When I was 16, I stopped riding bicycles. Not intentionally. As a suburban teen, eager to explore the city, I got distracted by the thrill of public transit. I might have ridden again, but my juvenile rheumatoid arthritis had other plans. Flare-ups turned into persistent, rotating inflammation, pain, and stiffness in almost

Living with a disability demands constant adaptation. You have to navigate a world built for bodies and minds unlike yours. Long-term travel—whether for work, family, or adventure—amps up these difficulties. Accessible lodging remains scarce. Temporary rentals rarely meet specific needs. Traditional homes require costly, time-consuming modifications. Each journey risks stress, discomfort,

Iceland Fall When you’re a wheelchair user, travel doesn’t begin at the airport. It begins with numerous phone calls, hotel photos, back-and-forth emails about grab bars, bed heights and “no really, is that bathroom actually accessible?” It’s exhausting, but Marjorie Aunos does it anyway. The car accident happened when her son Thomas was

There are national parks, and then there’s Gateway Arch National Park. Rising from the heart of St. Louis, Missouri, its iconic curve has long drawn the gaze of visitors. But what lies beneath that shining silhouette isn’t simply steel and symbolism. It’s thoughtful design, deliberate inclusion and a renewed understanding of

Several weeks ago, a friend reached out asking for assistance in locating an accessible short-term rental for her daughter Jamie, who lives with Cerebral Palsy. At first, I felt confident about tackling this request—how complicated could it be? That confidence quickly shifted once I realized I needed more information about Jamie’s

In a significant stride toward inclusivity, AbleVu has unveiled its much-anticipated 2.0 platform, setting a new benchmark in accessible digital navigation. This latest iteration introduces a suite of features designed to empower individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and advocates by providing comprehensive, community-sourced accessibility insights. Immersive Audio Tours One of the standout

We have a lot of unique experiences exploring accessible destinations and attractions. Every once in a while something sticks out as exceptionally fun and accessible – we share those here. North Alabama From space adventures at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and hands-on science at the Cook Museum to butterfly magic at

Caroline Naif is mom to Briella and the founder of Briella and Me – a social media platform where she shares their journey living with Cerebral Palsy and PCD. The following is a bit of her journey and what she’s learned along the way. An early beginning: Briella’s NICU journey Briella entered the

Q: How can you save money as a family traveling with a disability? A: Finances are often a much greater barrier than accessibility. There are several free trip programs for people with disabilities, but most of them involve grants and applications and can only be used once. This could be a great

When I entered the world of disability through my infant son, the journey forward felt full of unscalable obstacles. Even when he was small enough to ride in a stroller, I began to analyze every outing for what we would and wouldn’t be able to do as he grew into a