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The Intersection of Travel and Disability

TravelAbility Summit

New at the TravelAbility Summit: The Grant Lab

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TravelAbility Tampa 2026 event graphic, "The Power of Accessible Travel," 8th Annual TravelAbility Summit, November 9–11, 2026, Hilton Tampa Downtown, over an aerial photo of the Tampa skyline at sunset with the Hillsborough River and bridges in the foreground.

Finding funding for accessibility work can be one of the biggest hurdles to turning a good idea into a real project. That’s why we’re bringing The Grant Lab to the 2026 TravelAbility Summit in Tampa.

As we’ve been building this year’s program, we’ve been looking for ways to give attendees practical tools, new connections, and ideas they can actually put to work.

The Grant Lab is designed to do exactly that.

This full-day breakout session will bring together grant funders, experienced grant writers, economic development officials, AI experts, and past grant recipients to help attendees navigate the funding process, from finding the right opportunities to writing stronger applications and managing funds once they’re awarded.

“Between 10-25% of grant funding is left unclaimed every single year simply because destinations don’t know where to look or how to apply. The Grant Lab gives destination leaders a real, actionable roadmap — from finding the right grants to writing winning applications to managing funds once they’re awarded.”

Jake Steinman, Founder, TravelAbility.

A Full Day of Expert-Led Learning

The Grant Lab’s “Grant Seeking 101” curriculum brings together nationally recognized funders, writers, economic development officials, and past grant recipients for a day of practical, hands-on learning, including:

  • Meet the Grant Whisperer: Bevon Joseph, Founder and CEO of Grantlogic AI, opens the day with insights from 12 years as a grant funder and applicant, exploring how AI-driven platforms are transforming grant discovery and matching DMOs with the right funding, writers, and consultants.
  • Meet the Grant-Writing Maven: Fundamentals for Tourism & Higher Education: National grant consultant Cheryl Dettrick, who has secured funding for UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and major tourism initiatives, shares proven strategies for crafting winning proposals.
  • Meet the Grant Winners: A panel of past grant winners walks attendees through the full journey of securing, managing, and maximizing funding for accessible tourism projects.
  • Meet the Grant Gate Keepers: A Fireside Chat with Local Economic Development Leaders: Regional officials discuss the viability of accessibility grants for local destinations and the untapped funding opportunities many communities are missing.
  • AI in Action: A look at how artificial intelligence tools are streamlining grant search, administration, and reporting.
  • Rotating Roundtables with Experts: Intimate, small-group sessions give attendees direct access to grant experts and experienced recipients before lunch.

Who Should Attend?

The Grant Lab is designed for destination marketing organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, economic development officials, tourism businesses, and any organization seeking to fund accessibility assessments, accessibility upgrades, or inclusive marketing initiatives.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore accessibility as a competitive edge or looking to take an existing strategy further, the goal is the same: help you find the funding and know-how to move your ideas forward.

Why Funding Accessibility Matters

Accessibility is not a niche concern. It is a rapidly growing economic imperative.

By 2030, 284 million Americans will be impacted by a disability. Destinations that invest in accessibility open their doors to a broader, more loyal visitor base while strengthening their communities for residents with disabilities and aging populations alike.

The Grant Lab equips attendees with the tools to turn that opportunity into funded, actionable projects, ensuring destinations of every size — from major metros to small regional communities — can compete for available funding.

And The Grant Lab is just one part of what we’re bringing to the 2026 TravelAbility Summit, November 9–11 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown.

We’ll be bringing together destination leaders, travel companies, accessibility professionals, creators, and advocates for three days of connection, fresh ideas, and practical strategies for making travel more accessible.

Ready to join us in Tampa?

Register for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit

From TravelAbility Summit 7.0: Preparing for the Silver Tsunami of Aging Travelers

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The 2025 TravelAbility Summit dove right into the heart of the issue of Vision 2030: future proofing destinations by preparing for the aging traveler. A team of AARP experts, including Patty David, Lona Choi-Allum, Cassandra Burton, Elaine Friesen-Strang, Helena Kesch, and Laura Skufca presented research and insights for moving forward.

“We are aging quickly. This isn’t a trend that will change—it’s our future.”

Elaine Friesen-Strang
TravelAbility Tampa 2026 Summit graphic featuring friends, one a wheelchair user, gathered around a waterfront table, with event dates November 9 to 11 in Tampa, Florida.

The conversation will dive deeper this fall

Join us November 9–11, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit. It’s where destinations, venues, and travel brands come together to advance accessibility in a practical, business-smart way. Over two days of case studies, workshops, and peer learning, industry leaders share proven strategies that improve the travel experience for people with disabilities—and, by extension, for families, multigenerational groups, and travelers with temporary or situational limitations. Meet the advisors, suppliers, and destination teams leading the way, and leave with a roadmap you can put to work immediately.

