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The Intersection of Travel and Disability

wheelchair travel

Lived Experience: Tara Shetterly on Accessible Travel and Disability Advocacy

June 3, 2026 by Eliana Satkin Leave a Comment

Tara Shetterly is a 22 year old social media creator, disability advocate, educator, certified occupational therapy assistant, and accessible tourist. Her ultimate goal is to create an accessible world for everyone to access the natural beauty of the world, from cities and parks to improved societal expectations of what’s “possible” from a wheelchair. 

@tara_shett

📣life doesn’t end when u become seated

🚷T11/12 paraplegic & hEDS

👩🏻‍🎓 certified OT assistant

📍Virginia Beach 

Total followers across platforms: 400,000

Get lost in the scroll checking out her viral IG reels where she takes you through cities, up mountains, and raises disability awareness. 

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A post shared by Tara Shetterly (@tara_shett)

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DK20Drxp89L

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXevZWTkRhp/

To work with Tara, email her at tarashett@kannco.com .

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Filed Under: Lived Experience, Wheelchair Travel Tagged With: Accessible travel, Disability Advocacy, Tara Shetterly, Travel Influencer, wheelchair travel

Rio Mobility’s Firefly is Expanding Accessible Adventure Travel for Wheelchair Users

June 3, 2026 by Eliana Satkin Leave a Comment

For wheelchair users, joining a bike tour, cruising a boardwalk, or keeping up on a family outing can require far more planning,and far more compromise, than most destinations realize. Rio Mobility is changing that.

The company first caught the attention of the disability community with the Dragonfly, the industry’s first attachable handcycle. Lightweight, portable, and designed for everyday wheelchairs, it gave users a faster, easier way to navigate the world without replacing the chair they already relied on.

That innovation evolved into Rio Mobility’s flagship product: the Firefly.

Part power assist, part adventure vehicle, the Firefly attaches directly to a manual wheelchair, transforming it into a powered ride capable of traveling 12–13 miles per charge at speeds up to 12 mph. Five speed settings let riders choose the pace that works best for them, while an optional second battery can double the range for longer outings.

The Firefly creates a simple way for wheelchair users to participate in wheeled experiences that have traditionally been difficult to access, from bicycle tours and waterfront rides to scooter and Segway-style excursions.

Now the company is expanding the concept even further with the eDragonfly — a hybrid electric and manual handcycle that blends exercise with powered assistance.

The Firefly

The eDragonfly

The Firefly creates a simple way for wheelchair users to participate in wheeled experiences that have traditionally been difficult to access, from bicycle tours and waterfront rides to scooter and Segway-style excursions. For destinations and tour operators looking to expand inclusion, it’s a practical solution with immediate impact.

At $2,649, the Firefly sits in a price range that makes it more attainable than many adaptive recreation devices, while still opening the door to a dramatically different travel experience.

Rio Mobility’s focus is refreshingly straightforward: lightweight design, broad wheelchair compatibility, competitive pricing, and responsive customer support. In an industry where accessibility solutions are often bulky, expensive, or overcomplicated, that simplicity stands out.

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Filed Under: Innovation of the Month, Innovations and Products Tagged With: Accessible Adventure Travel, Adaptive Recreation, Rio Mobility, wheelchair travel

Accessible Tech Product Comparison: Automatic Door Opener

June 3, 2026 by Eliana Satkin Leave a Comment

Looking for simple upgrades that can be made right now? Coming soon, the Plug-and-Play Accessibility Catalog will offer a vetted collection of innovative technologies and products that venues can easily integrate to solve specific accessibility challenges. 

To make your decision making process even simpler, we’re rolling out side by side product comparisons for some of our favorite innovations. 

Hero Door Opener

An automatic door opener is the best way to work with hotel firecodes to keep a door safe while making it usable to wheelchair users. 

This is what battling with an “accessible” hotel room door looks like:

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Installing automatic doors may seem daunting, but the Hero Door Opener is an app-operated or push-button door opener installed in under 30 minutes with no rewiring available at a reasonable cost.

FeatureHero Door OpenerOpen SesameAssa Abloy / Norton 5800
Typical Price$1,750$2,395+$515 for pushbutton; full systems often $1,200–$7,000 installed
InstallationFast, portable, minimal toolsDIY-friendly, low‑voltageProfessional installation recommended
Activation MethodsApp, fob, wall button, SiriRemote, push pads, Alexa

Here’s what it looks like in use:

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Filed Under: Products Tagged With: accessible hotel rooms, automatic door opener, hotel accessibility, wheelchair travel

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