The Voiceless Minority

One aspect of traveling that has not always been disability-friendly is flying. In an article I wrote for this blog earlier this year, I highlighted a prototype of a wheelchair accessible seat on a plane. That post discussed what the future may hold for travel. Today's post will discuss how I envision us reaching our goal and the steps we can take to accelerate our progress. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to travel, but planes are not usually accessible to me. People with disabilities often struggle to navigate the aisle, as I noted in my previous article. We have been permanently grounded up until this point in history. However, one airline may be forced to help us spread our proverbial wings. Late last year, an article written by Michelle Diament for Disability Scoop shed light on the U.S. Department of Transportation finally stepping up and holding airlines accountable for their treatment of people with disabilities. The article, which I will link to at the bottom of this...

    I have been giving a voice to the “Voiceless Minority” for over 12 years. I have been blessed by both my loyal readers and by my amazing colleagues and friends. I have been able to use this platform not only to document my advocacy journey, but I have also been able to highlight fellow disability champions. Today, I would like to highlight 1 of those fellow champions. Gordon Hartman of Texas is a former home builder in San Antonio, Texas, who has a daughter with multiple disabilities. In 2010, he founded Morgan’s Wonderland, the first fully inclusive amusement park in the United States. I hope to visit the park sometime next year, not just as a journalist, but as a fellow member of the Voiceless Minority. The park is only one part of Morgan Enterprises. Since it opened in 2010, the organization has added a camp and other offerings. You may be asking yourself, Why is this news in 2025? The answer is quite simple. The next chapter in Morgan Enterprises is here. Morgan’s Hote...

I am not a homebody. I love to get out and explore the world, but it is a disability. You must consider accessible travel, i.e., how you'll get where you're going and what it will look like when you get there, especially if traveling internationally. However, I recently came across a game-changer for traveling with a disability. Exceptional Vacations aims to “provide high-quality vacation opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and special needs.” They provide guided and custom trips for groups and individuals for a slightly higher price. I have linked their website at the bottom of this piece so that you can learn more about this great organization. According to Rebecca Hisamoto, the director of Exceptional Vacations, " Jill and Justin ultimately understood the mental health benefits of being able to travel but saw that there were not many opportunities out there for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to travel independe...