Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

4-10-2026

Faculty Mentor

Zesarae Bodie

Abstract

Travel has become a significant part of today’s social culture, allowing individuals to connect with family and friends, explore new environments, and engage in meaningful experiences. However, many wheelchair users report that traveling is often frustrating, inequitable, and difficult. To better understand the limitations of travel on this population, a needs assessment was conducted through a collaboration with a nationwide organization that supports the wheelchair community. Participants identified travel accommodations and the barriers they present as a major limitation to travel. The purpose of this capstone project is to analyze lodging and housing accessibility through the lens of the population, then to create educational resources for wheelchair users, potential hosts of wheelchair-using guests, and hotel chains.

To facilitate the creation of an educational resource, a focus group was created. This group contained 18 wheelchair users of various abilities and experiences. In collaboration with the focus group, an informational guide about accessible accommodations was created. The purpose of this guide is to educate wheelchair users and individuals with spinal cord injuries about accessibility features in hotel rooms and short-term rentals, outline travelers’ rights and expectations, provide strategies for addressing potential challenges, and offer guidance on ensuring accessibility when booking accommodations. After the final guide was created and approved, it was disseminated to the focus group for feedback. Survey findings suggest that this guide has the potential to significantly impact users by increasing confidence in travel, encouraging self-advocacy, and promoting informed decision-making.

Download

Share

COinS