Register Today

Three women smile at an AARP-branded conference table displaying travel giveaways, a globe, and welcome signage for the "Wanderlust Adventure" activity at the TravelAbility Summit.

Session Overview

This AARP-led session explored how destinations and organizations can better serve aging travelers and adults with disabilities. Using data from AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends Study, the discussion blended research insights with lived experiences, highlighting that as travelers age, they remain active, adventurous, and eager to explore—yet continue to face barriers in access, information, and design.

Key Insights

  • Older adults are traveling more: 70% of adults 50+ expect to travel in 2025; international travel interest is up to 45%.
  • Top barriers: Cost, health concerns, and accessibility limitations remain primary challenges.
  • Health benefits: 95% say travel improves mental health; 85% cite physical health benefits.
  • Accessibility needs: 1 in 6 travelers 50+ require accommodations; mobility is the most common.
  • Design evolution: Oregon State Parks integrates universal design—including single-user restrooms, adult changing tables, and accessible cabins—to welcome all visitors.
  • Hidden disabilities: Many older travelers experience access needs but do not identify as having a disability.
    Information gaps: Accurate, human-centered communication remains key—technology can assist but should not replace personal service.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Invest in universal design: Build restrooms, trails, and facilities for users of all ages and abilities.
  • Prioritize clear communication: Offer accessible, human-assisted check-in and print options alongside digital tools.
  • Train frontline staff: Focus on empathy, patience, and awareness of visible and invisible disabilities.
  • Promote partnerships: DMOs, parks, and community organizations should collaborate to expand access and outreach.
  • Plan for aging demographics: By 2030, older travelers will outnumber younger ones in many states—plan experiences with them in mind.

Notable Quotes

  • “We are aging quickly. This isn’t a trend that will change—it’s our future.” — Elaine Friesen-Strang
  • “Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all. Universal design means meeting people where they are.” — Helena Kesch
  • “Even though cost and health are barriers, older adults will keep traveling—to airports, destinations, and beyond.” — Lorna Choi-Allum
  • “Don’t rush to over-tech things. The human connection is what we need.” — Elaine Friesen-Stran

How a Safari Clarified the TravelAbility Vision

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By Jake Steinman

Jake Steinman and his safari group smiling for a selfie at sunset, with a golden sky and dry savanna landscape behind them.

Stepping into the African savannah for a recent safari to celebrate my birthday, I expected breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife. What I didn’t anticipate was returning with profound clarity regarding our mission and the future of accessible travel.

Observing the natural world offers powerful lessons in survival, growth, and connection. Here are the core insights from the wild that are directly shaping our path forward.

The Power of the Pack

During the trip, I observed over 20 different species in their natural habitats. Despite their vast differences, one common thread was this: they all operated within clustered, tight-knit groups. Whether it was a herd banding together to protect their vulnerable young from predators, or a Pride operating as a synchronized team in pursuit of prey, community was their ultimate mechanism for success.

In the wild, isolation is a vulnerability. Progress relies entirely on the strength, coordination and collaboration of the collective.

Cultivating an Accessibility Ecosystem

A Cape buffalo standing partially hidden in dense green bushes, its large curved horns visible above a dirt clearing.

This natural dynamic perfectly reflects the fundamental purpose of TravelAbility. We are actively building and expanding a robust accessibility ecosystem around destination organizations.

The epiphany that I had was that our purpose is to build a community of DMO “A11Ys”—accessibility advocates and leaders who are committed to scaling accessible travel. 

Just as a herd works together to navigate survival, our network functions to overcome industry barriers and advance accessibility with a ripple effect of A11Ys that begins with the destination and scales through hotels, attractions, restaurants and tour companies. 

My definition of an “A11Y” has broadened. It now includes anyone who attends an accessibility breakout session at a conference, responds to a survey, signs up for a webinar, or—most effectively—adds an accessibility page to their website. In other words, an A11Y is anyone who has shown an interest in learning more.

TravelAbility Tampa: Our Watering Hole

TravelAbility Tampa 2026 Summit graphic featuring friends, one a wheelchair user, gathered around a waterfront table, with event dates November 9 to 11 in Tampa, Florida.

Every functioning ecosystem requires a central gathering place—a “watering hole” where different groups converge to share resources, expand networks and learn from not only experts but also from each other.

For our community, the upcoming TravelAbility Summit Tampa is that essential watering hole—a place where like-minded A11Ys gather to connect, learn, and plan. There, we can provide the tools, education, and network they need to expand accessibility across their industry partners’ networks.

Reducing Friction: Integrating Accessibility into Existing Workflow

In the wild, survival strategies aren’t optional—they are seamlessly woven into the pack’s daily rhythm. Animals don’t overthink collaboration; it’s instinctive.

