide accurate descriptions of the accessibility of each geological feature highlighted,” Truax shares. Acknowledging that some areas are more accessible than others, they wanted to give information that went beyond ADA compliance. “For example,” Truax adds,” one site should be accessible but the pavement has deteriorated.” It’s the availability of these details that make it possible to plan individual adventures.

Events for All

The destination allocates approximately $350,000 annually to special events, including its fall endurance season of gravel and road cycling events and Mammoth Trail Fest. These are mainstream events that have been designed to be welcoming to all–not just adaptive events for people with disabilities.

Truax points to the work of trail runner and adaptive athlete Zach Friedley as an example of how the destination is learning from people with lived experience. Mammoth Lakes is now working with Friedley and Access Mammoth to develop an inclusivity checklist for event producers.

The destination is also working to make its own marketing more representative. Mammoth Lakes Tourism has conducted photo shoots specifically to build a library that includes people with different abilities, including climbing imagery.

What Other Destinations Can Learn From Mammoth Lakes

1. Find a Partner

For destinations wondering where to begin, Truax has a simple recommendation: find a local partner.

“There are a lot of really great inclusive organizations like Access Mammoth,” she says. “I think finding that partner is really critical in developing that relationship.”

A local adaptive sports organization can provide training, guidance on best practices, connect a destination with potential participants for photography and content, and help tourism organizations understand what they may not know they need to consider.

But what happens when there isn’t an Access Mammoth?

“Local schools, other community organizations, even individuals who might have family members,” Truax says. “Just kind of trying to find those folks who might be interested in collaborating.”

2. Don’t be Afraid to Try

For Mammoth Lakes, some of the most meaningful progress has come from simply being willing to try. 

Truax recalls one example involving a skier who wanted to access challenging backcountry terrain. There was no obvious equipment solution for getting his sit ski where he wanted to go.

“So a lot of it was just trial and error, and a lot of really fun, smart, creative people who were like, ‘All right, we’re going to figure this out,’” she says.

The solution eventually involved an unexpected trip to a secondhand store for a child’s backpack, but they created a way where there was no way and now they’re more prepared for next time.

3. Get the Word Out

No one knows what you’ve built if you don’t tell them. “We are trying to really show that inclusivity in our photo library and our website,” says Truax. They’re looking to expand into using disabled creators. Representation matters and so does reaching your audience.

Two climbers wearing helmets and harnesses talk at the base of a granite rock formation in Mammoth Lakes. Both wear prosthetic legs.

Why Inclusive Tourism Matters to Mammoth Lakes

Truax sees an increasingly important audience in an aging population that will need more accessible travel options. It’s a growing need that they’re preparing for.

Beyond that, “It’s just super rewarding,” she says. The impact of being a part of getting people into the outdoors for the first time is incomparable. To see families able to ski together, regardless of physical abilities, has made such a difference for her and for the host of Access Mammoth volunteers.

That may be the clearest description of Mammoth Lakes’ approach: inclusion isn’t simply about creating another adaptive program. It is about making it possible for more people to experience the destination, and the outdoors, together.

↪Watch the motivational story that resulted from figuring out how to manage adaptive back country ski here.

Visit Fort Wayne’s Accessibility Maps Let You Know Before You Go

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Planning an accessible trip often comes down to one deceptively simple question: What will I find when I get there?

Will there be an accessible entrance? What about parking? Is there a quiet space? Are there features for visitors who are blind or have low vision? What can someone with sensory or cognitive needs expect?

Visit Fort Wayne is making those questions a whole lot easier to answer.

In honor of Disability Pride Month in July, Visit Fort Wayne launched a collection of new accessibility maps designed to help visitors and residents navigate Fort Wayne and Allen County with greater confidence. Rather than leaving guests to track down accessibility information one venue at a time, the maps put important details in one place and make those features easy to identify.

Rather than leaving guests to track down accessibility information one venue at a time, the maps put important details in one place and make those features easy to identify.

Accessibility You Can See Before You Arrive

The new maps use easy-to-understand icons to identify accessibility features across several different areas of access, including mobility, hearing, vision, sensory, and cognitive needs.

A wheelchair user may need to know about accessible entrances and routes. A visitor who is Deaf or hard of hearing may be looking for completely different information. Someone with sensory sensitivities may want to know what environments to expect before committing to an attraction.

The maps are designed to give visitors a better sense of those details ahead of time, helping families, individuals, and groups make decisions based on their own needs.

16 Places, One Easier Way to Plan

The accessibility maps are currently available for 16 Fort Wayne-area attractions and venues, including some of the destination’s most popular places to visit.

The maps are available online, so visitors can pull them up from a phone, tablet, or computer while planning a trip. Printed copies are also available at the Fort Wayne Visitors Center.

This Is What Better Accessibility Planning Looks Like

This is a practical tool that’s going to benefit tourists, residents, and the DMO. The ability to plan ahead is a gift of confidence that enables people with disabilities to go. Information is the biggest gap in accessibility–and this is a powerful bridge. In the visitor experience, a DMO partner collaboration like this translates into the difference between going or staying home. Physical access matters, but it means little when no one knows about it.

