Image of a map, bus, airplane with text that reads: What is Accessible Travel? The National Center for Dignity in Healthcare and Community Living for People with Disabilities

What is Accessible Travel?

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Accessible travel is about more than just getting from one place to another—it’s about ensuring that everyone, including people with disabilities, can experience the joy and freedom of exploring the world. This infographic highlights what accessible travel means, the barriers that still exist, and the features that make a trip truly inclusive. From accessible transportation and accommodations to detailed travel guides and personal assistance, accessible travel opens up opportunities for dignity, independence, and connection. Whether you’re a traveler, travel provider, or advocate, understanding these elements is a key step toward creating a world where everyone can travel freely and confidently.

Summer is a popular time to travel, and with a bit of planning, disabled travelers can enjoy smooth, accessible adventures. Before you go, research destinations and transportation options to ensure they offer the accessibility features you need—like ramps, lifts, accessible restrooms, and adaptive hotel rooms. Call ahead to confirm details, especially for outdoor attractions where accessibility can vary. Pack essential mobility or medical equipment, and consider bringing cooling items like fans or ice packs if you’re sensitive to heat. Finally, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance—many airlines, parks, and hotels offer support services if requested in advance. With the right preparation, your summer getaway can be relaxing, fun, and barrier-free.

Image of a map with suitcases, busses, and airplanes. Text reads: What is Accessible Travel? Travel that is designed to be inclusive and usable for everyone, especially people with disabilities. The goal of accessible travel is to ensure that everyone can enjoy travel experiences with dignity, comfort, independence, and interdependence. Barriers to Accessible Travel: - lack of accurate information about accessibility, lack of accessible accommodations, lack of accessible restaurants, limited options for accessible tours, no accessible restrooms, limited accessible transportation, inaccessible sidewalks and streets. Features of Accessible Travel: Transportation equipped with ramps, lifts, priority seating, and space for assistive technology. - hotels and lodging with accessible rooms, roll-in showers, grab bars, visual alarms, and other adaptive features. - museums parks and other tourist sites with barrier free access, tactile exhibits, audio guides, and sign language interpretation - travel guides, websites, and app that provide accessibility details in clear, easy to understand formats - availability of personal assistance, rental of mobility aids, and trained staff to help travelers with a disability More images of maps, suitcases, Statue of Liberty, the globe, etc.

Interested to learn more about accessibility and travel? Be sure to check out this blog:

Image of a map with white airplanes flying. text reads: travel, Accessibility, Anxiety, and Barriers, Oh my! The National Center for Dignity in Healthcare and Community Living for People with Disabilities
Image of a chalkboard with writing in white chalk print: One Student, One Case, Millions of Futures: A.J.T. v. Osseo Changes the Rules on Disability Rights in Schools

Oral Arguments in A.J.T. v. Osseo Draw National Attention to Disability Rights in Schools

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By Tracy Waller, Esq., MPH

Refresher of the case:

A.J.T.  v. Osseo Area Schools is a major disability rights case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court on April 28, 2025. The case involved a Minnesota student with epilepsy whose school limited her instructional time. While she won services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), her claims for monetary damages under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act were denied.

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Navigating a Double Layer of Assumptions

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by Kristine Nellenbach, MS 

When people imagine what it means to be autistic or what it means to be Asian American, their ideas can too often be shaped by limited media portrayals or surface-level exposure to those communities. Those portrayals tend to emphasize stereotypes and generalizations, leaving little room for the full range of real, lived experiences, especially for those who hold both identities. 

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