A herd of zebras grazing on dry grassland at sunset, with a tree line and pastel sky in the background.

Similarly, to truly advance accessibility, Travelability must eliminate friction by integrating accessible practices into existing departmental workflows. We’ve been exploring how accessibility fits not only into marketing and PR, but also as a competitive edge for convention sales and destination development. By simply highlighting accessible features in existing attractions and museums, destinations can tap into new markets without needing new construction. When an ally integrates accessibility into someone’s current workflow, securing leadership buy-in becomes much easier.

Two lions resting on the grass at night, illuminated by a spotlight or vehicle light.

Overcoming FOMU

While our Summit brings us together like a watering hole, the real work happens when the herd disperses and continues the journey. That’s where Travelability Tampa attendees come in.

One of the biggest barriers to progress is what accessibility advocate Brittany DeJean calls FOMU: Fear of Messing Up. People often hesitate to act out of fear of making a mistake or offending someone, making inaction feel like the safer choice. However, doing nothing doesn’t just stall progress—it steals the opportunity to learn.

The Travelability Summit creates an ongoing, reverberating community. Attendees become allies who, in turn, recruit others across hotels, attractions, and suppliers. Because every destination operates on different budgets and capacities, this network helps members scale their efforts in practical, sustainable ways. 

Click here to learn more about Travelability Tampa.

As we look toward 2030—when over 30 million baby boomers will live with a disability, impacting tens of millions of family members—one thing is clear: lasting progress in accessible travel is not just possible, it is inevitable.

From TravelAbility 7.0: Accessibility Playbook and the AI Companion

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Each month we share a recap from one of the sessions at the 2025 TravelAbility Summit. This session on the new AI Companion to TravelAbility’s Accessibility Playbook was packed with actionable insights.

Want to be part of these conversations in real time?

TravelAbility Tampa 2026 Summit graphic featuring friends, one a wheelchair user, gathered around a waterfront table, with event dates November 9 to 11 in Tampa, Florida.

Join us November 9–11, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit. It’s where destinations, venues, and travel brands come together to advance accessibility in a practical, business-smart way. Over two days of case studies, workshops, and peer learning, industry leaders share proven strategies that improve the travel experience for people with disabilities—and, by extension, for families, multigenerational groups, and travelers with temporary or situational limitations. Meet the advisors, suppliers, and destination teams leading the way, and leave with a roadmap you can put to work immediately.

Register Today

Session Overview 

This session introduced the Accessibility Playbook and its companion AI tool as practical, step-by-step resources for destinations to move accessibility from a compliance checkbox to a core strategy for inclusion, destination stewardship, competitiveness, and community impact. Case studies from Visit Concord and Choose Lansing showed how education, partnerships, and measurable pilots can unlock funding, align stakeholders, and scale progress. 

Key Takeaways

Accessibility is rapidly becoming a competitive advantage for destinations, but many organizations still struggle with limited funding, competing priorities, inconsistent standards, and the challenge of providing credible information that serves travelers with a wide range of disabilities. This session explored how the TravelAbility Playbook helps destinations overcome those barriers by providing a practical framework, business case, and implementation tools for building more inclusive visitor experiences.

Visit Concord shared how it used ARPA funding to launch Sensory Practice Day, providing 150 complimentary hotel stays for autistic and neurodivergent travelers to practice traveling in a supportive environment. The program expanded to include sensory kits, hotel staff training, visitor center enhancements, and a partnership with JSX that brought sensory-friendly resources to air travel. By measuring outcomes and demonstrating community impact, Concord has been able to build support for future accessibility initiatives.

Accessibility succeeds when it is treated as a shared community effort.

Choose Lansing described its accessibility journey, which began with a sensory-inclusive performance of The Lion King and grew into a destination-wide effort. Through partnerships with Michigan State University and Wheel the World, Lansing assessed more than 200 locations and integrated accessibility information throughout its marketing channels rather than limiting it to a single webpage. The TravelAbility Playbook also helped provide structure for outreach to meetings and conventions planners.

The session also highlighted the TravelAbility Playbook’s growing library of standards, checklists, templates, case studies, and traveler journey guidance, along with a new AI companion that can help destinations develop funding proposals, stakeholder reports, communications materials, and other accessibility-related resources using verified content.

Actionable Takeaways

Accessibility succeeds when it is treated as a shared community effort. Destinations should provide detailed and reliable accessibility information, invest in ongoing staff training, pilot new programs and measure results, and build partnerships that expand their reach and impact. Panelists also emphasized that accessibility should be visible throughout all marketing and visitor communications, not confined to a dedicated accessibility page.