Visit Fort Wayne’s new maps are part of the destination’s broader commitment to accessibility and Universal Design, and the project was made possible with support from Greater Fort Wayne’s Leadership Fort Wayne Program and the WindSwell Foundation.

Check out what this kind of welcome looks like at VisitFortWayne.com/Accessibility/Maps

Fort Wayne Zoo accessibility map with a color-coded legend for ADA ramps, restrooms, seating, wide aisles, and elevators, plus icon symbols marking sensory features like loud noises, strong smells, and quiet areas throughout the park layout.

Philip Foster Farm Improved Accessibility for Visitors

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A costumed docent in period pioneer dress stands near the entrance of a historic log building, speaking with a visitor who uses a power wheelchair, on a gravel path beside blooming rose bushes at Philip Foster Farm.

“Maintaining historic integrity” seems to be a common excuse for not welcoming all. A 179 year old farm in Eagle Creek, Oregon is proving that history doesn’t have to be a barrier to access. 

After receiving a $49,000 grant from the Clackamas County Office of Tourism, Philip Foster Farm has transformed their trail-era living history site, opening up more of its stories, buildings, demonstrations, and experiences to visitors who use mobility assistance. New pathway improvements are creating more accessible routes and welcoming all into the full experience.

It’s a practical investment with a bigger impact: removing barriers so more people can connect with Oregon’s history. 

Read the full story here.

Beyond Sight: How Red Sea Global Is Designing Inclusive Experiences for Blind Travelers 

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Red Sea Global (RSG) is the developer behind The Red Sea and AMAALA, two major tourism projects in Saudi Arabia being built with a focus on responsible and mindful tourism. Since announcing its accessibility commitment in 2023, RSG has been working to incorporate inclusive design across the guest experience, from transportation and accommodations to activities, experiences, and excursions.

In a recent experience, Red Sea Global welcomed five travelers who are blind or have visual impairments to The Red Sea for a destination visit focused on exploring how the environment can be experienced beyond sight. Through sensory tours, guided experiences, storytelling, cultural activities, and personal connections, the team brought the destination to life in new ways while gathering valuable feedback directly from travelers.

Watch the video below and read the full article for an in-depth look at how Red Sea Global is creating more inclusive experiences and welcoming blind travelers to explore the destination in new ways.

Experiencing The Red Sea Beyond Sight | Red Sea Global

The first impression of a destination is not always visual. For Noura and her niece Sadeem, it began with a description.

Inside the welcome center at Red Sea International Airport hangs a large spiral sculpture. It shifts constantly, its colors changing in response to wind and ocean data. A member of Red Sea International Airport’s welcome team described its movement, its scale, and its connection to the surrounding environment, painting a vivid picture through words.

This moment set the tone for all that followed.

Red Sea Global recently welcomed five guests with visual impairments, most of them blind, to The Red Sea destination for a four-day visit shaped around experience, exploration, and connection. Abdulaziz, Raneem, Noura, Mohammed, and Mansour arrived with their companions and joined us at Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea. Two of the guests joined through our ongoing collaboration with Team Saudio, reflecting a broader effort to help shape more inclusive tourism and sporting experiences across our destinations.

Their visit formed part of our ongoing commitment to ensure our accessibility offering is as comprehensive and meaningful as possible, reflecting our belief that travel should be inclusive of everyone.

This commitment has been part of our approach from the beginning. Accessibility has not been treated as an after-thought, but as a design principle that influences the full guest journey, from arrival and transportation to experiences, public spaces, and the natural environment itself.

“Accessibility isn’t just about the facilities. It’s about being able to experience the destination in the same way as everyone else. We are committed to creating memories and experiences for people with disabilities that are equitable and inclusive across our resorts.  For these particular activities we wanted to explore how senses other than sight can enhance and enrich an experience. The most important thing is looking at the whole journey – from arrival to the beach, to restaurants, to activities. Every part of that experience needs to work.”

Mark Dyer, Associate Director for Accessibility, Destination Development at Red Sea Global.

Six Senses Southern Dunes, nestled among desert landscapes, was designed to connect guests to nature, culture, and wellbeing. From the moment of arrival, the focus was on creating an environment where guests could move comfortably and confidently through each space.

After settling in, the group gathered at the resort’s cookery school for a hands-on culinary experience led by Saudi chef Afnan Alhawsawi. With Ramadan approaching, the menu reflected familiar traditions. The sounds of preparation filled the space as ingredients were chopped, folded, and shaped.

For Abdulaziz, Mansour, and Mohammed, the evening took an unexpected turn. All three are skilled musicians, with Mansour making it his profession, and as dinner unfolded at Al Sarab Restaurant, they found their way to the instruments. Mansour at the piano, Mohammed at the keyboard, and Abdulaziz singing. Their performance moved effortlessly between Arabic and Western classics, culminating in a powerful rendition of Fly Me To The Moon.

The following morning, the desert became the setting. 

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