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Neurodiversity

The Elite 100: What Earned KultureCity a Spot Among Time Magazine’s Most Influential Leaders

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At Travelability, we are incredibly proud of our sensory training partner, KultureCity, as they continue to shatter barriers for the one in six individuals with sensory processing needs. This month, KultureCity has reached yet another historic milestone that solidifies its place as a global leader in social impact.

KultureCity as A Global Leader on the World Stage

Graphic announcing KultureCity as a 2026 TIME100 Companies Industry Leader in Social Good, featuring photos of KultureCity community initiatives and accessibility programs.

KultureCity has been named to the prestigious 2026 TIME100 Companies list, recognized specifically as a Social Good Industry Leader. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves. This well-earned honor highlights their relentless pursuit of a world where everyone belongs, regardless of their sensory challenges. What started as a local movement in Birmingham, Alabama, is becoming a worldwide standard for accessibility. 

ABC uses 30% of This Newscast to Highlight KultureCity Impact

A recent ABC News feature showcased the deeply personal mission driving founders Dr. Julian Maha and Dr. Michele Kong. Inspired by their son Abram, the couple has transformed a “list of nevers” into a global movement that has already:

Building the Future of Accessibility

The highlight of this powerful ABC coverage wasn’t all that KultureCity has done, but what they’re about to do. Their most ambitious project yet is the transformation of an old steam plant in Birmingham into a place for higher education and what comes after. This $50 million initiative will feature the nation’s first technical school for individuals with sensory disabilities, providing a clear path from education to employment. While tuition hasn’t been determined, they guarantee that cost will never be a barrier to entry.

For the travel industry, KultureCity’s recognition and recent news coverage serve as a reminder that inclusion isn’t a goal: it’s constant growth. It seems that as their son Abram grows, so does the movement that his parents initiated. 

Congratulations, KultureCity. We can’t wait to see what’s next.

Join us at the 2026 TravelAbility Summit to connect with KultureCity founder, Dr. Julian Maha, and learn from his experiences shaping the industry. View the preliminary agenda here.

Check out Time100’s Most Influential Social Good Companies of 2026

Inside Look at ‘Business Unusual’ Workdays with Neurodiverse Employees During COVID-19

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an infinity sign for neurodiversity in rainbow colors
The rainbow infinity sign is a symbol for the neuro-diversity movement in general.

Overwhelmed, scared, but also relieved—that’s how Zeinab Ali said he felt when he began to work at home during the pandemic. Zeinab, who prefers to be referred to as #actuallyautistic, gave tips and coping strategies to make the transition easier for everyone on the Inclusive Employers blog, here.

OUR TAKE: It’s interesting to note that this company (and hundreds more) has  taken on a new symbol (the infinity symbol) and do not prefer person-first language. A new generation of disability activism, in which people refer to themselves as autistic versus “living with autism” is emerging in the workplace. 

Wondering about the reasoning behind the Infinity symbol? We were too. Fun fact: the rainbow-colored Infinity symbol represents the diversity of the autism spectrum as well as the greater neurodiversity movement. For the travel industry, So what language is best and where? Ask your customers in the autism community—they are the real experts. 

To find more stories about autism and family travel visit our archive.

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