Notable Quote

“How do you stop when families tell you they’ve never been able to do this together?” — Julie Pingston

Outcomes & Momentum

Lansing’s work has helped spark broader community engagement, including City Hall planning efforts and an AARP walkability study, while Concord has used the success of its sensory travel initiatives to secure support for future programs. Both destinations demonstrated how small, intentional steps can create lasting momentum for accessibility across an entire community.

Speakers 

Ava Wells — Social Impact Director, Destinations International 

Amy Jukes — COO & Principal Consultant, AmVarra; Strategic Advisor, TravelAbility

Beth Javens — President & CEO, Visit Concord (CA) 

Julie Pingston — President & CEO, Choose Lansing (MI) 

Joy Burns — Communication and Partnership Manager, Wheel the World 

From TravelAbility Summit 7.0: The VistAble Approach—Frontline Training that Transforms Destinations

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Each month we share a recap from one of the sessions at the 2025 TravelAbility Summit. Check out VisitAble’s section of our first ever Accessibility Masterclass.

Want to be part of these conversations in real time?

Join us November 9–11, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit. It’s where destinations, venues, and travel brands come together to advance accessibility in a practical, business-smart way. Over two days of case studies, workshops, and peer learning, industry leaders share proven strategies that improve the travel experience for people with disabilities—and, by extension, for families, multigenerational groups, and travelers with temporary or situational limitations. Meet the advisors, suppliers, and destination teams leading the way, and leave with a roadmap you can put to work immediately.

Register Today

Session Overview

Joe Jamison speaks at a podium while attendees sit at round tables. In the foreground a person using a wheelchair listens; a sign reading “TravelAbility Summit 2025” are at the front of the room.

In this session from the 2025 TravelAbility Summit Joe Jamison shares VisitAble’s approach, designed to help destinations transform accessibility from an afterthought into a standard through practical, scalable frontline training. 

Focus: shifting hearts, minds, and daily behavior, not just compliance. 

Why It Matters 

  • 28.7% of U.S. adults (75M+) have a disability — a steadily growing segment.
  • Travelers with disabilities spend $50B/year in the U.S. 
  • The fastest way to improve visitor experience is not only infrastructure — it’s frontline culture. 

When frontline staff treat disabled guests with dignity, respect, and proactive communication, destinations become welcoming for everyone.

The 7 Golden Rules of Disability Inclusion 

  1. Practice Respectful Behavior
    • Never touch mobility devices, service animals, or assistive tools without permission.
    • Offer help politely and verbally—don’t assume someone wants assistance. 
    • Don’t speak to a companion instead of the disabled person. 
    • Treat visitors as equal adults, not inspiration objects or fragile guests. 
    • Speak normally—no baby talk, no oversimplifying. 
    • ✅ Respect = dignity + autonomy + independence. 
  2. Use Positive, Respectful Language 
    • Words to USE
      • Disabled / person with a disability 
      • Wheelchair user 
      • Accessible rooms, accessible parking, accessible entrance  
    • Words to AVOID
      • Handicapped 
      • Special needs 
      • Wheelchair-bound / confined 
      • Differently-abled 
      • Impaired (except “visually impaired,” which is still standard)
    • ✅ Disability is not a bad word—avoiding the term creates stigma.
  3. Validate Before Assuming
    • Don’t assume someone needs help, can’t participate, or can’t communicate.
    • Not all disabilities are visible. 
    • Ask before providing assistance:
      • “Would you like help, or would you prefer space to do it independently?”
    • Always speak directly to the person, not the caregiver or companion. 
    • ✅ Asking + listening = inclusion. 

Industry Best Practices Shared

Frontline staff should:

  • Greet every guest and proactively let visitors know where to find help.
  • Never “police” disability — no judgment, no questioning legitimacy of accommodations. 
  • When taking reservations, always ask: 
    • “Do you need any accessibility accommodations for your visit?” 
  • Provide information in multiple formats (large print, digital/screen-reader friendly, audio options). 

Accessible Communication

  • Provide ASL interpreters when requested 
  • If needed urgently, apps like HandTalk or SignSpeak can help 
  • Offer printed/braille/digital alternatives for museum or attraction signage 

Why VisitAble Works

  • Real stories from diverse people with disabilities 
  • Emotional connection increases staff empathy and retention 
  • Destinations using the training have reported: 
    • Better guest satisfaction 
    • Staff confidence when assisting disabled travelers 
    • Repeat visits from travelers who felt respected and welcome 

Certification

Attendees receive a certificate of completion + email signature badge Destinations can certify entire teams or tourism partners as Accessible Travel Leaders. 

Key Takeaway

Accessibility = hospitality. 

When frontline staff treat disabled guests with dignity, respect, and proactive communication, destinations become welcoming for everyone.

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