Inclusive Travel: Making Vacation Dreams a Reality

It might still be chilly where you live, and the calendar may say it’s March, but now could be the perfect time to start planning vacations or travel alongside the people you support. In the past, travel may have seemed out of reach for many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Fortunately, meaningful changes are making travel more possible than ever:

• Attitudes have shifted. There is a growing emphasis on identity, inclusion, and individual rights. Within the I/DD community, we have also embraced a more person-centered approach, supporting the dignity of risk and helping individuals take reasonable steps to experience life, learn new things, and grow.
• Financial tools have improved. Today, individuals have access to resources that allow them to save money beyond traditional benefit limits. Options such as special needs pooled trusts and ABLE accounts are more widely available, allowing people to save for goals like travel while maintaining eligibility for important benefits when guidelines are followed.
• Accessibility continues to expand. Greater attention is being given to accessible physical spaces, digital platforms, and services. Accessibility is also increasingly recognized as an important market segment, resulting in more travel information, services, and opportunities designed specifically for people with disabilities.

Recently, several interesting developments crossed my desk that helped inspire this article.

Wheel the World, founded in 2018 by a wheelchair user, works to identify and promote accessible destinations around the globe. The organization operates as an online booking platform and travel agency designed for people with disabilities and seniors, offering verified accessible travel experiences. After a verification process lasting more than two and a half years, Wheel the World recently named Oregon as the first state to receive its “Accessibility Verified” travel designation.  Read more about the process in this article published by DisabilityScoop.

If San Antonio, Texas is on the travel list, you may want to explore the experiences created by Morgan’s. Morgan’s Wonderland and Morgan’s Inspiration Island are fully inclusive destinations designed for visitors of all abilities. Morgan’s mission is “to improve the quality of life for individuals of all ages and all abilities through initiatives that produce fully inclusive, ultra-accessible experiences.”

Coming this fall, Morgan’s Hotel aims to redefine hospitality with an ultra-accommodating standard where thoughtful design, innovative technology, and highly trained staff work together to anticipate guests’ needs before and throughout their stay.

Another long-standing option is Trips, Inc., a travel company that has provided vacations for more than 20,000 travelers with intellectual and developmental disabilities from all 50 states since 1991. Their experienced team of travel advisors, program directors, tour group leaders, and chaperones carefully plans each trip. These all-inclusive vacations typically provide one chaperone for every four travelers and include accommodations, transportation, meals, and well-structured itineraries designed to support travelers’ needs. Staff can also assist with reminders for daily personal care, money management, and medication support.

The Guided Tour has been offering vacation packages to the I/DD community for more than 50 years. Their staff members are professionals in the human services field, including social workers, therapeutic recreation specialists, and direct care professionals. They help oversee daily living skills, medications, and money management while ensuring travelers enjoy a safe and memorable experience. Their packing advice is simple: bring spending money for snacks and souvenirs, all current medications, and most importantly, bring a sense of adventure.

We hope these examples spark some inspiration as you and those in your care begin thinking about future travel opportunities.

While we at Arlington Heritage Group cannot endorse any of the companies, platforms, or services mentioned above, we can, however, help you determine which exempt financial resources may best support you and the individuals you serve in turning vacation dreams into reality.

Kim Goodwin is the Director of Marketing at Arlington Heritage Group.